An OTA Organic Leadership Award is the association's highest honor. The award is given annually to an individual, inside or outside the organic industry, who has shown leadership and vision in furthering goals of the organic movement.
OTA's 2008 Leadership Award Honorees are:
OTA’s Press Release about the 2008 Organic Leadership Awards with more information about Ray Fuller, owner of Stormy Mountain Ranch, and the Goodmans, founders of Earthbound Farm.
OTA calls for nominations each fall for the Organic Leadership Awards. For more information about the nomination criteria and process, please contact Laura Stravino, Director of Membership and Development.
Past Honorees:
2007
Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin
Organic Farming Leadership Award
Howard Shapiro
Organic Leadership Award
Read Howard Shapiro's remarks (PDF document).
Please Note: Jacobs'/Belin's remarks are not available.
2006
Katherine DiMatteo
Outstanding Individual Achievement
2005
Joseph Smillie
Special Pioneer Award
LaRhea & Terry Pepper
Organic Agriculture Award
2004
Neil Strayer
Organic Agriculture Award
Nora Pouillon, Nora's/Asia Nora's
Special Pioneer Award
2003
The Rodale Family
2002
Bená Burda, Maggie’s Organics/Clean Clothes, Inc.
Special Pioneer Award
Dave Reibling, Oak Manor Farms
Organic Agriculture Award
Mark Retzloff
Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Bob Scowcroft, Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Legislative and Regulatory Award
2001
Allen Shainsky, Petaluma Poultry (posthumously)
Special Pioneer Award
Bill Wolf, Wolf & Associates
Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
2000
Kathleen Merrigan, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture
1999
Frank Ford, Founder, Arrowhead Mills
1998
Paul K. Keene, Founder, Walnut Acres
1997
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
