2026 EVENT AGENDA & SEMINARS

Moderator: Matt Landi, VP Industry Relations, Organic Trade Association (OTA)

Panelist: Jeremy Wilson, Sr. Manager Produce & Floral Sourcing, Sam's Club

Learn what retailers want from organic growers. Industry experts share key insights on product quality, consistency, pricing, packaging and sustainability to help growers align operations with retailer priorities and succeed in the competitive organic marketplace. Moderated by Matt Landi, VP of Industry Relations, Organic Trade Association.

Speaker: Thaddeus Barsotti, Capay Organic

Thaddeus is a highly successful 2nd generation organic farmer and a previous OGS Grower of the Year. He's a compelling public speaker and recently published author of a book about growing up on an organic farm and being part of the organic farm movement. He built and sold the largest organic direct-to-consumer platform, Farm Fresh To You, and currently runs a medium to large-scale organic produce farm.

Join us as we celebrate four finalists for an insightful discussion and announce the 2026 Grower of the Year winner live on stage.

Moderator: Todd Linsky

Panelists:

• Chris Ford, Viva Tierra Organic 
• Dennis Weaver, Organic Marketing Association 
• Jody Bearden, Shift Marketing

This hands-on workshop equips organic growers, family farms and agribusiness leaders with the tools to transform their authentic stories into powerful, buyer-focused value propositions that drive sales and lasting partnerships. Participants will learn to articulate what truly sets their operation apart—soil health practices, multi-generational stewardship, traceability, sustainability metrics or community impact—in language that resonates with retailers, distributors and conscious consumers in today's competitive organic market. Through real-world case studies from industry leaders and proven frameworks for messaging and positioning, attendees will craft clear, emotionally compelling narratives that cut through the noise, build trust, and command premium positioning. Whether you're scaling direct relationships or preparing for larger retail programs, this session delivers practical strategies to communicate integrity, differentiate from industrial players, and turn your farm's legacy into a competitive advantage.

Speaker: Gwen Wyard, Strengthening Organic Systems (SOS)

Growing organic imports and complex global supply chains create fraud opportunities that enforcement alone cannot fully address. Honest American growers are losing ground to fraudsters. If consumers lose confidence, everyone loses—and domestic growers stand to lose the most. Weak links in the supply chain—whether through intentional fraud or inadequate verification—risk turning the organic premium into a race to the bottom, punishing those who invest in integrity while rewarding opportunists.

In this breakout you will learn:

• How integrity-driven growers are commanding premium prices and building buyer loyalty by demonstrating organic integrity
• How to identify and partner with buyers and retailers who value verified organic production and pay accordingly
• What verification strategies work to differentiate authentic products and protect against fraudulent competition
• How to communicate your organic commitment in ways that strengthen consumer trust and justify premium pricing

Join us and equip yourself with the strategies and partnerships needed to lead—because the integrity of our industry and the success of our growers depend on it.

Moderator: Chuck Schembre, Founder, Owner & Lead Consultant, EcoSoil Solutions

Panelists:

• Jenny Garley, M.S., Vice President of Research and Business Development, Bio S.I. Technology
• Megan Kavanaugh, Vice President Soils & Agronomic Development, Bio S.I. Technology

Standard soil extraction methods have long been the default for nutrient management, but they tell an incomplete story—particularly in biologically active, healthy soils where microbial communities are unlocking far more plant-available nutrition than conventional tests can capture. This panel will dig into the fuller picture that emerges when growers and agronomists layer in Total Nutrient Digestion, Plant Sap Analysis, Tissue Analysis, and the Haney Test—tools that better reflect what is actually happening at the root zone in a living soil system. The session will challenge the assumption that published nutrient thresholds and sufficiency ranges—built largely around conventional production systems—remain reliable benchmarks when soil biology is doing heavy lifting that standard extraction simply cannot see.

Attendees will learn:

• Why standard tests fall short – Understand the limitations of conventional soil extraction in biologically active systems
• Advanced testing tools explained – Total Soil Digestion, Plant Sap Analysis, Tissue Analysis, and the Haney Test—and when to use each
• How to interpret results differently – A new framework for reading test results that matches living soil complexity, not just conventional benchmarks
• Building your testing toolkit – Practical strategies for layering multiple methods to capture the complete nutrient picture

Moderator: Laetitia Benador, CCOF Policy Manager

As nutrient density in our food supply continues to decline, farmers are uniquely positioned to reverse this trend through regenerative organic practices that prioritize soil health. This workshop will explore the science and application of crop production methods that enhance the nutritional value of food. You will learn how management practices improve soil biology and mineral uptake—leading to more nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Moderator: John McKeon

The organic premium used to be enough. It's not anymore.

Rising land rents, shorter lease terms, volatile fuel and input costs, and climbing expenses for labor, harvest, transport, storage, and food safety are squeezing the margin between organic and conventional—and many growers are feeling it.

But profitability isn't just about the premium. It's about understanding the full cost structure of your operation and making strategic decisions about crop mix, contract negotiation, and market timing.

This panel will break down the real economics of organic production: from cost per pound delivered by growers to price per unit shipped by processors. You'll hear honest discussion about which crops are actually profitable, which ones you grow to maintain contracts, and how to navigate the trade-offs—like three harvests of baby leaf versus one 130-day cauliflower crop with volatile margins.

Attendees will learn:

• How to calculate true crop profitability – Beyond the premium: understanding your full cost structure from field to delivery
• Contract negotiation strategies – Balancing high-margin winners with low-margin contract requirements
• Managing market volatility – What happens when markets turn mid-season: oversupply, shortages, and open market purchases
• Scale and supply chain leverage – How consistent quality, assured 365-day supply, and retail relationships impact your margins and pricing power

Moderator: Matt Rogers, Founder, AgSocio

Panelists:

• Ben Pallone, Western Growers Association
• Ernie Farley, Good Farms

As labor markets continue to tighten, technology advances, and policy evolves, growers face increasingly complex decisions about how to build and sustain their operations. Who—or what—will do the work, and what combination of people, technology, and policy will it take to deliver the quality, consistency, volume, and cost today's marketplace demands? Join leaders in technology, labor policy, and farm operations for a discussion of where the industry stands today, the forces likely to shape the next few years, and the strategies growers are considering to prepare for an uncertain future.