2027 Program
Monday, February 15
Monday, February 15
6:00 - 10:00 PM
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Kickoff celebration the night before workshops begin. Audience is OMRI clients, suppliers, staff, board, organic producers/certifiers and invited guests already in town for Organicology. Planning for roughly 100 people.
Jupiter NEXT Arium Ballroom - Invitation Only
Tuesday, February 16
Tuesday, February 16
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
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Get the Dirt: Behind the Inputs is a day-long workshop to celebrate OMRI's 30th anniversary. The day opens and closes with panel discussion and is built around three audience tracks: input manufacturers; farmers; and wholesalers, retailers, certifiers and consumers. Focused breakout sessions within each track give attendees practical, ground-up knowledge they can put to work. Whether you make inputs, farm with them, or sell what farmers grow, you'll leave with a clearer view of the organic landscape and the connections that hold it together.
Presented by:
Peter Bungum | Research and Education Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Chris Bupp | Review Program Specialist, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Cara Burns | Application Program Specialist, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Doug Currier | Technical Director, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Orsi Dezsi | Executive Director and CEO, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Tina Jensen Augustine | Technical Operations Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute
Jarod Rhoades | Standards Manager, The Organic Materials Review Institute
3:00 - 5:00 PM
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How can organic research inform on-farm practices, reach the people who need it, and help prepare the movement’s next generation of leaders?
Drawing on research, including findings from a five-year USDA Conservation Innovation Grant, we’ll explore how practices that promote biodiversity can support soil health and farm resilience, plus, how to translate those findings, and others like it, into practical resources, compelling messages, and learning opportunities for farmers, educators, early career professionals, consumers, and policymakers. Through shared discussion and interactive problem-solving, participants will explore how farmer-informed innovation, research partnerships, mentorship, and storytelling can connect science with practice while developing future leaders in organic agriculture. Come ready to share what’s working, what isn't, and ideas for continuing to build a resilient organic movement.
Ashley Dulaney | Communications Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Rebecca Champagne, PhD | Conservation Scientist, The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Cameron Newell | Bee Better Program Manager, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Elias Miller | Manager of Science Programs, The Organic Center
3:00 - 5:00 PM
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As regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum, competing labels and frameworks offer very different answers to a fundamental question: What does it mean to be a regenerative farm, and what should be required before that claim appears on a food product? This two-part workshop will explore what meaningful regenerative claims should require—from the farm to the retail shelf. In the first part, Charlotte Vallaeys of Vallaeys Consulting will explore how leading regenerative certification programs translate different philosophies into standards, and Kelly Damewood of CCOF will share what organic producers and buyers are asking for and how an organic certifier is approaching growing demand for regenerative verification. In the second part, Alan Lewis of Natural Grocers and IFOAM North America will present an emerging effort to establish minimum standards for regenerative claims on retail food products. Together, panelists and participants will grapple with questions around agrochemical use, soil health, practices versus measured outcomes, verification, and the appropriate role of organic as regenerative claims continue to evolve.
Alan Lewis | Director of Government Affairs and Food and Agriculture Policy, Natural Grocers
Charlotte Vallaeys | Owner, Vallaeys Consulting
Kelly Damewood | CEO, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
3:00 - 5:00 PM
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Preparation is everything when it comes to succession planning, and a strong financial foundation is essential for a successful transition. This workshop will cover the basics of sound financial management, including the three key financial statements, accounting practices, and budgeting for long-term profitability and financial stability. We’ll also explore how to start the succession conversation, key considerations for both family and non-family transitions, and who to involve in the planning process. Through real-world case studies and family conflict scenarios, participants will discuss practical solutions to common farm business and succession challenges and learn about tools, resources, and guidance available to help move the planning process forward.
