OTA: change-makers honored at the Annual Organic Leadership Awards

On 13th of September, the Organic Trade Association held the Annual Organic Leadership Awards Celebration at the American Visionary Arts Museum. The evening was made memorable by a posthumous video tribute to the longtime organic farmer, pioneer and original founding member of Organic Valley Dave Engel and award presentations to three change-makers in the organic sector.

Celebration of three standout leaders and an open organic official

Robert Anderson of Sustainable strategies LLC – Advisors in Food and Agriculture received the Growing the Organic Industry Leadership Award for his work to open the global world of organic. Additionally, Phil LaRocca of LaRocca Vineyards has been honored with the Organic Farmer of the Year Leadership Award for his unswerving commitment to organic advocacy and community. The Rising Star Leadership Award has been handed over to Peggy Sutton of To Your Health Sprouted Flour for building a booming business around sprouting organic flours and grains to start a new trend for the organic industry. Moreover, special thanks were voiced to Miles McEvoy, outgoing Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program who has recently announced his plans to step down from his position at the end of September with an honorary lifetime membership to the OTA.

 “Totally inspiring,” stated Laura Batcha, the CEO and Executive Director of the OTA. “That’s the only word to describe these exceptional individuals who have been so instrumental in making the organic sector what it is today, and who are working to advance organic further and to improve people’s lives with organic. We were thrilled to celebrate them, and we had a wonderful time doing it.”