Certified Organic Is Published Quarterly by CCOF and Serves the Perfect Partnership Today
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Organic News, Events, Certification Updates, Member Profiles, and More! MAGAZINE www.ccof.org Winter 2011 SharingSharingCertifiedCertified YourYour StoryStoryOrganicOrganic ININ THISTHIS ISSUEISSUE MyCCOF:MyCCOF: NewNew OnlineOnline CertificationCertification ToolPortal $4.95 AccessingAccessing SpecialtySpecialty OrganicOrganic MarketsMarkets NOSBNOSB UpdatesUpdates && InternationalInternational NewsNews ISSN 1940-8870 ® ®® BioFlora biological solutions take crop yields to the next BioFlorBioFloraa nurturesnurtures level—naturally. Synthetic fertilizers alone can’t thethe partnershippartnership create the microbially diverse soils needed to maximize yields and MAGAZINE achieve the highest profits. betweenbetween cropscrops Maximum crop yields always come from fertile, bio-active, carbon-rich soils. CCOF Inc. Board of Directors andand soil.soil. The world’s best soil fertility Will Daniels, Chair, Earthbound Farm Contents First Words 4 programs start with BioFlora® Neal MacDougall, Treasurer, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo In the News 5 biological solutions, which are Malcolm Ricci, Vice Chair, Bolthouse Farms StephanieCertified Alexandre, Secretary, Alexandre Ecodairy Member News Organic 8 scientifically formulated to create Grant Brian, Heirloom Organic Gardens At Work 12 microbially diverse soils, increase Allen Harthorn, Harpos Organics Advocacy 15 soil humus, and add carbon-rich Steve Koretoff, Purity Organics Certification News 18 ® organic acids. BioFlora products Phil LaRocca, LaRocca Vineyards Exporting Organic 21 create bio-active soils that Cindy Lashbrook, Riverdance Farms How to Sell to Retail 22 stimulate microbe proliferation — Paul Underhill, Terra Firma Farm Sharing Your Story 26 converting soil organic matter into CCOF Certification Services, LLC Management Selling at Farmers’ Markets 30 plant-available forms and storing Committee Website Reviews 34 nutrients and moisture for plant Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program Member Listings 36 use. Highest yields come from this Tom Chapman, Numi Tea Classified Ads 41 symbiotic relationship between Karen Klonsky, Ph.D., UC Davis Department of Agriculture & Events Calendar 42 soils and plants. Resource Economics Peggy Miars, Executive Director, OMRI The reciprocal arrangement Feature Article Writer: CCOF Foundation Trustees Elizabeth Barba, CCOF Marketing Assistant, between crops and soil results Cathy Holden, Chair, Holden Research & Marketing graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Environmental Studies in increased crop production, Shawn Harrison, Vice Chair, Soil Born Farm/Urban in June 2010. She is excited to share her love of improved synthetic fertilizer Agriculture Project artichokes and organic home food preservation conversion, and long-range Cindy Lashbrook, Secretary, Riverdance Farms with the organic community. soil fertility. Jim Zeek, Treasurer, JZ Goodness Orchards Monte Black, Ancient Lake Gardens Cover image is property of Organic Valley, reprinted with permission. ® Contact BioFlora and create Allen Harthorn, Harpos Organics Certified Organic is published quarterly by CCOF and serves the perfect partnership today. Cheetah Tchudi, Turkey Tail Farm CCOF’s diverse membership base and others in the organic community including consumers and affiliated businesses. Letters to E-mail: [email protected] Magazine Production: the publisher should be sent to [email protected]. CCOF reserves Toll-Free: 1-888-bioflora Editor-in-Chief: Will Daniels the right to edit or omit submissions and letters received. Web: www.bioflora.com Publisher: CCOF, Inc. Magazine Ad Disclaimer: CCOF appreciates the gracious support Robin Boyle, [email protected] of advertisers who make this publication possible. However, paid Production Managers: Laura McKissack advertisements featured in this magazine have been provided by the and Elizabeth Barba advertising company and do not necessarily reflect a certification Writers: Adria Arko, Elizabeth Barba, Jake Lewin, Laura status of the company or products advertised. CCOF does not McKissack, Mark Mulcahy, Claudia Reid, James Reid and endorse or guarantee the quality or approved status of any materials, John Taylor products, or services. Please direct questions regarding authenticity of advertised products and services to the advertiser. CCOF reserves the right to refuse advertisements deemed inappropriate. Eric Fraser (Group Leader), and Kurt West (Art Director). New Leaf Paper has provided us with an ecologically sane Advertising Sales: Eric Fraser, Teamworkx llc, and cost-effective magazine. This edition of Certified Organic is printed on New Leaf Sakura Silk 71# text, which is made (707) 921-6152, [email protected]. from 100% de-inked recycled