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La Rhea Pepper, Organic Exchange

Organic Exchange

822 Baldridge Street

O'Donnell, Texas 79351

Tel 806.428.3411

E-mail: larhea@organicexchange.org

 

LaRhea Pepper is a well known pioneer and activist in the U.S. organic cotton farming movement as well as in the organic cotton fiber industry. She currently farms organic cotton in west Texas. Terry and LaRhea were founding members of the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC), the largest organic cotton cooperative in the United States. Together, they have built and demonstrated a sustainable business model for farmers creating strategic partnerships with various manufacturers and “value-added” programs including Cotton Plus (organic fabric) and Organic Essentials (organic personal care products). Both are farmer-owned companies that literally take the cotton from field to finished product.

 

As a 5th generation farmer, La Rhea has a long history of leadership within the sustainable farming movement. In 1995, she served on the Administrative Council for Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) and two years later was elected to the Organic Trade Association’s Fiber Council Steering Committee. She joined the Organic Trade Association’s Board of Directors in 1998 where she led the effort to create organic fiber processing standards for the industry. In 2002, she joined with other companies within the organic fiber community to co-found the Organic Exchange and served as the Chair of the Board until 2006, at which time she became the organization’s Executive Director.

In addition to her role with the Organic Exchange, LaRhea is involved with TOCMC’s marketing development and educational activities.

 

Having made presentations at various conventions and conferences, she is often invited to write and speak on issues related to organic cotton farming, organic cotton fiber use, and industry standards. Impassioned about organics and stewardship for the land, LaRhea holds strong religious, family and community values and has dedicated her life to making a positive difference in the world.