Natural Grocers aims to raise $100,000 for Organic Farmers Association

Natural Grocers, America's Organic Headquarters, is celebrating its more than 30-year history of selling only 100 percent organically grown produce by sponsoring a month-long national fundraiser for the Organic Farmers Association. The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $100,000 for OFA during the month of September. "There are only about 17,000 certified organic farms in the United States, compared to the more than 2 million conventional farms," said Heather Isely, Natural Grocers' executive vice president. "The Organic Farmers Association supports the organic farmer by elevating their influence on issues that matter to them. Better policy means more opportunities to increase organic acreage and improve the economic viability of organic farming methods, which makes organic farming a more attractive option."

Throughout September, Natural Grocers' customers will have the opportunity to make contributions at any one of Natural Grocers' 140 store locations. Donations to the Organic Farmers Association will help unite organic farms around the country, create scholarship programs, provide organic farmers with a national voice on state and federal policy, increase organic farm acreage and expand the number of organic family farms. Kate Mendenhall, director of Organic Farmers Association, said: "Supporting this fundraiser is a great opportunity to vote with your dollars and tell America the kind of food system you want to see and support."

Currently, Americans are spending more than $47 billion on organic foods and products annually. As more and more people become aware of the benefits of eating nutrient dense and more flavorful organic foods, free from dangerous chemicals and genetically modified organisms, demand is expected to increase. Isely said: "U.S. organic farmers need a place at the table to advocate for policies that will enable them to meet this growing demand." The mission of the OFA is to provide a robust and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers, advocating for policies that not only ensure organic farms will thrive, but reinforces collaboration among other states, regional and national organic farmer organizations. "Laws and regulations influence so much of what ends up on our plates," Mendenhall added. "Natural Grocers' and their customers' generous support will allow us to better represent and directly support the individual organic farmer, ensuring we're incentivizing all farmers to grow healthy food in a way that helps farm families and protects the environment."

Source: Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage