Nature’s Path’s move “protests” betrayals by the Organic Trade Association

The widely respected and leading organic breakfast foods manufacturer, Nature’s Path, announced the company’s resignation from membership in the Organic Trade Association (OTA), a prominent and increasingly controversial lobby group representing business interest in the industry.  The announcement came in a letter to the organic community last week.

The OTA has been increasingly criticized for representing the interests of corporate agribusiness at the expense of core values held by farmers, consumers, and founding business leaders.

“Our departure from the OTA is an act of protest to raise awareness of our concerns that the important role organic plays in support of the health of consumers and our planet is being compromised,” said Arran Stephens, a company founder and co-CEO.

Stephens cited concerns about the OTA’s role in brokering a GMO labeling “compromise” in Congress that resulted in federal law preempting states, like Vermont which had legislation ready to go into effect, from passing regulations mandating the labeling of food produced through genetic engineering.