Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

California Certified Organic Farmersm a g a z i n eVolume XXI, Number 4 Creating a Living Standard for Healthy Food Winter 2003–2004Celebrating30 Years!1973~2003CHINO VALLEY RANCHERSARCADIA, CACERTIFIED ORGANIC SINCE 1997Consolidation in AgricultureOrganic Consumers Can Take ControlGROWING UP ORGANICpage 10CALIFORNIA FIRESpage 14WINTER SQUASHpage 16CCOF HISTORY: 2000–2003page 22

FIRST WORDCCOF FOUNDATIONBy Brian LeahyCCOF PresidentESTABLISHINGorganic agricultureas the“conventional” form ofagriculture will requireeducating farmers,consumers and policymakers about the health, environmental,social and economic benefits of organicagriculture. This is the role of the newCCOF Foundation.With our one part-time employee,Jessica Hamburger, a dedicated studentintern, Amy Dryden, and volunteerhelp from the CCOF FoundationTrustees, the CCOF Foundation hastaken great strides toward establishingitself as a viable non-profit organization.The Foundation has developedprojects, raised funds, produced outreachmaterials and built relationshipsthat will enable us to better serve thepublic, organic farmers, and CCOF inthe coming year.The IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit statusof the CCOF Foundation has allowedCCOF to place free public serviceannouncements. The San Francisco BayArea CBS affiliate has been running a15-second spot that encourages consumersto find healthy local organicfood for their families by visiting theCCOF website.In perhaps the most difficult year toestablish a new foundation since 1933,the CCOF Foundation has generatedclose to $200,000 in grants and contracts.The money will fund four projectsthat will be implemented inpartnership with CCOF members andother organizations.The Going Organic project will supportCCOF chapter leaders in provid-ing farmer-to-farmer mentoring inorganic conversion.The Organic Choice project willprovide CCOF farmers with materialsthey can use to educate consumersabout the health and environmentalbenefits of organic food and farming.The Farms & Wildlife projectfocuses on a partnership with Salmon-Safe to provide third-party certificationof salmon habitat and water qualityprotection efforts by organic farmers.The Farms & Wildlifeproject will also enableCCOF members to gain easieraccess to technical assistanceand cost-share fundsfor their farming operationsfrom federal and state agencies.In November, we surveyedCCOF members toassess their experience withand interest in USDA NaturalResource ConservationService (NRCS) programs.This issue of the CCOFMagazine describes the participationof CCOF membersin NRCS programs andprovides advice to prospectiveapplicants.The California Organic FarmingEnergy Efficiency project, in which wewill serve as a subcontractor to the firmGlobal Energy Partners, will providefinancial incentives to organic farmersto purchase and install energy efficiencytechnologies.Any consumer in theUnited States canwalk into a retail storeand know that theword “organic” on afood product has ameaning and aprocess behind it.We have a new website for the CCOFFoundation that explains to foundationsand prospective donors and memberswho we are and what we do. We alsohave developed a CCOF Foundationbrochure that will attract members andencourage farmers to participate in ourprograms. We expect individual donationsand membership dues to be aninitially small but growing source offinancial support that will supplementgrant income. Please encourage yourfriends, neighbors and customers tomake a tax-deductiblecontribution to theCCOF Foundation!With certification,CCOF was able to takea vague concept, organicagriculture, and workingwith other like-mindedgroups, develop a definition,get it written intofederal law, and then fightto protect the integrity ofthe definition. Now, anyconsumer in the UnitedStates can walk into aretail store and know thatthe word “organic” on afood product has a meaningand a process behindit. In the next 30 years, the CCOFFoundation will strive to convince consumers,producers, and policy makersthat organic agriculture is the only sanechoice for the production of food.OUR PURPOSECCOF’s purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in Californiaand elsewhere through:•A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, handlers,and retailers.•Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic productand to expand public support for organic agriculture.•Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.

Anna Alexis Dery was born onOctober 19, 2003 to her proud parentsPaola Legarre (Kern RSR) and herhusband, Bobby. Anna weighed 7 lbs,14 oz and was 20- 1 ⁄4 inches long. Paolaand baby are doing well. Congratulationsto the newest member of the CCOFFamily!WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF!Jake Lewin, Director of Marketing &International ProgramsPeggy Miars, Communications DirectorSubmissions to the CCOF MagazineLetters to the editor are gladly accepted, providedletters are succinct and remain on topic.Letters must include complete contact information,including daytime telephone number, andmust be signed. Letters are subject to editingand will not be returned. Submitting a letter tothe editor does not guarantee printing.For information about submitting articlesto CCOF Magazine, or to discuss article ideas,please contact Keith Proctor toll free at 1-888-423-2263, ext. 12, or e-mail to keith@ccof.orgAdvertisement Policy & RatesClassified line ads cost $10 per line. Seven wordsequal one line. There is a three-line minimum.Payment for line ads is required in advance.Line ads are free for CCOF Certified clients.Classified line ads will be posted on our websitefor three months at no additional cost. Webonlyadvertising available. (www.ccof.org/classifieds.html).To place a classified advertisement or to receive aquote, contact Keith Proctor at 831-423-2263,ext. 12, fax 831-423-4528, or keith@ccof.orgAdvertisements submitted via e-mail are greatlyappreciated.To place a display advertisement, please contactKenny Swain, Marketing Assistant, at ext. 22 orkenny@ccof.org to inquire about rates or formore information.TABLE OF CONTENTSFEATURE ARTICLE, Consolidation in Food and Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2MEMBERS, Organic Farming: Proactive Environmentalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8MEMBERS, From Rubber Boots to School Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10PROGRAMS, NRCS & Organic Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13CALIFORNIA FIRES, Fire on the Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14FOCUS ON FOOD, As American as Winter Squash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16EDUCATION, Children Become Educated Food Consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19HOME & GARDEN, Diagnosing Plant Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20STATE ORGANIC PROGRAM, COPAC Meeting November 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21CCOF HISTORY: 2000–2003, Sowing the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22NEWS BRIEFS, Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and Other News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28THE GE REPORT, News from the Genetic Engineering Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30CERTIFICATION CORNER, Updates at Home and Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32HANDLER HIGHLIGHTS, Finding Your Organic Control Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD, NOSB Meeting October 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . 38OMRI BRAND NAME PRODUCTS LIST UPDATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39BUSINESS RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41CCOF CERTIFIED OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43CLASSIFIEDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45ECO-AUDITEnvironmental Benefits of Using Recycled PaperCCOF Magazine is printed on New Leaf Opaque 70# paper, 80% recycled, made with 80% postconsumerwaste, and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds, resulting in measurableenvironmental benefits. 1 New Leaf Paper has provided CCOF with the following report ofthe annual environmental savings:19 Trees 7,450 Gallons of water849 Pounds of solid waste 3 Cubic yards of landfill space10 Million BTUs of energy (0.1 Years of electricity required by the average US home)1,623 Pounds of greenhouse gases (1,419 miles equivalent driving the average American car)5 Pounds of air emissions (HAPs, VOCs, TRSs combined)52 Pounds of hazardous effluent (BODs, TSSs, CODs, AOXs)1Environmental benefits are calculated based on research done by Environmental Defense, theother members of the Paper Task Force, and Conservatree, who studied the environmentalimpacts of the paper industry. Contact ED for a copy of their report and the latest updates ontheir data. Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), andAbsorbable Organic Compounds (AOX).MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONEditor: Keith L. Proctor, keith@ccof.orgPrinted at Community Printers, Santa Cruz, CAGraphic Design: Marianne Wyllie, mwyllie@cruzio.comCCOF Magazine is printed using linseed oil-based inks on 80% recycled/80% post-consumer wastepaper. Processed chlorine-free. New Leaf Paper, 1-888-989-5323.Magazine reprints available with prior consent and source identification. CCOF does not endorseadvertisers nor guarantees their products are OMRI approved / CCOF accepted.DISTRIBUTIONCCOF Magazine, with a circulation of 8,000, is distributed quarterly to certified clients and supportingmembers and consumers in California and around the United States. It is also mailedto supporting members in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Italy, Japan, and Mexico.CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS1115 MISSION STREET • SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060 • 831-423-2263 • 831-423-4528 (FAX)888-423-2263 (TOLL FREE) • General e-mail inquiries: ccof@ccof.org • Website: www.ccof.org

