OTA, National Latino Farmers and Ranchers form alliance

The National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association and Organic Trade Association will form an alliance that will help both organizations strengthen their impact on national public policy. 

The collaboration between enhances both organizations’ ability to grow and protect U.S. organic agriculture and advance both associations’ shared federal policy agendas, according to a news release.

The Organic Trade Association represents over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states. The National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association represents Latino farming and ranching advocacy groups, farmworkers transitioning into farm ownership, and small-scale producers across the United States. The NLFRTA joined OTA this month as the newest member of OTA’s Farmers Advisory Council. 

“At the farmers' markets, on the farm, and at the store, wherever we are selling, our customers are asking us about whether or not our products are certified organic,” NLFRTA executive director Rudy Arredondo said in the release. “We want to be able to serve more of those customers and to bring that price premium to more of our producers, but our farmers and ranchers need support to make the transition. Our partnership with the Organic Trade Association will amplify our advocacy and help us get more Latino producers connected with organic.” 

For nearly a decade, FAC has served as a critical link between OTA and the farmers and ranchers represented by association members, the release said. The council works to amplify organic and transitioning-to-organic farmer voices by giving them a direct say in the trade association’s policy and priority-setting processes.

Founded in 2004, NLFRTA’s mission is to organize, engage and empower Latino farmers and ranchers and the advocacy organizations that provide them with training and technical support. The association is heavily involved in agricultural and rural policy, actively working with its members to amplify Latino producer and producer association voices on Capitol Hill. As part of FAC, the association will be even better positioned to elevate historically underserved producers. It will also work with OTA to educate its members about the benefits of organic certification and help those interested join the growing number of farmers and ranchers transitioning to organic, the release said.   

"This is an important partnership for the Organic Trade Association, one that will help us to be a better partner and ally to the many farmers and ranchers out there who are dedicated to sustainable agriculture, but not yet organic certified,” OTA Executive Director and CEO Laura Batcha said in the release. “I’m thrilled to have NFLRTA as part of the OTA community and look forward to the fresh insights and perspectives they bring to the Farmers Advisory Council.” 

FAC members select their representation on the council independently. New Mexico-based farmer and advocate Eugene Pickett, who also serves as NFLRTA operations manager, will represent NFLRTA on the council. In addition to his work on the farm and with NFLRTA, Pickett is the owner and operator of Black Farmers and Ranchers New Mexico and an active member of the Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural alliance, the New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council, the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association, the Albuquerque NAACP and the New Mexico Black Chamber of Commerce, the release said.