fiber, processed chlorine free, and designated Ancient Forest Friendly. Learn more at www. 16121 W. Eddie Albert Way ISSN 1940-8870 © CCOF 2011 newleafpaper.com. Goodyear, Arizona 85338 CCOF Certified OrganicMagazine —Winter 2011 3 14902 04.23.09 Global Organics Final 2009 CCOF Certified Organic Mag 1 Dave/Brian Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Printed Printed Color Color First Words In the News his edition of Certified Organic arrives Our feature article follows inventive Consider this edition of Certified Organic GMO Sugar Beet Seed Plants of organic agriculture. Witnesses and Link Between ADHD and Tas we wait out the cold, wet winter CCOF members who have succeeded your Marketing 101 education and our in Debate Senators, including Senator Patrick Pesticide Exposure Discovered with hope for the new year and new as storytellers by using creative and Annual Convention to be your senior Leahy (VT), the original sponsor of growing season. We prepare for spring’s modern methods for relaying the stories level course. This year’s event, entitled In November, Jeffrey White, U.S. the OFPA, celebrated the legislation A study composed of 300 Mexican- green shoots and make resolutions to be behind their products. From a mom and Growing the Organic Market, will District Court Judge of San Francisco, and growth in the organic industry American children of the Salinas Valley, more sustainable and proactive this year. pop shop turned nation-wide brand and take place February 18-20 in sunny ordered the removal of all genetically and discussed the challenges faced an agricultural region of California, With this season comes new products, preserving community, to a farmer-owner Ventura, California and will cover many modified sugar beet plants from the by organic farmers, including the alerted researchers to the connection crops, and ideas that will continue to cooperative using social media to connect of these themes in more depth. The ground in Arizona and Oregon. The cost of certification and the danger of between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity grow the organic market. customers with local farmers, engaging three-day event will include our Annual lawsuit, filed by environmental groups, contamination by genetically modified Disorder (ADHD) and pesticide expo- storytelling comes in many different forms Meeting, hands-on workshops and panel To assist members in growing this market, challenged the USDA’s Animal and crops. Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy sure. During the study, children, ranging these days. In order to continue growing presentations by industry veterans, and CCOF is proud to announce the release Plant Health Inspection Service’s Secretary of Agriculture, acted as a in age from three to five years, and their the organic market we must all tell our our ever-popular farm tours. Plus, hear of a new online certification management mothers, were tested for the presence stories and tell them well. See page 26 for from keynote speaker, Rayne Pegg, chief witness and addressed concerns portal, MyCCOF. This new tool and time- of pesticides several times a day. A inspiration and advice on getting started. Administrator of the USDA Agricultural about the integration of organics saving resource is unique to CCOF and small percentage of children revealed Marketing Service (AMS). See page 14 for throughout USDA agencies. Other free to clients. Read all about it on page CCOF continues communication with a correlation between the condition more details. witnesses urged for continued funding 18 and begin your year more organized the National Organic Standards Board for organic and legislation to help and pesticide use. While critics argue than ever! (NOSB) and encourages you to do the So to all CCOF growers, producers, protect organic farmers from GMO that the spike of ADHD occurrence in same by providing input on the petitions handlers and organic supporters, Happy In addition to new organic tools and contamination. We hope that this children is due to over-diagnosis, the slated for the April meeting. Along with New Year! May this year bring growth, products, new ways to communicate are hearing will promote more interaction study has raised concern regarding the contributing to national policy, CCOF has innovation, and new marketing opportu- springing up all around us. Every day, and discussion between legislators and parallels of agriculture and attention been the host recently for international nities to your organic business. people consider making organic pur- deficit disorders. No concrete cause visitors as part of ongoing discussions organic producers. chases based on something they heard, Sincerely, (APHIS) decision to issue permits to and effect has been established at this on certification equivalency. See our read, or saw. As industry leaders, we have seed companies to plant sugar beet