Organic Apparel Part of New Trade Show
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) will stage All Things Organic, its annual organic products trade show, May 14–17 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.
Exhibitors are expected to show organic-based textiles, apparel and footwear in addition to food products. Show organizers said the popularity of materials such as hemp being used for apparel and footwear production has helped to grow the show 30 percent over the past year. Demand for organic products is expected to grow 150 percent over a 5-year period and reach a market of more than 90 million consumers in the U.S., according to the OTA.
“Never before has the organic industry realized this level of consumer awareness, legislative support and industry excitement,” said Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the 1,200-member OTA.
As part of the conference element of the show, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Dr. Marion Nestle will serve as keynote speakers. Kennedy, the son of the late senator, is president of Waterkeeper Alliance, a group that monitors corporate polluters of waterways. Nestle is chair of New York University’s Department of Nutrition and author of “Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health.” For further information, go to www.ota.com. —Robert McAllister
