Organic food associations offer a slew of opportunities for positive exposure for your business. In addition to members of natural food organizations who work within the industry in some capacity, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other professional natural food trade association members, including those in businesses that support organic food trade.

Affiliation with health food organizations provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests, while you support the industry. Membership in organic food organizations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Regional natural health food organizations offer even more opportunities to network with local business and industry leaders in your community. Use your membership in organic products associations in a number of different ways.

1. Expand your network through natural food associations

2. Support the industry by participating in organic food associations

3. Stand out as a leader in organic and natural food organizations

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in organic products associations

Natural food organizations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At organic foods association events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work within and for the growing organic food industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The Organic Consumers Association is a non-profit organic foods association that covers a number of issues affecting the industry. The Organic Trade Association works with members through its natural food retailer association contacts to help each other exceed in the organic trade business.

Demonstrate your interest by joining organic and natural food organizations

If you want to do business with organic food companies in any kind of capacity, you will want to show your support while building relationships with national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in natural food organizations with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: Slow Food USA has an abundance of local chapters in which you can participate as well as support the group’s primary goals. CCOF is an organic foods association that does political advocacy as well as certification of organic foods and training.

Show off your skills at natural food retailer association events

To stand out as an expert and further your own business interests, you need to be recognized by your peers. Most natural food organizations present opportunities to impress your peers through speaking engagements, training seminars and writing opportunities. Start in a committee and volunteer to speak or write for the group until you develop a reputation that other members of the group recognize.

I recommend: The Natural Products Association is a large natural food trade association with numerous opportunities for active involvement and participation. At Natural Food Retailers events experts are sought to provide seminars and training sessions. Sales and marketing professionals could do well at this natural foods association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a committee in organic food organizations to develop closer relationships with others who could prove helpful to your business.