or informal agreements, including mergers,acquisitions, joint ventures or strategicalliances. Although their boundaries are constantlyshifting, several potentially emergingclusters have been identified. For instanceCargill and Monsanto form a cluster, withMonsanto providing genetic material andseeds, and Cargill involved in grain collectionand processing, and meat productionand processing. Kroger, the largest supermarketchain in the US, is linked to this clusterthrough an agreement with Cargill to receivecase-ready meat. DuPont/ConAgra andNovartis (Syngenta)/ADM have similar ties. 4Although predictions are very difficult, basedon other industries that have formed globaloligopolies rather than monopolies (such asautomobiles, pharmaceuticals and oil) thereare likely to be as few as four to six clustersworldwide. 4EFFECTS OF CONSOLIDATIONThe implications of what such a system willmean for farmers can already be seen in thepoultry industry in the US. Ninety-five percentof chickens produced for meat aregrown under production contracts withfewer than 40 companies. The farmer furnishesthe land and labor, and is required toinvest hundreds of thousands of dollars forbuildings and other equipment. The companyprovides the chicks, feed and medicineand agrees to pay a guaranteed price perpound. In the 1950s, when there were morethan a thousand companies, most poultryfarmers benefited from such contractsbecause they were protected from pricefluctuations. Now that four vertically integratedfirms control 50% of the market, theterms of the contracts are much more favorableto the companies. Their power is sogreat that some companies have been foundto cheat farmers systematically by underestimatingthe weight of birds, overestimatingthe weight of feed, or providing poor qualitychicks or feed. A farmer who complainsis likely to have their contract canceled andbe placed on a blacklist. 5 Although mostpoultry farmers are making poverty levelwages or below, without a contract theycannot pay off their mortgages, and thereforeface foreclosure. Some cynics have suggested“why buy the farm when you canown the farmer?” and describe chickenfarmers as “serfs” who are never able toescape their debts.Grain and vegetable growers may soonfind themselves in a similar situation. Geneticallyengineered (GE) crops are controlledby just six multinational corporations, andthe technology is being used as a tool to consolidatethe seed supply. Crop farmers arethen being locked into food chain clustersthrough “bundling,” or linking patentedseeds with contracts, chemicals and credit.Monsanto’s Roundup Ready seeds can onlybe used with Roundup herbicide, eventhough cheaper versions of this herbicide areavailable. Pioneer DuPont seed gives betterinterest rates on financing, depending uponhow much “approved” products the farmerbuys, and approved chemicals include thosefrom Syngenta, Bayer/Aventis, and Dow.The precedent set with GE seeds is alsobeing extended by bundling chemicals andother inputs with conventional seeds. In theUK, Syngenta’s hybrid barley can only bepurchased in conjunction with the company’sgrowth regulator and fungicides.Consumers are also harmed by consolidation.GE foods have been introduced intothe food system without public consent, oreven public knowledge, as recent polls haveshown, 6 thus limiting the freedom to choosenon-GE products. Price gouging is anotherway that food conglomerates may exploittheir increasing power. Although farm milkprices are the lowest they have been since the1970s, prices paid by consumers have notdeclined. Consumers Union has reportedhigh retail milk prices at California supermarketswhen compared to smaller markets,and suggested these prices do not followfarmer and processor costs. 7 A recent classaction lawsuit accused two major supermarketsin Chicago of fixing the price of milkover a four-year period, costing consumersup to $125 million. This is somewhat of anexception, however, as most food prices haveremained low over the past few decades(aside from products like carbonated beverages,snacks and breakfast cereals, which arealready dominated by a small number ofbrands). Although consumer pocketbookshave been much less affected by consolidationthan farmers and workers, this situationmay change if a handful of food chain clustersgain control of the global food supply.CONSOLIDATION IN ORGANICOrganic agriculture is not immune to thesetrends. Many organic brands have beenacquired by giant food processors such asGeneral Mills, Kraft (Philip Morris) and Kellogg,as the accompanying diagram indicates(see page 5). Slightly smaller global foodprocessors not shown in the diagram are alsoestablishing their own organic product lines(such as Dole, Chiquita, and McCormick &Co.) or acquiring existing organic brands(J.M. Smucker bought R.W. Knudsen, Afterthe Fall and Santa Cruz Organic; Novartissubsidiary Gerber’s bought Tender Harvest).The market share for some of these brands isextremely high —Horizon, White Wave andEarthbound Farms control over 60% of themarket for organic milk, organic soymilk,and organic bagged salad mix respectively.Earthbound Farms is a brand of NaturalSelection Foods and a vertically integrated“seed to salad” operation—it contracts withover 200 growers. It is one of just five farmsthat market half of the organic produce soldin California. 8In the rapidly consolidating food retailingindustry, the top 4 supermarkets — Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and Albertson’s — areincreasing the amount of shelf space devotedto organic products. Kroger, for example, hasa natural and organic section in 43% of its2400 stores. 9 Fast growing natural foodschains such as Whole Foods (currently the21st largest supermarket by sales 10 ), WildOats and Trader Joe’s have had success withtheir own brands of organic products,prompting mainstream retailers such asKroger, Safeway, Piggly Wiggly and Harris-Teeter to introduce organic brands as well.Such growth is unlikely to benefit smallfarms because many supermarkets no longerallow managers to buy directly from localfarmers or food processors. Instead, thesecorporations prefer to deal with operationsthat can supply huge volumes for theirincreasingly centralized supply chains.CHALLENGES TO CONSOLIDATION:ALTERNATIVE FUTURESDespite the predictions of some economists,this global industrial food system is notinevitable. Dr. Mary Hendrickson and Dr.Winter 2003–2004 Page 3

Heffernan believe that although the currentsystem appears very powerful, it also haspotential weaknesses. They state, “To succeed,(alternative agriculture) movementsmust organize where the dominant system isvulnerable—by making ecologically sounddecisions, by relying on time and managementrather than capital, and by buildingauthentic trusting relationships that areembedded in community.” 11 Examples of thisapproach can include CSAs (CommunitySupported Agriculture), roadside stands andfarmers’ markets that connect consumersdirectly with local farms. Other emergingalternatives include farmer marketing cooperativeswith retail brands (such as Organic Valley),and ‘eco-labels’ that represent ecologicaland social criteria that go ‘beyond’ organic.These eco-labels include: ‘fair trade’, whichguarantees a fair price to the farmer and a fairwage to farm workers; ‘humane’, whichassures consumers that livestock have beentreated humanely; and region-specific labels.The power of food conglomerates is alsobeing challenged in the political arena:In 1998 South Dakota voters passed bya constitutional amendment that placedcontinues page 6MAJOR FOOD COMPANIESENTER THE ORGANIC MARKETKraft (Altria Group Inc./Philip Morris) has purchased OrganicMilling’s Back to Nature organic cereal brand. Details of the salehave not been disclosed, but the brand posted $10 million in revenuein 2002. Kraft already owns Boca Burger and Balanceenergy bars. Back to Nature will remain a separate business andwill not be added to the Post Cereals line. Kraft will, however,reformulate some of the Back to Nature products, and “makeother changes to ensure that we meet consumers’ needs,” saidKevin Scott, Executive Vice-president of External Development& Strategy and General Manager of Natural & Organic Foods.Dean Foods acquired Horizon Organic in summer 2003, purchasing87% for $216 million in cash and assuming $40 million in debt.Horizon had revenues of $187 million in 2002, and recentlyannounced the marketing of the first certified organic infant formula.Frito-Lay (PepsiCo) has introduced Tostitos Organic Tortilla Chips.Nature’s Farm (Tyson Foods) organic chicken is now available inretail markets in the Northeast.Ben & Jerry’s (Unilever) Homemade division is test marketingorganic ice cream in four flavors in San Francisco and Boston.General Mills is considering adding its logo to its line of organiccereals offered by Cascadian Farms.Price Chopper Supermarkets is creating a private label organicline with approximately 20 products slated for availability by theend of 2003, including soy milk, tortilla chips, and veggie burgers.7-Eleven announced it will add several varieties of natural, lowfat,and organic chips from manufacturers such as The HainCelestial Group, Snyders, and Rexall/Sundown.Dunkin’ Donuts has started selling espresso coffee beveragesmade exclusively with Fair Trade Certified coffee certified throughTransFair USA.CONSUMER TRENDSAccording to the Food Marketing Institute’s Trends in the UnitedStates: Consumer Attitudes & the Supermarket 2003, 70% ofhouseholds surveyed indicated that their primary store providesnatural or organic foods (18% did not, and 12% were not sure).American consumers spent nearly $36.4 billion on natural andorganic products in 2002. Natural products sales increased 6.6%across all sales outlets, while organic product sales rose 17.3% innatural product stores.Sources: Organic Business News, Sept. 2003; Provender Journal, v. 20, #6, Nov.–Dec. 2003; The Organic Report, Sept. 2003.T HE S UPERCENTERS A RE C OMINGWal-Mart plans to open 40 of their 200,000 square-foot Supercenterstores in California in the next 4 years, beginning in La Quinta,Bakersfield, Stockton, Chico, Redding and Palm Desert. The implicationsfor local economies and California producers are as yet uncertain,but experience elsewhere in the country does not appear to bepositive.A survey conducted in Las Vegas, Dallas and Tampa revealed ashopping cart from Wal-Mart was 17%–39% cheaper than a traditionalsupermarket with a union work force. Wal-Mart, with foodsales of $82 billion, was the country’s largest retailer in 2002, and itexpects to account for 35% of US grocery sales by 2007. Estimatesare that 400 traditional national grocery outlets will close as a resultof Wal-Mart’s expansion.In Dallas, Wal-Mart grew from eight Supercenters and nine Sam’sClub stores in 1997 to 28 Supercenters and 13 Sam’s Clubs in 2002.In addition, it opened 10 Neighborhood Markets, smaller storesdesigned for metro areas that still have the Wal-Mart economies.In response, Winn-Dixie pulled out of the market, closing 15 stores;Minyard Food Stores closed nine markets; and Brookshire GroceryCo. closed another five. Fifteen of the top 100 supermarket chainshave filed for bankruptcy or liquidated since Wal-Mart began openingSupercenters.CONAGRA SELLS UAPConAgra Foods, Inc. has sold its United Agri Products US andCanadian divisions to Apollo Management LP for approx. $600million. The sale is the sixth that ConAgra has made in a little over ayear as the company moves toward consolidating its business aroundbranded food products. Other units sold are ConAgra’s beef and porkoperation, poultry business, canned seafood, and cheese processing.Source: Field Talk, a weekly e-newsletter of Rincon PublishingPage 4CCOF Magazine

