A Professional Development Program for the Food Industry
Inside Organic:
Understanding the System Behind the USDA Organic Label
A Professional Development Program for the Food Industry
Inside Organic:
Understanding the System Behind the USDA Organic Label
Inside Organic is an eight-session professional development program from UW–Madison designed to help food industry professionals understand the system behind the USDA Organic label.
The USDA Organic label is one of the most trusted and recognizable food labels in the marketplace. Yet many professionals working with organic brands have never had the opportunity to learn how the organic system behind the label actually works.
Unlike most food labels, organic is not simply a marketing claim on a package. It is a federally regulated system with its own standards, certification process, supply chains, research community, advocacy organizations, and devoted consumers. Understanding how that system works can help professionals make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and build stronger organic brands.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, with support from the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), is offering a unique professional development program designed for food industry professionals who want a deeper understanding of the organic system.
Whether you work in marketing, sourcing, sustainability, sales, product development, or brand management, this program will help you better understand what organic means, why consumers trust it, how it is verified, and how to communicate its value with confidence.
Participants will gain insights from farmers, scientists, certifiers, business leaders, and market experts, leaving with a practical understanding of the people, standards, and systems behind the USDA Organic label.
Format
A combination of self-paced learning with live discussion and networking.
Each week, participants will:
- Watch a 20-minute video featuring experts from across the organic sector, including farmers, scientists, certifiers, brand leaders, researchers, advocates, and supply chain professionals.
- Participate in a one-hour live virtual session, planned for Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. ET (subject to confirmation)
During the live sessions:
- The first 30 minutes will feature a guest speaker from the organic community.
- The second 30 minutes will be dedicated to participant discussion, questions, networking and peer learning.
There will also be an optional field day, including a farm visit, in Wisconsin during the week of October 5, 2026.
Learn from Leaders Across the Organic Sector
The program features interviews and guest perspectives from across the organic community, including farmers, researchers, certifiers, brand leaders, and advocates. Participants will hear directly from individuals working throughout the organic supply chain and learn how different parts of the system work together.
Kathleen Merrigan
Professor, Arizona State University, former US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Jennifer Tucker
Deputy Administrator, National Organic Program, USDA
Gary Hirshberg
Co-Founder, Stonyfield Organic
Asa Bradman
Professor of Public Health and Environmental Systems, University of California at Merced
Jessy Beckett Parr
Chief Program Officer, CCOF
Scott Dicker
Head of Research and Insights, SPINS
Mike Dill
Director of Advocacy and Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
Tripp Hughes
Senior Director of Consumer Strategy, Organic Valley
David Hettenbach
Organic certification specialist
Willie Hughes
W. Hughes Farms
Kendra Klein
Deputy Director of Science, Friends of the Earth
Humberto Maldonado
Director of Safety and Compliance, Organically Grown Company
Hayley Painter & Stephanie Painter
Co-Founders, Painterland Sisters
Nate Powell-Palm
Owner, Cold Spring Organics, LLC
Erin Silva
Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Katrina Staves
Executive Director, Organic Voices
Brise Tencer
Executive Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation
Gregg Sanford
Assistant Professor, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The program brings together perspectives that are rarely presented side-by-side—from farmers and certification specialists to scientists, certifiers, advocates, and brand leaders—providing participants with a comprehensive view of the organic system.
What You’ll Learn
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of:
- The history and principles of the organic movement
- The laws and standards behind the USDA Organic label
- Organic farming systems and practices
- Certification, inspection, and supply chain integrity
- Consumer perceptions and purchasing decisions
- The environmental, economic, and social impacts of organic agriculture
- The organizations, businesses, and individuals that make up the organic community
- Common misconceptions about organic and how to address them
Sessions
Session 1: Organic Origins
Explore the history, principles, and evolution of the organic movement.
Session 2: The Legal Foundation
Learn how the USDA Organic label is regulated and protected through federal law, standards, certification, and enforcement.
Session 3: The Farm
Take a closer look at how organic farms operate and the systems approach that distinguishes organic agriculture.
Session 4: Integrity from Farm to Shelf
Understand certification, inspections, traceability, and the systems that maintain trust in the organic label.
Session 5: The Shopper
Explore consumer perceptions, purchasing behavior, and how organic is communicated in the marketplace.
Session 6: Benefits of Organic
Review the research on organic agriculture’s impacts on the environment and rural communities.
Session 7: The Organic Network
Meet the organizations, businesses, researchers, and advocates working to support and strengthen organic agriculture.
Session 8: Mythbusting Organic
Examine common questions and misconceptions about organic agriculture and the evidence behind the answers.
Instructor
Charlotte Vallaeys
Charlotte Vallaeys has worked in the organic sector for more than twenty years as a researcher, policy expert and advocate. Most recently, she served as Organic Expert at General Mills, where she worked across brands including Annie’s, Cascadian Farm, and Muir Glen. Her experience spans nonprofit advocacy, consumer education, agricultural sustainability, and corporate strategy, providing a unique perspective on the organic sector from farm to marketplace.
Instructor
Charlotte Vallaeys
Charlotte Vallaeys has worked in the organic sector for more than twenty years as a researcher, policy expert and advocate. Most recently, she served as Organic Expert at General Mills, where she worked across brands including Annie’s, Cascadian Farm, and Muir Glen. Her experience spans nonprofit advocacy, consumer education, agricultural sustainability, and corporate strategy, providing a unique perspective on the organic sector from farm to marketplace.
OUR SPONSORS
Schedule
- Virtual discussions:
Planned for Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. ET (final meeting time confirmed based on participant availability) - Program dates:
Week of September 21 – Week of November 9, 2026 - Optional field day:
Week of October 5, 2026 (Wisconsin)
Fee
$300 registration fee
$150 for staff at non-profit organizations
For questions, please email Charlotte Vallaeys at vallaeys@wisc.edu.