MONTEREY, CA - We may just be in the latter half of March 2023, but our industry is continuing to look ahead to the future to March 2024. The Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule is set to take effect in March 2024, and you will get a chance to hear more about it, and its effects on the organic fresh produce supply chain, at the Organic Produce Summit 2023. If you’re piqued, the second educational session, “Change Is Coming: Getting Fresh Produce Ready for the New Organic Enforcement Rule,” is one you don’t want to miss.

“Fresh produce accounts for over a third of total organic sales. Organic produce is often the entry point for consumers new to organic and where consumer trust in the organic label is established,” said Tom Chapman, Chief Executive Officer of the Organic Trade Association. “These sweeping new rules will strengthen integrity along the entire supply chain and will require some work and adjustments by all of us. OPS attendees will hear from leaders from across the organic produce supply chain about how their operations are getting ready and how to address the most impactful changes before the 2024 implementation.”

The second of five ed sessions will explore what the updated regulations mean for companies involved with organic fresh produce. According to the release, the session will include William (Bill) Brodegard, Vice President of Food Safety and Compliance for Driscoll’s; Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company; and Chris Miller, Produce Director for MOM’s Organic Markets. The session will be moderated by Gwendolyn Wyard, the Organic Trade Association’s VP of Regulatory Affairs.

The SOE rule is the biggest update to USDA organic regulations since they were first published in 2000, and its aim is to bolster organic integrity and consumer confidence in the USDA organic seal by supporting strong organic control systems, improving farm-to-market traceability, increasing import oversight authority, and providing robust enforcement of organic regulations. Among the key requirements of the rule is new certification documentation for organic imports and the certification of brokers, handlers, and storage facilities handling unsealed produce. The rule also changes labeling requirements for non-retail packaging and makes on-site inspections more robust and consistent.

Organic Produce Summit 2023 is a two-day event specifically designed to bring together organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors with retailers and buying organizations from across North America. The seventh annual event will be held July 12–13 in Monterey, CA. To find out more, check out the full schedule of events here.

Keep an eye out for more updates as ANUK reports.

Organic Produce Summit