At Organic Trade Association Gathering in Washington, HHS Secretary Kennedy
Offers Warm Embrace for
On September 15, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed some of the nation’s key figures in the organic food sector at the Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Appearing on the second day of the Organic Trade Association’s annual Organic Week conference, the secretary participated in a question-and-answer session led by OTA Co-Chief Executive Officer, Tom Chapman. The discussion highlighted the major strides underway to improve all aspects of U.S. food production.
Committed to expanding organic food production and consumption, and to protecting the integrity of the organic brand, OTA connects organic food businesses from farmer to consumer, including growers, processors, retailers, certifiers, and others.
The 2026 Organic Week Agenda included an array of speakers on topics relevant to the organic food supply chain, addressing many issues important to the MAHA base.
The first day of the conference surveyed themes including the historical growth of organic food demand, how to improve retail sales of organic foods, and the current challenges and needs of organic producers. Maine Democrat Congresswoman (and organic farmer) Chellie Pingree spoke for one session.
Day Two included discussions of important farming legislation (including the Farm Bill); research about Gen Z and Millennial food purchasing patterns; farmland access; and the proven health outcomes of organic diets.
Various panels and speakers referenced the MAHA movement’s influence on Americans’ purchasing decisions, how it has contributed to growing demand for organic products, and whether the MAHA acronym will still resonate politically in five years.
At 3:00, Secretary Kennedy joined the standing-room-only crowd on stage for a session titled, “A Healthier America Starts with Food: A Fireside Chat with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” The iconic leader of the MAHA movement did not disappoint.
He warmly welcomed Tom’s inquiries and made clear his support for increasing organic food production. At one point he said, “Every item of food in my home has an organic label on it!”
From the outset, Kennedy emphasized that the corporate media have focused tremendous resources to discuss measles and other infectious diseases, but not the chronic disease crisis impacting far more Americans.
He recounted the distressing statistics for rates of obesity and diabetes in American youth, then pivoted to the myriad policy shifts he’s overseen in his brief tenure at HHS. These, he said, are beginning to reverse the depressing stats.