Winter 2003–2004 Page 5Source: Higgins, K.T. 2002. “The World’s Top 100 Food & BeverageCompanies,” Food Engineering, October 1.

estrictions on corporate involvement in agriculture(although it was overturned by anappellate court in August, 2003). Fed upwith factory hog farms and the applicationof toxic sewage sludge to farms, two townshipsin Pennsylvania went further andpassed ordinances that declare corporationsare not ‘persons’ under the US Constitution.Mandatory payments to commodity promotionboards, or “Checkoffs”, have beenruled unconstitutional for pork, beef, grapeand mushroom farmers (the pork and beefdecisions are currently still being fought inthe court system, but are widely expected tobe upheld). Many independent farmers feelthese funds help agribusiness at theirexpense, and courts have agreed that theyviolate producers’ First Amendment rightto free speech and association.The 2002 Farm Bill included provisionsthat require labeling the country of originfor perishable agricultural commodities, butthe program has been placed on hold until2006. Surveys have consistently found thatmore than two-thirds of consumers are willingto pay more for meat and produce fromtheir own country. 12Regulations that ban Wal-Mart Supercentersand other “big box” grocery storeshave been enacted in Oakland, Martinez, SanLuis Obispo and Arroyo Grande in California,and in at least 18 other cities in the US. 13Finally, many efforts are underway to createa more decentralized food system, involvingboth the creation of alternative structuresand addressing the political power of oligopolies.In Chicago, for example, an initiativeto create a regional organic food systemadvocates new consumer food cooperatives,farmers’ markets and community gardens,as well as increasing farmland protection,reducing subsidies to agribusiness andincreasing public funding for sustainablefood systems. 14Consolidation in food and agriculture hasmany negative consequences for the majorityof those who grow, harvest, process and eatfood. These include lowering incomes andpurchasing power, limiting choices, andharming human, animal and ecosystemhealth. However the importance of foodmakes it likely that as more people becomeaware of these consequences, the power ofcorporate agribusiness will be more effectivelyconfronted.ABOUT THE AUTHORPhil Howard is a postdoctoral researcherat the Center for Agroecology and SustainableFood Systems at UC SantaCruz where his research addresses the roleof consumers in fostering sustainableagriculture. He is a co-author of the“Consolidation in Food Retailing andDairy” study conducted for the NationalFarmers Union.1 Heffernan, W.D. 1999. “Biotechnology andMature Capitalism,” Presented at the 11thAnnual Meeting of the National AgriculturalBiotechnology Council. Lincoln, Nebraska.2 Hendrickson, M. & W.D. Heffernan 2002a.“Concentration in Agricultural Markets,”National Farmers Union.3 Hendrickson, M., W.D. Heffernan, P.H.Howard & J.B. Heffernan. 2001.“Consolidation in Food Retailing and Dairy:Implications for Farmers and Consumers in aGlobal Food System,” National FarmersUnion.4 Heffernan, W.D., M. Hendrickson & R.Gronski. 1999. “Consolidation in the Foodand Agriculture System,” National FarmersUnion.5 Fesperman, D. & K. Shatzkin. 1999. “ThePlucking of the American Chicken Farmer,”Baltimore Sun, February 28.6 Hallman, W.K., W.C. Hebden, H.L. Aquino,C.L. Cuite & J.T. Lang. 2003. “PublicPerceptions of Genetically Modified Foods:A National Study of American Knowledgeand Opinion,” Rutgers University.7 Odabashian, E. 1999. “White Liquid Gold,”Consumers Union, West Coast RegionalOffice.8 Baker, L. 2002. “The Not-So-Sweet Successof Organic Farming,” Salon, July 29.9 Forster, J. 2002. “Look Who’s GoingOrganic,” Business Week, October 9.10 Weir, T. 2003. “Wal-Mart’s the 1: America’s50 Largest Supermarket Chains,” ProgressiveGrocer, May 1, 35–48.11 Hendrickson, M.K. & W.D. Heffernan.2002b. “Opening Spaces ThroughRelocalization: Locating Potential Resistancein the Weaknesses of the Global FoodSystem,” Sociologia Ruralis 42(4): 347– 369.Quote p. 361.12 Umberger, W.J., D.M. Feuz, C.R. Calkins& B.M. Sitz. 2003. “Country-of-OriginLabeling of Beef Products: US ConsumersPerceptions,” Presented at the Food &Agriculture Marketing Policy SectionConference, Washington, DC.13 DeFao, J. 2003. “Oakland Bans MegaGrocers: Wal-Mart Blocked by City CouncilVote,” San Francisco Chronicle, Thursday,October 23, A19.14 Slama, J. 2002. “The Land of OrganicOpportunity: Steps to Building a RegionalOrganic Food System Serving Chicago”Sustain.

BECOME A CCOF SUPPORTING MEMBERsupport the roots of certified organic food and agricultureThere are many important causes in this world that need and deserve our support. CCOF’s CertifiedMembers, Supporting Members, and staff believe that one of these causes is organic food. CCOF has beenworking for three decades to increase public awareness of and demand for certified organic products, and toexpand support for sustainable agriculture. CCOF has a long history of helping implement organic legislation,and emphasizes public education on the benefits of organic food for our own health, the health of ourchildren, and the health of our planet.Please help ensure that CCOF continues to be a leader in the organic movement. CCOF offers differentsupporting membership levels and benefit packages for both individuals and businesses. Please select yourmembership level, and decide how much you would like to contribute. Become a Supporting Member today.For more information visit our website at www.ccof.org or call CCOF toll free at 1-888-423-2263.SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND BENEFIT PACKAGESPROMOTINGCONTRIBUTINGSUSTAININGLIFETIMEAG ADVISORSTUDENT/LIMITED INCOMEINDIVIDUAL$40 to $74Receive our Magazine, Bumper Sticker,and your choice of organic cottonT-shirt or Organic Directory$75 to $249Receive our Magazine, organiccotton T-shirt, Organic Directory,listing in the Organic Directory, andBumper Sticker$250 to $499All of the above plus a one-time listingin the Magazine$500 and overAll of the above plus a one-time listingwith picture in the Magazine, CCOFSupporting Member Sign, and LifetimeSupporting Member Certificate—$20Receive our Magazine andBumper StickerBUSINESS$75 to $249Receive our Magazine, organic cottonT-shirt, Organic Directory, Handbook,listing in the Organic Directory, andBumper Sticker$250 to $499All of the above plus a one-time1/12 page space for your advertisementin the Magazine$500 to $1,249All of the above plus a one-time 1 ⁄4 pagespace for your advertisement in theMagazine (instead of a 1 ⁄12 page ad)$1,250 and overAll of the above plus a one-time fullpage space for your advertisement in theMagazine (instead of a 1 ⁄4 page ad), CCOFSupporting Member Sign, and LifetimeSupporting Business Certificate$50Receive our Magazine, Organic Directory,Handbook, and Bumper Sticker—YES, I want to make a difference and would like to become a CCOF Supporting Member!Name: ______________________________________________________________________________Business: __________________________________________________________________________Address: ___________________________________________________________________________City: _________________________________________________________________________________State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________Phone/Fax: _______________________________________________________________________E-mail: _____________________________________________________________________________Promoting Individual $40 to $74Choose: T-shirt or Organic DirectoryContributing Individual $75 to $249Sustaining Individual $250 to $499Lifetime Individual $500 and overT-shirt color: Natural Granite SageT-shirt size: S M L XLPromoting Business $75 to $249Contributing Business $250 to $499Sustaining Business $500 to $1,249Lifetime Business $1,250 and overAg Advisor $50Student/Limited Income $20Please select your membership level, include a check payable to CCOF, and mail to:CCOF, 1115 Mission St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3526.

MEMBERSOrganic Farming: Proactive EnvironmentalismBy Keith L. ProctorTEN YEARS AGO, JASON MCKENNEYmerged his passions for biologyand farming with his strong sociopoliticalbeliefs—and landed on a 12-acrefarm just south of San Francisco. Schooledin Rhode Island on an environmental educationfarm where he also taughtbiology, Jason later moved to Californiato continue farming. Througha friend, he started working on afarm where he learned about localsoil types and microclimates, environmentalconditions that make Californiaunique as a farming state. Healso learned about building relationshipswith a new and growing sectorof organic consumer: small restaurantsfrequented by customers willingto pay a fair price for deliciouslocal organic produce prepared witha skilled hand.Today Jason operates PurisimaGreens Farm, eight miles south ofHalf Moon Bay. Like the first farmhe worked on in California, Jasoncaters a portion of his crop productionto restaurant orders. Chefs visitthe farm, sit down with Jason, andtogether they build custom saladtypes, even deciding the style of howthe greens should be harvested.Chefs have a lot to choose from onthe 5 acres at Purisima Greens:spinach, chards, kales, broccoli, cabbage,roots, cauliflower, beets,turnips, carrots, strawberries, potatoes,artichokes, summer and wintersquashes, onions, garlic, leeks, shallots,dry farmed tomatoes, and more.Like many successful organicfarmers, Jason appreciates thestrength in crop diversity. Varietymay be the spice of life, and theexciting spice in a good restaurant,but Jason is also thinking in practicalterms of economy and marketing. “If youmaintain a level of diversity, you can havea buffer to withstand almost any marketfluctuation.” In addition to restaurants,Purisima Greens offers Community SupportedAgriculture (CSA) shares from Mayto December.Many small farmers attend severalregional farmers’ markets as a way to earna living. Jason, however, has chosen onlyone market—the Alemany Farmers’ Marketin San Francisco. Here, the discriminatingbargain shopper searchesthe booths, and questions the produce,the price, and the farmer.Unlike the trendy, almost pseudoyuppiefeeling of other Bay Areafarmers’ markets, the Alemany Marketis frequented by regular neighborhoodpeople looking for goodproduce at a decent price. “Theyreally confront the issue of organicfood cost,” says Jason. But after fiveyears as a regular vendor, and onlyone of two organic greens vendorsout of hundreds, customers havecome to recognize Purisima Greens’produce as cheep, organic food that’ssuperior. His prices are often underthose of local retailers, and the marketcustomers know that. Some ofthem come to the market beforesunrise, flashlights in hand, ready tohelp Jason and other vendors unloadand set up their booths so that theycan be the first ones to purchasefood and wares for sale. “Peoplecome out like locusts.” He laughs.“It’s fun and energizing.” But thePurisima booth is usually sold outof everything by 10 AM. The marketwasn’t always like this, explainsJason. He has watched the AlemanyFarmers’ Market transform over theyears from a mostly Hmong market,with farms based in the Central Valley,to a market of extreme diversity—stillwith the same Hmongfarmers, and now with so manymore from around the area. “It’s likePage 8CCOF Magazine

a superstore in that everything is available,so many vendors and customers. It is theantithesis of monoculture.”But why enter farming? “Organic farmingis biologically oriented environmentalism.It is the best proactive way I know.”Jason thinks of himself as a politicallyaware person. His motivation for growingorganic food is to try to make an equitableliving and help create an equitable economy.He says that it is his way of helpingto rebuild an economy that serves peoplein a better fashion. By this, he hopes tostand as an example that one can growfood in an environmental, economical,and labor sustainable way.“Most other environmental activism isretroactive—trying to curb, halt, stop,minimize, or clean-up environmentaldamage.” But organic farming is different.It helps create a cleaner world from theoutset.“That’s what organic farming is allabout,” says Jason.Organic Farming Excels in Tolerance,Climate Extremes and Counters Greenhouse GasesNew research from the Rodale Institute’s long-running “Farming Systems Trial” providesevidence that organic cropping systems perform better than conventionallymanaged crops during climate extremes, indicating they will be a “valuableresource in an era of climate variability.” Two organic systems (one legume-based andone manure-based) out-yielded the conventional system in 4 out of 5 years of moderatedrought in southeastern Pennsylvania. Though all corn and soybean yields suffered in1999 (with 5 months of severe drought followed by the wettest September on record inthe Northeast), 3 of 4 crop comparisons resulted in significantly better yields in theorganic systems compared to the conventional. Water harvest, important for groundwaterrecharge, was significantly higher over 5 years, with 16% and 25% more waterretained for crop use in the organic systems.Additionally, the world’s longest running study of organic farming (1981-2002) hasdocumented that organic soils actually clean the atmosphere of global warming gasesby capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into soil material (carbonsequestration). This is the first study to differentiate organic farming techniques fromconventional agricultural practices for their ability to serve as carbon “sinks.” While carbonhelps stimulate plant growth, scientists estimate carbon dioxide may be responsiblefor more than 80% of global warming. In the organic systems, soil carbon increased15% to 28%.The report appeared in the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture (Vol. 18, No.3, 2003); for more information, contact co-author Rita Seidel, rita.seidel@rodaleinst.org.A complete analysis of the report can be viewed at www.newfarm.org/depts/NFfield_trials/1103/droughtresearch.shtmlWinter 2003–2004 Page 9

MEMBERSFROM R U BBERB O OTS TOS C HOOL B O OKSBy Raquel GarciaLO TS OF KIDSgrow up inanenvironment that onlyextends to the boundaries of their two-acreyards. My sister Jennifer Garcia and I, on theother hand, were raised on an organic ricefarm where the boundaries of our back yardwere as endless as our childhood imaginations.Our pets were not limited to the ordinarycats and dogs of normal households butinstead included all sorts of wildlife rangingfrom tadpoles to turtles and even to ducks.I was a bright-eyed wild forest creature thatwas ready to explore the great outdoors, runningaround in rice patties and ponds outfittedin rubber boots and armed only with asmall net and my unrestrained imagination.Never in my wildest dreams would I thinkthat all of this would eventually lead to somany more experiences and opportunitiesthat would shape my life forever.Due to my family’s involvement in andcommitment to sustainable agriculture andwildlife-friendly farming I have been grantedsome phenomenal opportunities. We wereinvited to participate as a farm family inPresident Clinton’s National Rural Conferenceat Iowa State University. President Clinton,Vice-President Gore, and Secretary ofAgriculture Dan Glickman were interactingwith panels of everydaycitizens and respondingto their concerns. Ilearned first hand thatissues that affect mylocal community can beinfluenced by individualssuch as myselfthrough leadership.While attending theconference my fatherand I went to a receptionthat was held in alaboratory for new agriculturalideas. Thereception was the firsttime in my life whenadults spoke to me as ifI were an adult myself. The experience wasalmost a coming out or a breaking throughfrom adolescence into adulthood for me.University professors and industry leaderswere asking me questions about my family’srole in sustainable agriculture and I couldspeak with them about these topics just aseasily as I could speak to my best friend. TheDean of Agriculture Sciences even extendedme an informal invitation to attend the Universityof Iowa upon my graduation fromhigh school.While still in high school my family andI were also honored guests at The JapanAgricultural ExchangeCouncil (JAEC). Werepresented the UnitedStates at The InternationalFarmers Forumat Akita, Japan. Weshared our experiencesand ideas on sustainableagriculture andspent a week touringthe rice growingregions. While visitingJapan I fell in love withthe food and the culture.The buffets offood that were set outfor the parties andRaquel Garcia with father, Allan, of Living Farms.receptions was sobeautifully prepared and displayed that onealmost felt guilty about eating the culinarymasterpieces. One of the most memorableexperiences that I had while in Japan waswhen my family and I were given the opportunityto visit a Shinto Temple. It was a lifealtering experience smelling the sweetincense burning while watching as people tiesmall pieces of paper with prayers on themPage 10CCOF Magazine

