Organic Farmers

Organic farmers are not represented by unions, but farm laborers are represented by United Farm Workers (https://ufw.org). The significant growth of the organic farming industry in recent years is suggested by the fact that five of the six organizations described below changed their addresses just in the past few years—including one (WWOOF-USA) that moved from a small upstate New York town to San Francisco. The American Farmland Trust is dedicated to "protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land." The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its mission is to "invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges." The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) promotes and accredits organic food and farms in New York State. NOFA-NY is also accredited to provide organic certification to farm produce in other states. The Organic Farming Research Foundation's mission is "to foster the widespread adoption and improvement of organic farming systems." The Organic Trade Association seeks to "promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace." It focuses on advancing organic standards, promoting a transition from a factory model of agriculture to an organic farming model, and growing the market for organic products and services. The purpose of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms-USA (WWOOF-USA) is to link volunteers with organic farmers, to promote educational exchange, and to build a global community to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices.