Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and Representatives Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06) introduced legislation to give organic producers tools to increase capacity, modernize their operations, and expand their businesses to meet growing demand. The Domestic Organic Investment Act would make a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program permanent that helps solve supply chain gaps for the organic market by providing grants to farmers and businesses. While certified organic sales have grown to over $71.4 billion in 2024, domestic organic acreage has not kept pace with demand for organic products.
“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and to keep that legacy, we need to support our farmers and make sure they can meet the demands of families. With the demand for organic foods continuing to skyrocket, we need to make sure that any farmer who wants to grow their business, has the tools and resources to do it,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m working with Democrats and Republicans so more organic farmers can expand their operations, support good paying jobs, and continue to be the beating heart of our rural communities.”
“I’ve heard directly from Wisconsin’s organic farmers about the challenges they face getting their products to market, and this bill delivers real solutions. By making this program permanent, we’re helping family farmers modernize, expand, and stay competitive in a rapidly growing industry. I am proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the people who feed our nation,” said Representative Van Orden.
Goals Of The Program
- Increase the capacity of the domestic organic product supply chain for producers, handlers, suppliers, and processors of certified organic products;
- Modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
- Improve the capacity of eligible entities to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or quality standards required to access markets;
- Expand capacity for processing, aggregation, and distribution of certified organic products to create more and better markets for producers of certified organic products; facilitate market development for domestically produced certified organic products;
- Conduct feasibility studies and market viability assessments to inform organic transition strategies and opportunities;
- Address barriers to entry to organic product certification for historically underserved entities; and
- Support market and promotional activities that help build commercial markets for certified organic products in the United States.
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