to various places about the temple. Thatmoment was my first exposure to the ancienteastern religions and philosophies that I havesince been so fascinated with. The Japaneseculture had such a great respect for the landand the hard work needed to keep it withinone’s family. They made me feel proud of myrural background and made me want towork even harder to keep my own family’sland so that it may be passed on to the generationthat will follow me.At these conferences and others, such asThe National Oceans Conference with formerPresident Clinton and former Vice-President Gore, my horizons opened upbeyond my rural existence, and I saw a muchbroader view of the world. These conferencestaught me that I had a voice which could beheard and that if you believed in somethingstrong enough and was willing to work hardand fight for it you can change the world.Being raised in the country and experiencingwondrous opportunities like theseconferences has helped to give me a uniqueperspective on life. I have grown up withholistic thinking and a greater connectionto nature and the world around us. Lots ofkids grow up in one dimensional lifestyles,but for me growing up in the country hasprovided me with certain values, made mea more well-rounded individual, and givenme the ability to leap into and understandother cultures. My upbringing on the farmhas influenced every part of my life, eventhe areas of study that I have undertakenwhile in college. I am a graduating seniorthis year at the University of San Diego finishingoff my major in Business Administrationbut all the while still staying trueto my roots by studying Native AmericanReligion particularly in the area ofShamanism because of their connectionsto the earth.While in school I am still astonished atthe ignorance of people as to where theirfood comes from and how it’s provided tothem. Each time I am asked about where Iam from or what my parents do for a livingpeople are always quick to implement thewidely used but horribly mistaken stereotypeof farming by making a funny commentabout seeing me in a rice field dressed inoveralls and a straw hat with a sickle in myhand. I am always quick to re-educate theselaymen in the truth about what farming hasbecome in the 21st century. After enlighteningthem on all the technology that my familyalone implements on our farms, includingthe seeding of our rice fields using globalpositioning systems, I leave them completelyawestruck and open mouthed.Today, I continue my quest to educate byworking for my family’s business, LivingFarms for which I am an equal partner, asthe Environmental Education and PublicRelations Director. I organize and coordinatetours and educational events on ourfarms to a broad spectrum of individualsranging from foreign dignitaries, industryleaders, school teachers, and even gradeschool children. One of our latest eventswas a tour at our organic rice operation onthe Consumes River Preserve this last summerduring the Ministerial Conference andExpo on Agricultural Science and Technology.In conjunction with the EcologicalFarming Association and CCOF, attendeesfrom the conference, including two agriculturalministers fromSri Lanka, weregiven the opportunityto tour ourorganic farmingoperation.While I am enjoyingthe work that Iam doing for LivingFarms I am constantlylookingtowards the everexpanding horizonof my future, wonderingwhere thenext chapter of mylife will take me. Thechoices are endless.Right now I amlooking into applyingfor a possible jointdegree program thatwould include lawand business. Ihaven’t decidedwhether I would liketo pursue the lawdegree to the fullestand perhaps become a water attorney ormaybe take a different route by becoming aprofessor and continuing my own educationand the education of others. No matterwhich path or degree I choose to follow, bothwill be strong tools that will be helpful inorder for me to influence the ever changingworld around me, and help me to preservethe country that has forever changed my lifeand become such a part of my soul.Winter 2003–2004 Page 11

PROGRAMSNRCS &ORGANIC FARMERSBy Jessica Hamburger,CCOF FoundationTH EY HELP FARMERS PAYfor controlling erosion, improvingirrigation efficiency and creatinghabitat for beneficial insects and wildlife.They are the staff of the USDA NaturalResource Conservation Service (NRCS), andseveral CCOF members have already benefitedfrom their grants.With cost-share money from the NRCSEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP), Greg Massa of CGD Farms wasable to laser level his rice field, which resultedin improved water control, reduced weed andpest infestations, and increased production.He also doubled the size of his water recirculatingsystem. This reduced his farm’s relianceon groundwater and cut pumping costs byover 25%. He experimented with growingcover crops to reduce nitrogen needs andrepaired a leaky drainage ditch bank in orderto keep sediment and pollutants from flowinginto the river. He also got a 75% costshareto do habitat and revegetation workalong the edges of his ranch.“All of these projects were carried outwhen rice prices were very low, which meansthey probably would have been infeasible forus to do on our own,” said Massa. “However,the cost-share money and technical assistanceprovided by NRCS made them all possible,and I think everyone has benefited greatly.Our impact on the river has been reduced,our costs are lower, and our production hasincreased.”Of course, not every CCOF farmer whohas applied for an NRCS grant has been solucky. A respondent to a CCOF survey ofmember participation in conservation programsstated that after ten years of applyingto NRCS, she finally got $1,200, and feltthat the reward was not worth the effort.However, most of those who responded tothe survey and had experience with NRCSprograms felt they were worthwhile despitethe paperwork and delays.Organic farmers are natural partners forNRCS because they share many of the samegoals for land stewardship, but few NRCSstaff members are familiar with organic farmingpractices. To address this problem, AnnBaier of the National Center for AppropriateTechnology (and a CCOF inspector) is developinga training program on organic standardsfor NRCS staff in California.Patrick Troy of Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) notedthat participation in NRCS cost share programsis easier for farmers who can afford topay for the cost of improvements and getreimbursed later. “In most cases, it’s not feasiblefor small farmers with uncertain cashflow, particularly those with limited Englishskills,” Troy said. For that reason, ALBA isworking with NRCS to make its programsmore accessible to these types of farmers.HOW TO GET INVOLVED1. Apply for a Grant. Info about NRCS programs,including EQIP, is available atwww.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. If interestedin applying, contact your local USDAService Center. To find the one near you, goto www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov and click on “Finda Service Center.”2. Help Shape the Conservation SecurityProgram. Unlike NRCS programs that sharethe cost of fixing problems on a farm, theNRCS Conservation Security Program (CSP)is an entitlement program for farms that arealready operating in a way that conservesresources. This program has the potential toreward organic farmers for the good practicesthey have been following for years. At presstime, the draft rule for the CSP was awaitingapproval by the White House Office of Managementand Budget. CCOF members areencouraged to comment on the draft rulewhen it comes out.Once the rule is finalized, NRCS willrequest input from the public on the criteriathat it will use to evaluate conservationachievements on farms. CCOF Foundationstaff will be attending advisory committeemeetings to shape the process, and we welcomeinput from CCOF members.3. Become a Technical Service Provider.NRCS has a new program that enablesprivate consultants with expertise in areassuch as tillage and erosion, pest management,irrigation systems, and nutrient managementto serve as technical service providers (TSPs).After signing a contract with NRCS for acost-share project, a farmer can then requestfunds to hire a TSP to implement the project.Some experienced organic advisors havealready begun serving as TSPs. Moreinformation about the TSP registry is athttp://techreg.usda.gov.4. Get on the Board of your Local ResourceConservation District. Resource conservationdistricts play a role in setting localconservation priorities, which determineshow money gets spent.5. Join the CCOF Conservation E-mail List.If you would like to get periodic updates onthe status of NRCS and other conservationprograms and how you can get involved,please send an e-mail to CCOFconservationsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. This list will bemoderated by the CCOF Foundation and isnot expected to send out more than onemessage per week. You can remove yourselffrom the list at anytime.NRCS Grant Application Tips from Greg Massa, CGD Farms1) Have a good idea of what you want to do, and why. Your goal should be to reduce yourenvironmental impact, and improve your production system.2) Try to get a big bang out of just a few bucks.3) Think big—design a whole farm management plan that addresses as many problems aspossible.4) Add wildlife habitat wherever possible. It is a good conservation practice, and it scoreslots of points.5) Talk to NRCS staff throughout the process, and get their input! They know the programsand can help you tweak your proposal to qualify for more dollars.6) Apply early! Give yourself and NRCS time to think through your proposal and refine it.7) Use your labor and tractors as your portion of the cost-share. You don’t work for free.Winter 2003–2004 Page 13