Evan Driscoll | Senior Business Consultant, Good Roots
Andrea Krahmer | Director of Ag Business Support, Oregon Agricultural Trust
Nellie McAdams | Executive Director, Oregon Agricultural Trust
5:30 - 8:30 PM
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Network and mingle with Organicologists - people from all facets of the organic food and agriculture community. Meet organic growers, manufacturers, retailers, activists, policy experts, educators, researchers and non-profit organizations at this reception and trade show to kick off Organicology 2025.
The REDD - 831 SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97214
6:00 PM
Welcome Remarks
Emcee: Matthew Wellsandt | Quality Assurance Lead, Organically Grown Company
Wednesday, February 17
Wednesday, February 17
8:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks
Introduction by Emcee: Matthew Wellsandt | Quality Assurance Lead, Organically Grown Company
Brenna Davis | Chief Executive Officer, Organically Grown Company
9:15 AM
Keynote Address
10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
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No matter how long you have been in business, keeping your team engaged and curious is a proven way to make sure your business thrives and your staff members want to stay and grow. Curiosity fuels engagement, strengthens relationships, and creates the conditions for innovation and continuous improvement. How can retailers create a culture of curiosity? By encouraging and embedding curiosity and discovery into every aspect of a retailers’ operations.
James Morrell | Operations, Leadership, and Team Solutions, Collaborative Ops, LLC
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The Organic Farming Research Foundation presents findings from its most recent national organic farmer needs assessment, based on a nationwide survey and listening sessions with producers across the U.S. Panelists will highlight top production and non-production challenges, explore how those challenges differ by region, and share recommendations for how the research, education, and policy communities can better support organic farmers. Attendees will be invited to engage directly with the findings and contribute to an ongoing national conversation about what organic producers need to thrive.
Brise Tencer | Executive Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation
Thelma Velez | Research and Education Program Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation
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As food packaging becomes increasingly crowded with certifications, claims, and ethical branding language, consumers may struggle to distinguish between rigorous third-party standards and marketing-oriented messaging. This session explores how “label saturation” may impact consumer trust, perception, and engagement with food certification systems. Through facilitated discussion and analysis, attendees will examine strategies for preserving the clarity, credibility, and communicative power of certifications in an increasingly complex marketplace.
Lorele-Paige Eldredge | Certification Specialist/Inspection, MOSA
11;45 AM
Lunch
10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
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How organic is communicated today will define its future. This cross-sector panel explores how brands, retailers, and producers are reshaping the organic narrative to better connect with modern consumers. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will gain practical insights on evolving beyond product-driven messaging toward more unified, impactful storytelling. The session concludes with a call to action to help reignite growth and relevance across the organic movement.
Mike Wenrick | Director of Purpose, PCC Community Markets
Krista Kinder | Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Organically Grown Company (OGC)
Conversations with the Statewide Organic Extension Team
Nick Andrews | Professor of Practice and Organic Vegetable Extension Specialist, Oregon State University Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
Brigid Meints | Assistant Professor of Practice; Organic Grains and Pulses Specialist, Oregon State University
Shannon Cappellazzi | Assistant Professor of Practice, OSU Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
Lucas Nebert | Assistant Professor of Practice, OSU Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
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The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) was one of the largest initiatives ever funded by USDA supporting farmers transitioning to organic through mentorship, technical assistance, education, and community-building. As federal TOPP funding sunsets, we’ll explore opportunities that have emerged to continue the impactful work TOPP started. This panel discussion will bring together the Northwest TOPP lead, Oregon Tilth, partner Viva Farms, and Wolf & Associates to share lessons learned, outcomes from the program, and recommendations for future organic transition work. We’ll also share fresh findings from a three-region needs assessment capturing more than 160 farmer and partner voices, showing a blueprint for continuing TOPP’s impact. We’ll delve into what worked, what's still broken, and the remarkable peer-mentorship capacity the program leaves behind.
Ben Bowell | Chief Program Officer, Oregon Tilth
Mark Lipson | Consulting Associate, Wolf & Associates
Rob Smith | Executive Director, Viva Farms
Levi Fredrikson | Consulting Associate, Wolf & Associates, Inc.
