The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently accepting comments to a proposal for a nationwide research and promotion checkoff program for the organic industry.

The organic industry proposal estimates the organic checkoff, referred to as GRO Organic (Generic Research and Promotion Order for Organic), could raise more than $30 million a year to spend on research.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) gathered information over three years throughout the country in town hall meetings, panel discussions, surveys and phone calls to submit an application to USDA in May 2015.

Under the proposed order, certified domestic producers, certified handlers and importers of organic products would pay the following initial assessment rate:

  1. Producers and handlers with gross organic sales greater than $250,000 for the prior marketing year would pay one-tenth of one percent of net organic sales; and
  2. Importers of organic products declaring a transaction value greater than $250,000 for the prior marketing year would pay one-tenth of one percent of the declared transaction value of organic products imported into the United States.

The program would provide exemptions for:

  1. Producers and handlers with gross organic sales of $250,000 or less during the prior marketing year;
  2. Importers with $250,000 or less in transaction value of imported organic products during the prior marketing year; and
  3. Organic products produced domestically and exported from the United States.

The 60-day public comment period ends March 20. Comments should be posted on www.regulations.gov.

Should the USDA proceed with a checkoff program based on public comments, a referendum would be held to determine whether a majority of eligible domestic producers, handlers and importers support a program prior to it going into effect.

Sales of organic food and non-food products in the U.S. are rising and total organic sales in the U.S. reached a new benchmark of $43.3 billion in 2015, up 11 percent from the previous year.