"We believe that consumers deserve the purest products on their skin! That is why purity begins in our fields! Love for the land runs deep for our farmers. Growing our cotton in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner is not only a part of our heritage; it is a legacy for our children." - La Rhea Pepper, Founder/Farmer

In 1991 when La Rhea and Terry Pepper became certified producers, people were already asking for organic cotton but they didn’t want to buy a 500 pound bale! By the fall of 1993, the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative was formed to create a stable and consistent supply of certified cotton fiber. These conscientious stewards of the land chose to accomplish this by using only sustainable farming practices. Their vision included a strong commitment to the earth that included replenishing the soil, protecting the purity of air, water and food supplies and preserving precious resources.
In response to consumer demand, La Rhea co-founded Organic Essentials in 1995 to provide organic tampons, cotton balls, swabs and other personal care products. In 2004, a strategic partnership was formed with Seventh Generation to achieve wider distribution of the feminine hygiene products and in 2006, US Cotton, LLC took over production and distribution of the personal care products.
The success of Organic Essentials and its parent company, TOCMC, which currently produces over 80% of all the organic cotton in the U.S., has had a positive impact in rural west Texas communities and continues to advance the cause of organic and sustainable farming methods in the U.S. and abroad.

We work with these fine organizations. Please visit their websites for more information about the cotton industry.