Salisbury, Md. (Oct. 6, 2020) – As the nation’s leading supplier of organic chicken and organic, grass-fed beef, Perdue Farms wholly supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent proposal to strengthen enforcement within the National Organic Program. Perdue Farms worked closely with the Organic Trade Association (OTA), which is the leading national organization representing organic suppliers, to inform OTA’s comments in support of USDA’s proposal. Now that the public comment period has closed and USDA will begin the process of considering input received, Perdue Farms offered the following statement:

“Perdue Farms is proud to be the United States’ leading supplier of organic chicken and organic, grass-fed beef, and we understand that integrity of the entire organic supply chain is critical for maintaining consumers’ trust in the organic seal. That’s why our business currently exceeds USDA National Organic Program requirements in our vetting of suppliers and required documentation and testing,” said Perry Aulie, Senior Vice President of Value Added Products at Perdue. “However, the organic industry has grown rapidly over the past two decades, and with it the supply chain for organic products has become a complex, international network. To keep up with these changes, the relevant regulations and oversight process must also evolve to ensure traceability and transparency at every step, and we wholeheartedly support and appreciate USDA’s commitment to modernizing this program.”

Comments submitted by the OTA in support of this rule can be found here.

The integrity and availability of the organic supply chain is core to Perdue’s business, and the company is committed to strengthening the National Organic Program and to growing the organic market. In addition to supporting stringent enforcement within the program, Perdue is working to help increase the domestic supply of organic grain. Perdue recently purchased two organic oilseed crushing facilities in Georgia and Kentucky that will give farmers a much-needed opportunity to process their organic soybeans, canola and sunflower seeds and market them to higher-paying customers. In addition, Perdue is working with domestic farmers to increase organic acreage and find ways to offset the costly three-year transition into organic production.

About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Panorama Grass Fed Beef®, and Coleman Natural®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms and Full Moon, is available through retail, foodservice, and our new direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.

Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.

Now in our company’s centennial year, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at corporate.perduefarms.com.