Our History
Protecting Oregon’s Organic Community for 20 Years
OOC was founded in 2004 by organic trade leaders who believed Oregon's organic community needed a unified voice. What started as a coalition of farmers, businesses, and advocates coming together around shared values has grown into a 20-year track record of showing up for Oregon organic, in Salem, at Oregon State University, and everywhere the future of organic is being decided.
2019
2020
Formed a legislatively-mandated work group that wrote the initial draft of the Oregon Organic Action Plan, a roadmap for state policymakers on how to support and grow organic production in Oregon.
Secured permanent funding for the first two Organic Extension Agents at OSU's Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems, giving Oregon's organic farmers access to dedicated research and resources. That same year, we helped phase out the use of Chlorpyrifos, a harmful synthetic pesticide, in Oregon.
2022
Secured a budget appropriation for an economic assessment of Oregon's organic sector, making the case that organic is an emerging and valuable part of Oregon's economy.
2024
Maintained existing protections from increased canola acreage for Brassica seed production in the Willamette Valley Protected District through January 2028, protecting the integrity of one of Oregon's most important organic seed regions.
2021
Supported efforts to secure a dedicated Soil Health Specialist at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, an important win for farmers focused on long-term land stewardship.
2023
Secured permanent funding for five additional Organic Extension Agents at OSU, helping build what could become a Center of Excellence for environmental and low-input farming practices that benefit all Oregon farmers, not just certified organic growers.
Organic In Oregon
