Government of Canada invests in organic sector

March 8, 2010

(Charlottetown, March 6, 2010)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) in Canada is pleased to announce a partnership with the Government of Canada to develop a long-term international marketing strategy to expand Canada’s organic sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing over $118,000 in OTA in Canada’s international market development strategy for the organic sector.

“We are excited about what this means in terms of building new international markets for Canadian organic products,” said Matthew Holmes, managing director of the Organic Trade Association in Canada. “The global organic market is expanding rapidly and this support will allow Canada to establish itself as a supplier of quality organic products. When you know more about supply and demand in foreign markets, you are in a better position to make sales.”

OTA in Canada’s international market development strategy for the organic sector that will identify which markets to target, what products or commodities are the best fit with those markets, and how Canadian companies can access these important markets. The strategy will also benefit the entire domestic sector by identifying gaps in the supply-chain, new opportunities and innovations, and providing a more coordinated approach to capacity development. The project will promote the availability and quality of Canada’s organic products in the quickly expanding global organic marketplace.

“Today, with the support of this program, an organic farmer and businessman from PEI is in Japan meeting with buyers and learning more about this important market for organic products,” said Holmes, “the AgriMarketing Program will assist dozens of other Canadian organic businesses in exploring new markets who, in turn, are providing OTA in Canada with intelligence on how Canadian organics can compete and excel in world markets.”
Global organic sales were estimated at $50.9 billion (US) in 2008, and preliminary data shows that growth has continued through the global recession. In Canada, organic sales are approximately $2 billion per year, and have had an average annual growth rate of 20% for the past few years. Canada’s new Organic Products Regulations came into effect on June 30, 2009 and are overseen and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Founded 25 years ago, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America, with affiliated offices in Canada and the United States. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.

More information on the Government of Canada's Announcement of $170,000 for the organic sector:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/index_e.php?s1=n&s2=2010&page=n100306

More information on the Organic Trade Association in Canada:
www.ota-canada.ca ~ 613-482-1717


For more information contact:
Matthew Holmes
managing director
Organic Trade Association in Canada
Phone: 613-482-1717
Cell: 506-260-7537
Email: mholmes@ota.com
Website: www.ota-canada.ca

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