Organic industry unites to "bust myths" throughout September

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a major drive to educate and inform consumers of the benefits and the facts about organic, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and dozens of organic brands and industry thought leaders are uniting online Sept. 1-30 for "Organic Myth-Busting Month," a 30-day #OrganicFestival on social media aimed at addressing long-held misconceptions surrounding organic.

Whether busting myths that organic isn't affordable or correcting the misconception that science can't prove the organic benefit, OTA along with dozens of strategic partners will take to social channels each day during "Organic Month" to tear down organic myths by replacing them with research-supported facts, engaging dialogue and opportunities to get questions answered. The organic truths will be presented as well-designed graphics, ideal for sharing across social channels.

"Why focus an entire month around myth-busting? Despite organic sales and accessibility at all-time highs, consumer confusion about organic benefits remains significant," said Laura Batcha, OTA's Executive Director and CEO. "Consumers need to know the facts about organic so they can make the smartest choices for themselves and their families. Together, by engaging with consumers, media and influencers with a consistent and clear voice, we can change some misconceptions and bring audiences 'on the fence' about organic into the fold."

Leveraging the #OrganicFestival hashtag, the massive social media gathering—expected to reach millions of consumers across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn—will encourage individuals nationwide to help bust the myths and spread the facts by offering member prizes to people who engage by sharing myth-busting posts on their own channels.

"Organic Myth-Busting Month" also will include at least five Twitter Parties, featuring industry thought leaders as co-hosts for hour-long Twitter chats to foster online, two-way conversations between top organic experts and consumers. In addition, OTA will hold activities at special September events, including Natural Products Expo East.

Weekly Themes Built Around Common Misconceptions
To bring focus to the information-packed festival, OTA each week in September will focus on a key area of misconception often spread about organic, deconstructing a related myth each day of that week:

• Week #1 (Sept. 1-5): Organic Labeling, addressing the certification process, the integrity of the USDA label and the differences between organic vs. other unregulated claims such as "natural"
• Week #2 (Sept. 6-12): Organic Health, busting myths that organic isn't better for you, sharing fresh research on organic's health benefits
• Week #3 (Sept. 13-19): Organic Value, revealing the costs behind organic, demonstrating organic is affordable for all—including budget-conscious consumers—and proving organic truly is worth it
• Week #4 (Sept. 20-26): Organic Production, illustrating how organic can feed the world, outlining local and small vs. large-scale organic farming, highlighting environmental benefits
• Week #5 (Sept. 27-30): Organic Beyond Food, celebrating the lesser-known silos of organic, sharing why organic fiber, home and personal care products are better for your skin and health, revealing the differences between organic and conventional textile production.

Prior to the campaign's Sept. 1 launch, OTA will provide members and influencers with all campaign materials, including scheduled posts, graphics and other content, to share throughout their networks to amplify the messages. OTA successfully introduced this strategy in September 2014 with its first social media festival: "Organic-Palooza," a 10-day campaign aimed at celebrating organic food and fiber, which garnered 109 million consumer impressions and featured 100 members taking part.

"As in last year's campaign, with multiple brands and organizations sharing the same information on their respective channels each day, we can greatly extend our outreach and influence," Batcha added. "This year, by tripling the festival's length and sharpening its focus, we hope to reach even more individuals with a powerful, timely and important message."

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 8,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

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SOURCE Organic Trade Association

Related Links

http://www.ota.com

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