CALIFORNIA FIRESFire on the MountainBBefore the fire, dozens of dead or dying pine trees dotted the hillsides along the highway to the mountain resort of Julian inSan Diego County: brown, leafless poles among the green canopies of the oaks and cedars. They bore resemblance to matchsticks,and the brown grasses and undergrowth that grew under the trees and up to the roadway were the tinder that wasready to ignite and spread the costliest and most deadly fire in California history.The oaks and pines, burned in the firestorm that arbitrarily crisscrossed the roads to Julian, usually remain green throughoutthe year. Now, their color is a gray-brown with a surreal look of life to them…as if they could just blow away. Most oftheir leaves have remained intact, but it appears as if they are just ghosts. No one is able to tell if they will regenerate. No oneknows which trees will live.By Laurie CohenBailey CreekFarm’s managerRoger Sonnenbergis overwhelminglybusy. The road onwhich his farmborders wasrecently renamedRucker Ridge tohonor the fallenfirefighter whoperished trying tosave a neighbor’s residence. The homes andranches on either side of the 180 acres heoversees were destroyed. The two maindwellings on Bailey Creek were not burnedbut damages were sustained to an extensivelist of farm equipment. The fires sweptthrough the rest of the farm and wreckedhavoc and disaster on almost everything.In the low lying areas of the rolling terrainbetween the magnificent oaks of BaileyCreek, where natural grasses were tended andencouraged to grow, there is nothing butscorched earth. Tufts of white ashen moundslay scattered along the blackened grounds.Where a reforestation process was in theworks and the young pines and oaks were juststarting to create a natural look of a youngforest, many of the youthful trees are nowbrown. Roger continues to irrigate the areaand although there are tufts of new grasseswhere water flows, he is unsure if any of theburned plantings will live.On the hillsides where acres of almost 40different kinds of fruit trees are grown, therePage 14is a peculiar pattern as to how the fire burned.In the intensively planted areas where thenon-stone fruit trees are managed, the fireburned just to the fence, scorching the youngtrees around the orchard’s perimeter. One ortwo rows into the orchard where the flamesdied out from lack of ground fuel or changingwinds, the trees are still green, and readyto lose their leaves to the fall cold air. Theflames burned into the old growth trees in hislower orchard, leaving some half burned, halfstill alive.Two years ago Roger planted intensivelyalong the chain-link metal fencing, only tofind that deer could nibble the branchesgrowing through it. He installed another surroundingfence of plastic mesh, which nowhung in burned and molten drips outside themetal fence where it once was an effectivedeterrent to browsing deer.“This county is meant to burn,” Rogersays, as he looks at the area that used to holdhis farm equipment, tools and assortedmachinery. Hemisses most his“junk pile” inwhich he used tohave a largeassortment offarming supplies,machinery parts,irrigation piecesand PVC. He’s aman of few wordsnow. He can’teven describe thelosses the farm has suffered. “It’s too soon toeven think about it.”Burned or damaged beyond repair is anincredible assortment of supplies: electricallines, orchard pumps, melted irrigation lines,his spray rig, manure spreader, chipper for thecompost pile, the mower…the list grows ashe thinks...all need replacement. Damage wassustained to one of his coolers, but what wasin the newer cooler really bothered him. Itwas filled with newly harvested fruit.Forced to evacuate as the fire approachedthe farm, he rescued the endangered falconsbeing bred there and then left. The time awayfrom the farm and the power outages costhim a cooler full of fruit ready for market. Helifts the lid of one box of peaches to displaythe mold that covers everything in the box.“Everything else in here smells like mold,too.” There has been no time to clean it out.The tasks are endless, just to get back to functioningnormally. Fruit lies on the groundwhere it couldn’t be picked in the orchards.Apples that wereon the branchesof a tree againstthe perimeter ofthe orchard werebaked on thelimb.Two weeks afterthe fire, the sourand acrid smellof soot lingers inthe air through-CCOF Magazine

VValley Center is the avocado capitol of San DiegoCounty. East of Escondido, its hillsides and hilltops arecovered in citrus and avocado trees. Many farmers,recently affected by the fruit fly infestation now haveseen some or all of their groves simply go up in flames.The Paradise fire here left scorched trees and earth asit roared through the canyons and hillsides arbitrarilyblackening some areas and not others. The CaliforniaAvocado Commission estimated that as many as 450acres of avocado trees burned, destroying 3.3 millionpounds, albeit a small percentage of the area’s total of75,000 tons.out the burned groves. Fire-roasted avocadoshang from burned trees like Christmasornaments; a macabre tale of devastation.The once verdant and lush hillsides alongValley Center Road are now blackened dirt,rocks and twisted dead trees.Laney Villalobos watched the Paradisefire from her home in Pauma Valley. Herfarm was untouched by the flames butwhat she saw shocked her. “Forty to fiftymile-per-hour gusts (offlames) up a hill in tenminutes, top to bottom,”she speaks in amazement.“How lucky are we?” Shehas plenty to say aboutthe reasons the fires wereso uncontrollable. “Thisis what happens when you don’t managethe forests. Hindsight is 20-20.” She wondershow fires like this will be avoided inthe future.Laney wants to see the Department ofForestry get back to clearing the underbrush.She feels that not using controlledburning or allowing animals to graze isdestructive practice. “The deer are gone,now. There’s no sage, no (protected) toad,just total destruction.” Shebelieves there has to be analternative than to grantthe environmentalists alltheir wishes, and ads,“Grazing is beneficial.” Shehopes things will change toprevent another occurrenceof the devastation like shewitnessed.In the mixed organicand commercial avocadogroves Peter Simmons“It could have been worse.”Peter Simmons sweetly jokes,“God must like organic stuff!”Avocado grove manager Peter Simmonsmanages, new water lines are alreadyinstalled to irrigate the groves that burned.Peter unwillingly admits his exhaustion.His family home was spared as the wildfiresswept over the hillsides where the 80 acreshe manages grow. Thirty of those acresburned, but “by sheer coincidence” onlyone and a half acres of the organic groveswere hit.The wall of fire, “Fifty yards high andhundreds of yards long,roiled over the groves withblack smoke, filled withan orange center offlames.” It came throughso quickly that it burnedthe ground litter, leavesand fruit, and then left intime for him to work smothering hot spotsin the groves. He will know the extent ofthe damages come spring, but for now thisyear’s crop is a total loss. And the next oneor two crops as well, depending on the waythe trees recover.“Nature is a complete gamble…you haveto do everything right.” Peter reflects onthe last 30 years of managing the groves.He questions the need to continue farmingthe location and feels tired.His certified avocado grovelost 50 trees, a third of hisproduction. He sees housingtracts being built closer andcloser to his family’s ranch.Peter lives in the groves,and they are his life andlivelihood. “It could havebeen worse.” He sweetlyjokes, “God must likeorganic stuff!”AJer-Lyn Farm owners Lynda and JerryGoldberg don’t have too much trouble estimatingtheir loss. They know every tree ontheir small farm intimately. They boughttheir dream home in Escondido in 1999.The accompanying groves were painstakinglyrestored to life over the next fiveyears. They were evacuated from theirhome, a beautiful showcase that definesthem and their dedication to the land,when the fires were approaching. Untilthey returned after the flames abated theydidn’t know if their home had become afire casualty, but it stood there “like anoasis” and the daunting task of rebuildingwhat was lost would begin.TheGoldbergspainstakinglypracticedorganicmethods torestore anavocadogrove almostdead whenthey boughtit. They are not daunted by the task of theclean up and restoration. Their love fortheir land, organics and each other willensure that the home they first thoughtthey were buying only “for the view” andits accompanying 3 acres of groves on thesteep hillside will flourish again.A light rain is falling in San Diego County.That’s what we need here. Light, frequentrains to penetrate the ash and regenerate life.Too much water will run off the denudedhillsides eroding the topsoil with it. The rightamount of water will bring life back to thehundreds of thousands of acres destroyed.Winter 2003–2004 Page 15

FOCUS ON FOODAs American as Winter SquashBy Lisa M. Hamilton“We have pumpkin at morning, and pumpkin at noon.If it were not for the pumpkin, we would be undoon.”Anonymous poem, c. 1630IN THEIR BOOK V EGETABLES,Delphine and Diane Hirasunasuggest that the saying should be“As American as pumpkin pie,” not apple.They argue that not only are the fruitsnative, unlike Asian apples, but they were“almost singularly responsible for keepingthe Pilgrims alive during the long harshwinter after their crops failed.”If anyone tried it, though, the wintersquashes would lobby like crazy against it.Partly out of jealousy—hearty wintersquash has long played the ugly stepsisterto smooth-skinned but culinarily inferiorpumpkins. But they would also have apoint: most likely it was not pumpkinsthat sustained the colonists, but sturdyBoston Marrows or Turban squashes. Afterdecades of confusion, the plants deservesome credit.NutritionNow, all hard-shelled squash belong tothe Cucurbitae family, along with cucumbers,melon, and summer squash. Cucumberscome from wet central Asia, melonsfrom the accompanying deserts, but all thesquash-like things (pumpkins, squashes,gourds) are native to the Americas. Andwhile the majority of North Americantribes grew some sort of Cucurbit, that’swhere the generalization ends.When Columbus arrived in 1492, theCucurbits were isolated from one another.Growing from north of Mexico Citythrough the American Southwest and Eastwas C. pepo: a group of watery fruits thatinclude most summer squashes, gourds,acorns, and what we know as pumpkins.C. moschata, whose most famous memberis the Butternut, was the only type tobridge the continents, growing from Arizonato northern South America. (In the20th century, botanists extracted fromPUMPKIN PIE IS GOOD FOR YOU? Well, at least the pumpkin part is. Winter squash is anexcellent source of complex carbohydrates, potassium, and B-complex vitamins.It is an exceptional source of carotenes (the darker the flesh, the more there are),which makes it a powerful agent against cancer, particularly that of the lungs. (Andbecause carotenes require fat for digestion, go ahead and put an egg in the pie.) Theflesh is considered to have a warming thermal nature and a particular influence on thespleen and stomach. Because it is also anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing, freshsquash juice can help heal a burn.And that’s just the outside. The seeds alone are loaded with protein, zinc, andomega-3 essential fatty acids. Due to the latter two, naturopaths and Chinese medicinepractitioners prescribe a tea or blended broth of the seeds to fight prostate disorders,motion sickness, nausea, and impotency. The seeds have also been used by a range oftraditional doctors to treat intestinal parasites; the prescribed dosage a handful ofseeds twice daily for three weeks. (The omega-3s are lost in roasting, so try shellingthem and eating them raw.)C. moschata the distinct group C. mixta,squashes with particularly corky peduncles,such as the Pueblo Indians’ Green-stripedCushaw.) Meanwhile, far down south innorthern Argentina and valleys of theAndes grew C. maxima, progenitor to heftysquashes like Hubbard and Delicious.The North American varieties traveledwith humans and by planting themselves,adapting to the climate as they went. Forinstance, in the northeast C. pepo becamesummer squash, while in native Mexico itproduced the first of our modern pumpkins.But while C. maxima was separatedby thousands of miles—its travel northcompletely reliant on humans—it wasmost likely the squash the Pilgrims livedon. If so, it would make sense: hailingfrom a cold, short-summer climate, theywould do well in cold, short-summer NewEngland.At that point all hard-shelled, storablesquash were called pumpkins. Earlyexplorers had thought squash were badversions of muskmelon, the only Cucurbitthey knew, so they named them pepon—Greek for “large melon.” This transformedinto the French, pompon and then pumpion,which means “cooked by the sun,” or ripe.This would indicate all the hard-shelledsquashes (pumpkins, et al.) as distinctfrom the summer squashes, which are harvestedimmature. (Their name comes fromthe Algonquin word askootasquash —“eaten raw.”)British colonists changed the name topumpkin, a word more easily pronouncedin English. For a long time it meant exactlyPage 16CCOF Magazine

