The development of the Organic Growers Alliance could be good news for producers of organic horticultural crops.

Created with a small group of growers at its heart, the organisation has a chance to offer its members key support through R&D, as well as training and practical assistance.

It is being set up to represent the small to medium sized grower, a section that has traditionally found it hard to get its voice heard.

Hopefully the OGA will set its stall out to focus on the positive consumer messages associated with organic food and not seek to knock conventional growers as the Soil Association has been accused of doing.

Its relationship with other organic groups will also be interesting to observe, especially as the alliance is promising plenty of involvement in events and conferences, but for now it insists that it is a complementary body to the likes of the Soil Association and Garden Organic.

It sees itself as offering a bridge for smaller producers to get their point of view across, not just to the Soil Association, but also to the likes of Defra.

It sounds like a worthwhile exercise and is definitely one to watch.