Silver Needle & Thread has collaborated with the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC) for over a decade working to educate American consumers about their existence and the outstanding work they do farming the United States largest land acreage of organic cotton.  It's  members were pioneers in the development of organic cotton production in the United States and founded the cooperative in 1993. TOCMC is headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, and most of its members are located in the surrounding South Plains area. 

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This region of Texas, the heart of “the world’s largest cotton patch,” is well-suited to the production of organic cotton.  Winter temperatures are cold enough to limit insect pressure and provide a hard freeze to defoliate the cotton plants prior to mechanical harvest. In addition, a sunny climate and quick-drying soils facilitate timely weed control.

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The cooperative has approximately 35 producer members who plant 17-20,000 acres of organic and transitional cotton each year.  In recent years, total annual production on these family farms has ranged from 10,000 to 17,000 bales. 

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TOCMC and its members are certified organic under the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA-NOP), and TOCMC is also Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.  Each bale of cotton marketed by TOCMC is tracked from the field to the customer.  Buyers can know the producer’s name and farm for each bale purchased and pass the transparency on to their customers.

 

TOCMC organic cotton is classed by USDA just like non-organic cotton.  The quality specifications assigned to each bale are used to pick the bales that best meet the requirements of each customer and TOCMC’s prices to customers are adjusted for quality.