what it’s supposed to, but at some pointthere was a split. The Irish imported thetradition of Jack-o-Lanterns, which theyhad previously carved from turnips andpotatoes but (for obvious reasons) switchedto the pumpkin upon arriving in America.This has come to be the new definition of apumpkin—smooth and bright orange,with thin skin and thick seeds. We still eatsome pumpkins, but most often they arebred for October’s non-culinary needs.Meanwhile, all the rest have been renamed“winter squashes.” But these are the onesthat really serve us, with thick, creamy fleshthat we eat baked, stuffed, pureed, and—itturns out—in pies. Buy a can of “pumpkin”in the supermarket or a pie for dessert, and itwill actually be Boston Marrow, Delicious,or another C. maxima — just like at the firstThanksgiving.GROWINGWinter squash is such an important ceremonialfood throughout the cultures ofNorth America that it’s hard to believeEuropeans hardly eat it. It’s not that thevegetable couldn’t travel that far (greenbeans and potatoes, for instance, are alsonative to the Americas); the problem wasthat it couldn’t flourish there. Zucchiniand other summer squash grow quicklyand therefore do not suffer in, rather prefer,humid conditions. But because wintersquash sit on the ground for weeks, maturingand then hardening, excess moisturediscolors the skin and can cause rot. Theygrow for up to 20 weeks and can only germinatein warm soil, and so require a reliablylong, hot, dry summer.Once the right climate is found, wintersquash is best planted on fertile soil highin organic matter. Not only does this supplythe plant’s nutritional needs, theorganic matter retains water and so meansless frequent watering. This spurs the vineto send down deeper roots (four-feet-longin some varieties), a search that actuallystrengthens the plant and lends the fruita richer, sweeter flavor.When growing in the right place, there’snot much that harms winter squash—except for the cucumber beetle. As with allCucurbits, every part of the plant—vines,More to Life than ButternutShoppers might be attracted to the winter squash display by its variety, but theyusually end up buying Butternut. To be fair, it is a reliable, all-purpose base forsoups, stuffing and pies. But considering how many things a squash can be—nutty, melony, slippery, creamy—it’s worth taking a trip off the beaten butternut path.Here are some recommendations from several fine purveyors of winter squash from theSan Rafael Civic Center Farmers’ Market.• Sweet Dumpling: “The kids’ favorite—this and Delicata—because you just slice itin half, bake it, and eat it right from the shell.”• Long Island Cheese: “Big, round, and beige—like the love child of a butternut anda pumpkin. Good all-purpose squash for pies and soups and such, a lot like a Butternut.Restaurants really like this variety, probably because the big, heavy squashgive so much meat.”• Kabocha: “A Japanese variety with a bright orange flesh and super nutty flavor. TheRed Cup is the American version. Some say Red Cup is creamier, but I think theonly difference is shape: Kabocha is round like a pumpkin, Red Cup square at theedges.”• Red Kuri: “It looks like a primeval pumpkin. The taste is similar to Kabocha, butstarchier. Lately I’ve been mixing the two for a Red Kuri-Kabocha-ginger-Serranopepper soup.”• Acorn: “Wonderful sweetness. But then, you see it everywhere. I’d try one that’s alittle more adventurous.”• Cinderella: “The meat gets really thick, even four inches on the big ones. Somepeople cut out the top, carve out most of the meat, but leave the shell intact.When they’ve made their squash soup, they pour it back in and use the shellas a serving bowl.”• Ghirardell: “From New Zealand. This one has beautiful, bright orange flesh anda taste that’s very melon/cucumbery. Nice and heavy; a good stuffer.”• Triple Treat: “It’s technically a squash, but it looks like a pumpkin. It even has bigseeds like a pumpkin; that’s why it’s called ‘Triple Treat’: because you can eat thethin skin, the meaty flesh, and the roasted seeds.”• Spaghetti: “Yes, it’s true, you can bake or steam this squash then run a forkthrough it and use the stringy flesh like pasta. Toss it with parmesan cheese,tomato sauce, pesto—whatever makes sense.”• Cream of the Crop: “Light skin, very pale flesh. Actually, kind of bland, but a nicetable decoration.”foliage, flowers, fruit—attracts the little yellowinsect. They can decimate a youngstand overnight and strip enough skin off anearly mature fruit to make it defective.Non-organic growers use relatively fewchemicals on winter squash, but most ofthose they do use go to combat the cucumberbeetle. The top choice is the pyrethroidesfenvalerate. It is preferable to chemicalslike endosulfan and carbaryl, which are usedin higher-value crops such as melons. Butpyrethroids do substantial damage, particularlyto the beneficial insects that might otherwisecontrol the pests in squash andneighboring plantings. (Conventional growerscannot spray until fruit-set, for esfenvalerateis highly toxic to the honeybeesthey rely on for pollination.) Pyrethroids arehighly toxic to fish and amphibians, and aresuspected endocrine disrupters (think: fishwith multiple sex organs or organs frommultiple sexes). Finally, they contain chlorine,which helps them stick around in thesoil for a long time.All the pyrethroids are actually perversemimics of the natural insecticide withinthe chrysanthemum plant, pyrethrum.Organic growers can use this on the beetles,but again, by killing insects bad andgood, it subtracts from the total ecosystemthat makes an organic farm work in thefirst place. Phil Foster of Pinnacle Brandin San Juan Bautista instead goes strictlyfor physical combat. When he knows theWinter 2003–2004 Page 17

ugs will be bad, he covers the emergingplants in a thin, Tyvek-looking row coverthat lets in sun and water, but not bugs.When the plants are big enough, heremoves the top and cleans up the weedsthat have also enjoyed the protection.Because the farm where he grows wintersquash is surrounded by pasture, beetleshave plenty of breeding ground and thereforecan be unrelenting. If they show a significantpresence early on, he sprays vineswith a naturally occurring mineral claythat sticks to the insects’ bodies and keepsthem from munching. Still, they will hideout in field borders and migrate in whenconditions are better. So when it’s reallybad, Foster will reverse the direction of hisleaf-blower and literally vacuum up thebugs from their place alongside the squash.All this is expensive, both in materialsand labor, but for Foster it’s worth it.Because winter squash stores well, he cansell it well into winter. In that slow season,the crop offers vital sales and the work thathelps him retain a crew of workers yearround.But there’s a Catch-22: Squash lastsonly so long after it’s harvested, but ismore valuable the later you sell it. The earliestplantings see fewer insects, but theirfruit comes out of the field so early that itisn’t very valuable. The later plantings geta higher price, sold in January rather thanOctober, but only if they make it—theyare seedlings in the height of summer,when bugs have multiplied; and they arestill in the field after most plants are gone,making them the sole food source for hungrybeetles. So what does Foster do? A littleof both. “If we just had one crop thatwe depended on we’d have a sad face if welost some of it,” he says. “Not relying onone thing allows us to be a little less frantic,a little more philosophical.”HEADSTARTNURSERYVegetable Transplants4869 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020(408) 842-3030 • (408) 842-3224 FaxPage 18CCOF Magazine

