1. Michelle Obama Announces the Launch of PLEZi Nutrition

Today at The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything Festival, former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered closing remarks on the state of children's health in the U.S. and urged the thousands of industry leaders in the room and streaming online to be part of the change that will bring this generation of kids into a healthier future. As part of her remarks, Mrs. Obama announced the launch of PLEZi Nutrition, a Public Benefit Company on a mission to create higher standards for how the U.S. makes and markets food and beverages for kids, leading with nutrition, taste, and truth.  Read More

2. Florida Legislature Helps Craft Farm Bill

Last week, House Ag Committee Chair, Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson, was joined by a bipartisan group of colleagues in Central Florida for an official Farm Bill listening session. Thompson was joined by Florida Reps Kat Cammack and Darren Soto, Georgia Rep Austin Scott, and others.  Read More

3. Organic Food Sales in the US in 2022 Broke Through $60 Billion

Organic food sales in the United States in 2022 broke through $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the resilient organic sector. Total organic sales—including organic non-food products—were a record $67.6 billion, according to the 2023 Organic Industry Survey released Wednesday by the Organic Trade Association.  Read More

4. Pennsylvania House Votes to Make "PA Preferred Organic" Program Permanent

PA Preferred Organic got a vote of approval Tuesday from the House of Representatives as the chamber voted unanimously to establish the promotional program in statute. The organic arm of PA Preferred was created in the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill and highlights a farming sector in which the state ranks third nationally. Organic products, led by poultry, produce 9% of the state’s farmgate revenue.  Read More

5. USDA Announces New Steps to Enhance Organic Markets and Support Producers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking additional steps as part of its commitment to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods and to support producers seeking organic certification. These funding opportunities are part of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic Transition Initiative, launched in fall 2022, which is a suite of offerings to help existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production and processing.  Read More