[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E257-E258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION ON THEIR 20 YEAR 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2005

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Representatives Gilchrest, DeFazio, Farr, Walsh and our more than 30 
fellow members of the bipartisan Congressional Organic Caucus, to offer 
our sincere congratulations to the Organic Trade Association on 
achieving their 20 year anniversary.
  Formed in 1985 by a handful of individuals determined to build a 
trusted identity for organic products, this original group blossomed 
into the nearly 1,500 member Organic Trade Association today. The 
Organic Trade Association, North America's only organization dedicated 
to representing the views of all segments of the organic industry, has 
become an important source of information about the challenges and 
successes of the organic industry to the Congressional Organic Caucus 
and the public.

[[Page E258]]

  Mr. Speaker, millions of consumers are choosing organically grown 
food and fiber. Over the last decade, the consumer marketplace for 
organic products has risen exponentially. Moreover, thousands of family 
farmers have discovered the environmental and ecological benefits of 
organic farming methods and technologies. Working together, the 
Congressional Organic Caucus and the Organic Trade Association will 
continue to promote the importance of organic farming and organic 
products to both consumers and the overall health of our country's 
agriculture industry for the next 20 years and beyond.

                          ____________________