By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Cotton Commission continues to preach the importance of enrolling in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. Enrollment for the 2021/’22 crop doubled since the program’s pilot last year.
Farmers are seeing the value of being associated with the national organization, says Matt Coley, a cotton producer in Vienna, Georgia and member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s board of directors.
“I think this program has hit the ground running. It’s something we’ve been in discussions with within the Cotton Council for the last five years or so. It’s gotten to the point now that growers are comfortable with it,” Coley said. “A steady increase in grower participation from year to year is certainly going to do a great job of helping us meet the demand that this program has generated since its inception.”
What is the Cotton Trust Protocol?
The protocol is an industry-wide initiative to promote U.S. cotton to brands and retailers as a sustainable fiber grown by farmers that strive for continuous improvement. The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 600 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes J.Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co. and, Gap Inc. as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan.
“I think growers see the importance of it. We grow a product where most of it is consumed overseas. As the consumers have been demanding to know more information about how the products they wear and eat are grown and the production practices behind it, I think growers are realizing that U.S. cotton doesn’t need to be left off the consumption choice of any brand or retailer out there. It’s a good opportunity for us to tell the story that we’ve been telling for years about the practices that U.S. producers follow,” Coley said.
If growers have questions or would like help with enrollment in the future, reach out to the grower help desk at growers@trustuscotton.org.