2024 Organic Gala at Expo West will celebrate science and successes
Washington, D.C. (November 29, 2023) — The Organic Center and Organic Voices are delighted to announce their joint hosting of the 2024 Organic Gala at Natural Products Expo West on March 13 in Anaheim, California. The organic sector’s premier event at the trade show, the theme of the celebration is “An Organic Night Out: Honoring the Year’s Best in Organic,” and will recognize the outstanding work of a group of individuals, brands and businesses in communicating the benefits of organic to consumers.
Award-winning actress, philanthropist and co-founder of the organic, next-generation children’s nutrition company Once Upon a Farm, Jennifer Garner, and organic visionary, advocate and cofounder of the world’s largest organic dairy company Stonyfield Farm, Gary Hirshberg, will emcee the awards ceremony.
This inspiring event is held to celebrate and advance the organic movement, and to support a greener and healthier future for our planet. Bringing together hundreds of organic visionaries, activists and businesses, the occasion is the single biggest fundraising event for The Organic Center and Organic Voices, both nonprofit organizations that work on important research, education and communication with the organic industry and with consumers.
In addition to all the prerequisites for great events celebrating organic – scrumptious organic appetizers and refreshing cocktails of all flavors – the evening will feature an interactive science fair demonstrating the latest research being conducted by The Organic Center and other scientists, and enable attendees to witness the meaningful impact organic practices have on crop production, soil health, food safety, climate, and sustainability.
Attendees will be transported to a cutting-edge research lab at the science fair. Among the exhibits will be displays demonstrating how organic farming can protect the health of our pollinators with a live bee observation hive, and how organic agriculture practices create healthier soils that lock in carbon and help to fight climate change. The Organic Wheel of Sustainability will be on hand to be spun and learn more about the benefits of organic.
For the first time, individuals, associations, companies and brands who have shown outstanding success in elevating the awareness, understanding and consumption of organic to new organic consumers will be recognized. Awards will be given in eight categories: Best New Organic Food/Beverage Product; Best New Organic Non-food Product; Best Organic Messaging: Better for the Planet, People or Animals; Best Organic PR or Social Media Activation; Best Retailer Organic Activation; Most Impactful Organic Research Result or Finding; Emerging Organic Entrepreneur of the Year and Organic Company of the Year. Companies can apply for the awards here.
“Think of this as the first-ever ‘Organic Oscars,’” said Hirshberg. “It is my honor and deep pleasure to be sharing the stage with the wonderful Jennifer Garner to recognize these industry luminaries and change makers who have shown outstanding achievement in communicating in the marketplace the importance of choosing organic for a healthier future.”
“Celebrating organic leaders and brands is the best idea!” says co-host and Once Upon a Farm co-founder Garner. “I cannot wait to gather, to recognize and cheer for each other and to be inspired by the work and the triumphs behind people and brands who put health of families and planet first. This event will highlight all the good work being done in organic and, I hope, expand the industry to reach even more people.”
“To grow the organic industry and its positive impact on people and the planet, shoppers must understand the value of organic and the benefits that come with purchasing products carrying the USDA Organic seal. We are thrilled that this year’s event is recognizing the impact of these organic champions,” said Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “The celebration of these incredible organic stakeholders combined with the spotlight that this puts on the latest organic research promises to make our upcoming gala a meaningful and unforgettable evening.”
New Hope Network, the organizer of Expo West, is a sponsor of An Organic Night Out and creating a special space for the event within Expo West. “New Hope has long championed Organic and its importance within food, retail and agriculture,” said Carlotta Mast, New Hope senior vice president and market leader. “An Organic Night Out will be a meaningful and fun addition to our Expo West programming that enables us to engage more leaders in the Organic movement and showcase the best Organic innovation, advocacy and thought leadership.”
Sponsorship opportunities for this incredible evening are still open. Join this list of organic brands and champions who are making this event possible: Once upon a Farm, General Mills, Stonyfield, New Hope, Organic Valley, National Co+op Grocers (NCG), Whole Foods Markets, Driscoll’s, Inc., Harmless Harvest, Forager Project, Traditional Medicinals, Back to the Roots, True Organic Products, Inc., Vivify Specialty Ingredients, Just Ice Tea, Naturepedic Organic Mattresses and Taste For Life Publications.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Cassandra Christine (cchristine@ota.com)
About The Organic Center
The Organic Center’s mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming and to communicate the findings to the public. The Center is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) research and education organization operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association.
About Organic Voices
Organic Voices is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help consumers better appreciate and eliminate confusion about all the benefits of Organic. It is dedicated to educating consumers about the significance of the USDA Organic seal, ROC certification, and GOTS certification through its Only Organic campaign. It creates compelling educational content tailored to inform and engage consumers, using multiple online channels to reach new audiences through large-scale consumer-facing campaigns. Partnering with brands, retailers, farmers, and consumers, Organic Voices strives to amplify the message of the benefits of organic and establish a unified voice throughout the organic industry.