2:15 PM
Break
2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
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Sustainability doesn't need to be overly complex to be impactful. Forget the consultant, pass on the LCA; do what's right for your business. Every little bit matters, and we'll never achieve our goals if our mentality is "all or nothing." Come learn (and share) strategies and success stories that will inspire and have your boss saying, "that's something we can easily do."
Mike Dill | Director of Advocacy & Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
Charlotte Vallaeys | Owner, Vallaeys Consulting
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Organic agriculture stands at a pivotal moment. Consumer demand, farmer profitability, and decades of research have proven the value of organic, yet the movement now faces a critical challenge: how to scale while remaining true to the principles that inspired it. In this conversation, Jeff Tkach and Thaddeus Barsotti reflect on organic's evolution from a values-driven movement to a transformative force in the food system, exploring what it will take to build consumer trust, accelerate adoption, and expand organic's impact on human health, soil health, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability in the years ahead.
Thaddeus Barsotti | Co-Owner, Capay Organic; Co-Founder, Farm Fresh to You; Author of Betting on the Farm: An Heirloom Childhood
Annie Brown | Vice President of Development, Rodale Institute
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Where produce prices come from has traditionally been a mystery. It has long been an occasion for suspicion, resentment and anger. Everyone involved has suspected everyone else of just trying to grab as much as they can get for themselves regardless of the consequences. This would be an opportunity to hear from thoughtful professionals about how they actually go about how they decide what to charge for their goods and services. How are spot market prices set compared to contract prices?
David Weinstein | Owner, Cheshire Wolf Services
Jeff Fairchild | Buyer, Organically Grown Company
Ben Goe | Produce Merchandizer, Skagit Valley Co-op
John Eveland | Owner, Gathering Together Farm
4:00 PM
Break
4:30 PM
Keynote Address
Presented by:
James Cassidy | Senior Instructor, Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences; Faculty Advisor, OSU Organic Growers Club (OSU's Student Farm)
5:00 PM
Reception
7:00 - 9:00 PM
After Party
Thursday, February 18
Thursday, February 18
8:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks
Emcee: Matthew Wellsandt | Quality Assurance Lead, Organically Grown Company
9:15 AM
Keynote Address
Presented by:
Jennifer Tucker | Deputy Administrator, USDA National Organic Program
10:00 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
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As climate pressures intensify and the food marketplace continues to evolve, the organic sector faces important questions about leadership, trust, and long-term resilience. This participative panel discussion, co-led by Oregon Business for Climate and the Oregon Organic Coalition, brings together voices from agriculture, business, advocacy, and policy to explore how the organic movement can build stronger collective influence and shape what comes next. Through facilitated discussion, audience participation, and collaborative exercises, attendees will explore practical strategies for coalition building, policy engagement, and systems change across the organic ecosystem.
Tim Miller | Director, Oregon Business for Climate
Carrie-Anne Palmeri | Organic Program Manager, Natures Path
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What actually drives consumers to buy organic products, and does the industry’s messaging align with those motivations? This session shares findings from a two-year consumer media campaign focused on growing organic adoption across the U.S. Through proprietary research and media performance analysis, attendees will gain fresh insight into consumer perceptions, effective messaging strategies, and the media channels that most successfully influenced awareness, consideration, and purchase behavior. The presentation will also explore how first-time organic buyers responded to campaign efforts and what those findings mean for the future of organic marketing.
CJ Bruce | Founder & CEO, The Missing Ingredient
Amanda Kauffman | Director of Client Services, Guru
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Wakulima USA is a community-based organization supporting East African immigrant and refugee communities through farming, culturally relevant food access, wellness, and environmental stewardship. This session will share the story of Wakulima USA’s work in creating farming opportunities for immigrant communities while strengthening food access, cultural connection, and community well-being.
Led by Dr. David Bulindah, Founder and President of Wakulima USA, this session will explore how immigrant-led farming initiatives can serve as a powerful model for sustainability, healing, leadership, and food justice. Dr. Bulindah will discuss how farming is not only about food production but also about restoring community identity, building leadership, supporting mental and physical wellness, and connecting people to land.
The session will use Wakulima USA as a case study to show how community farming can address barriers faced by immigrant and refugee farmers, including access to land, culturally appropriate food, markets, and community support. Participants will learn how Wakulima USA brings together agriculture, wellness, cultural knowledge, and environmental care to support families and communities.
Dr. Bulindah will also share leadership lessons from his background in conflict resolution, mental health counseling, organizational leadership, research, and community service. The session will invite participants to think about how food systems can become more inclusive, culturally responsive, and community-centered.
David Bulindah | President and Founder, Wakulima USA
Megan Bassett | Community Liaison, Café Mam / Royal Blue Organics
11:45 AM
Break
12:00 PM
Keynote Address
12:30 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Buzzing With Life: Reclaiming Organic as a Living Ecosystem
Gwendolyn Wyard | Founding Partner, Strengthening Organic Systems (SOS)
Rebecca Sweet | Owner, Buzz Cover Crop Seeds
Shannon Cappellazzi | Assistant Professor of Practice; Organic Soils Specialist, Oregon State University
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Organic has been “the fastest growing segment in food” for thirty years — and still holds well under 10% of U.S. food sales. That’s not a growth story anymore; it’s a structural problem, and this session names it plainly: chronic underinvestment in research, a certification system too often driving producers out rather than in, and a data gap that keeps the whole supply chain flying blind. But rebuilding the engine is only half the work. The other half is who will do the rebuilding. The organic movement was built by visionaries who believed in something before the market did, and across every corner of the sector the question of who leads next has moved from theoretical to operational.
This moderated panel brings the two conversations together — because they were never really separate. Voices spanning the founding generation and the rising one dig into the structural fixes organic needs, the leadership successions happening right now in organizations of every type, and the pipeline of next-generation champions in policy, production, certification, research, and retail. It’s not a nostalgia session — it’s a strategic one, grounded in the conviction that organic’s ability to reach a trillion-dollar future while holding its integrity depends on the depth and diversity of its leadership bench. The sector already has the market, the science, and the consumer trust. Come ready for an honest conversation about what — and who — it will take to break through.
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When food hubs and distributors collaborate rather than compete, organic farmers gain access to more markets, more stability, and stronger supply chains. This participative panel features Organically Grown Company, Puget Sound Food Hub, and a grower who sells through both — sharing the real story of how they built a working partnership and what it took to get there. Panelists will offer an honest look at the friction points as well as the wins, drawing on real experience coordinating across business models and market channels. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for building cross-sector distribution partnerships in their own regions.
Amy McCann | Chief Executive Officer, Local Food Marketplace
Brendan O'Shea | Organically Grown Company
Erick Garman | Trade Policy Specialist, Oregon Department of Agriculture
Andrew Yokom | Executive Director, Puget Sound Food Hub CooperativeSam Bowhay | Owner, First Cut Farm
3:15 PM
Break
3:45 - 5:00 PM
Breakout Session
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Organic agriculture is a solution to a healthier planet. But is it the practices or the certification process itself that yield organic's health, environmental and ecosystem benefits? We continue to hear that organic certification requirements such as inspection, paperwork, and fees are too burdensome for small producers who sell direct to customers, and while these folks are producing food responsibly it's the current certification model that prevents them from being able to call their crops and product organic. It's beyond time to create a second pathway to organic and in this workshop, you will learn about the inequities of the current system and help map out the process for a more inclusive organic industry.
Mike Dill | Director of Advocacy & Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
Abby Youngblood | Executive Director, National Organic Coalition
Steve Ela | NOSB Specialist, National Organic Coalition
Mallory Cochrane | Executive Director, Oregon Organic Coaltion
