HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation establishing a PA Preferred Organic trademark, sponsored by state Reps. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe County) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Wilkes Barre), passed the state Senate on Monday. It now goes to the governor’s desk to sign into law.

House Bill 157 establishes the Pennsylvania Preferred Organic program in statute in addition to the Pennsylvania Preferred program. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will continue to administer the program, encouraging producers of Pennsylvania-produced organic agriculture commodities to meet or exceed USDA National Organic Program standards.