EDUCATIONPhoto courtesy of Life Lab.By Kenny Swain, Marketing & Communications Assistant“The best and mostbeautiful things in theworld cannot be seenor even touched.They must be feltwith the heart.”~ Helen KellerPARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOLchildren in Santa Cruz County havea new educational resource to celebrate!A collaborative effort between LifeLab Science Program, New Leaf CommunityMarkets, The Center for Agroecologyand Sustainable Food Systems(CASFS), and Community Alliance withFamily Farmers (CAFF) has develop aprogram called “Field-to-Market-to-You.”The field trip program is split into two agegroups: one for students in the fourththrough six grade; and a new program forsecond and third grade students whichmeets many state education standards forthe social sciences. Each program includesa two-hour in-class session, and a twohourgrocery store exploration at New LeafCommunity Markets. The second andthird grade courses will focus on the richagricultural history of Santa Cruz County,an overview of significant historical figures,and a scavenger hunt. The fourththrough sixth grade program explores thelife cycle of food production, benefits oflocal and non-local foods, nutrition, conservation,and consumer consciousness.The all encompassing “TV culture” andmass media marketing campaigns are poisoningour culture. The result is that consumershave become misinformed aboutand disconnected from the land and thepeople that grow their food. If we can educateour children and provide them withthe tools necessary to understand the connectionbetween the health of the soil andthe health of the people, they become thecure—informed business leaders, policymakers,and consumers of tomorrow. SteveEdwards, a teacher at The Aptos Academy,whose class will be participating in theprogram, remarked, “Young people needto learn how to make good choices aboutthe food they eat at school and at home.The “Field-to-Market-to-You” programwill make students aware of the kinds ofinformation they can look at to help themmake decisions. This is a good first step inhelping students realize they have to takeresponsibility for their health and thehealth of the planet.” Giving studentshands on experience outside the classroomis paramount to understanding the conceptstaught in theclassroom.The “Field-to-Market-to-You”program is part ofa Central Coastcommunity-basedeffort to integratenutrition and foodsystems education withschool gardens, schoolcafeterias, local farms,and communitymarkets. “Field-to-Market-to-You” is runby Katie Davis, anexperienced New LeafCommunity MarketsCommunity Educatorand former Life Labintern. Katie brings adeep concern for theenvironment and a loveof teaching children toeach session she leads.“I believe that we allhave the power to createpositive change in our community andsociety. I feel that educating children andempowering them to form opinions andmake their own decisions is the mostprofound step I can take toward positivechange,” said Davis. “Field-to-Market-to-You” is offered throughout the school year.Teachers, students and parents who wouldlike to register or would like more informationabout this and other programsoffered by the Life Lab may visitwww.lifelab.org or call 831-459-2001.Winter 2003–2004 Page 19

HOME & GARDENDIAGNOSINGPLANT PROBLEMSBy Steven M. Zien, Executive Directorof Biological Urban Gardening ServicesWHEN THE AVERAGE GARDENERsees a garden or landscape pest,they try to kill it, typically withtoxic pesticides. All too often even organicgrowers’ first action against unwanted horticulturalintruders are organically acceptablepesticides. These control strategies are onlytemporary solutions. Pests are only symptomsof the real problem. Treating only thepests does not eliminate conditions thatfavor pest attack. The result is that the pesttypically returns, requiring frequent andrepetitive treatments.Take a new approach to your pest managementstrategies for next season to helpyou successfully reduce or even eliminatepest damage and the need to use toxic pesticides.In order to manage a pest properly,you must first properly identify it (somethingneglected by most gardeners). Thenyou must ask yourself: what conditionsfavor the pest outbreak? The answers tothis question will lead you to the appropriatestrategies to manage the pest withoutpesticides.Following the step by step process belowwill help you determine the real cause ofyour pest problem. First, determine if a realproblem exists and define it. Look at theplant in question and properly identify it.Second, learn what a normal healthy plantof that species looks like at that time of year.Natural growth characteristics may mimicdisorders. Liquidamber trees have wing likegrowths on the stems, which is perfectlynormal. Some broadleaf evergreen species(e.g., cork oak) shed leaves in early springbefore new growth begins. These things arenormal for these plants and should not beimproperly identified as pest related. Individualplant varieties are (for the most part)subject to specific insects and diseases.Know the commonpests in your area andwhich plants they typicallyattack. When youare unable to identify aplant or are unfamiliarwith commonpests for specificplantsin yourarea, yourlocal cooperativeextensionoffice should beable to identify the plant(take in a sample) andprovide a list of commonpests. You can also provide them a sample ofthe pest problem and they will identify thatfor you. Next, evaluate the entire plant, itssurroundings, and how you have managedthe plant. Remember pests are only a symptomof the real, less obvious problem. Determineif obvious factors (e.g., excessive ordeficient water or light, excessive fertilization)are the real cause. This could stress theplant and make it susceptible to pests, resultingin problematic symptoms. Determinewhere the damage began. Symptoms andtheir location on the plant may help youascertain the actual cause of the problem.It is important to realize that not allplant problems are caused by pests, and todistinguish between problems resultingfrom biotic (living) factors and abiotic(non-living) factors. There are general characteristicsfor each that can help you evaluatewhich might be the cause of your plantproblem. General characteristics of abioticfactors include similar symptoms of damageon several different plant species. Thesymptoms often appear on all leaves of acertain age. Physical factors can includeexcessive or deficient irrigation (or rain),temperature extremes and drying winds.Taking soil cores and checking weatherrecords can help to confirm these disorders.Mechanical factors are often the result ofpoor maintenance or construction practices.They can include soil grade changes, soilcompaction, root cutting, lawnmower andstring trimmer injury and girdling orkinked roots. Chemical disorders whichinclude nutrient deficiencies, excessive soilsalts, and phytotoxic pesticides (e.g., herbicide,insecticide, plant growth regulatordamage) may require soil and tissue analysisto confirm their influence. Attempting tocure these abiotic plant problems withapplications of pesticides (which is commonlydone) will only pollute the environmentwith toxins and do nothing to helpyour plants. Iron chlorosis (yellowing leavesdue to a deficiency of iron in the plant)may be due to overwatering or a high soilpH (above 6.8), rather than an actual irondeficiency in the soil. Adding more iron tothe soil if the pH is too high will not fix theproblem. Only when the soil pH is lowered,making the iron in the soil available,will plants get the nutrition they need.Borers are typically only symptoms ofthe real problem. Healthy plants can usuallyresist borer attack. Insufficient soilmoisture stresses the plants, making themsusceptible to borer attack and damage.Biotic factors occur on one or only a fewplant species (e.g., fire blight only affectsmembers of the rose family). Damage typicallyprogresses with time. Indicators (e.g.,cast insect skins, fruiting bodies) can oftenbe seen with biotic factors. And justbecause you find a biotic factor attackingyour plant, does not mean it is the causeof the problem. It likely is only a symptom.Aphids can be an indication of excessivenitrogen fertilization. Switching to slowrelease organic sources of nitrogen can helpsolve the problem over the long term. Justtreating the aphids while continuing withpoor fertilizer practices will encourage theaphids to return. Fungal diseases can affectall plant parts from roots to leaves. Theycan be displayed as leaf spots, powderymildew and root or crown rot. Bacterialdiseases affect leaves, stems, branches andtrunks (e.g., fireblight). Virus diseases areuncommon for landscape plants but canPage 20CCOF Magazine

occur (e.g., rose mosaic). Parasitic plants(e.g., broadleaved mistletoe) are typicallyeasy to see and identify. Diseases requirethe proper environmental conditions tobecome a problem. Identify the disease,learn its environmental needs and makenecessary management changes to eliminatethose conditions (e.g., change irrigationpractices, thin out trees over thin lawnarea to allow more light) and cure the diseasewithout pesticides. Most insect pestdamage is not fatal to plants. Specific pestswill disfigure plants in characteristic ways.As feeding continues, the plant’s appearancegoes through predictable changes.Often these changes are observed beforethe insects, which may be very small orcamouflaged.Don’t be fooled into thinking that symptomsthat can be observed (e.g., insectpests) are the problem that needs to betreated. Remember, healthy plants can usuallyresist pest attack. Identify the pest, butdon’t stop your investigation there. Learnwhat conditions favor pest development.Evaluate your management practices andenvironmental conditions and makechanges to reduce or eliminate those thatfavor pest attack. Your pest problems willoften be solved without resorting to pesticideapplications.Reprinted by permission from BiologicalUrban Gardening Services (BUGS), an internationalmembership organization (establishedin 1987) devoted to reducing ourreliance on potentially toxic agricultural chemicalsin our highly populated urban landscapeenvironments. Members receive the latest environmentallysound urban horticultural informationthrough the newsletter, BUGS Flyer—The Voice of Ecological Horticulture anda catalog of educational brochures. BUGS alsoprovides soil analysis with extensive organicrecommendations. For more information,contact BUGS at P.O. Box 76, Citrus Heights,CA 95611, or visit BUGS on the web:www.organiclandscape.comSTATE ORGANIC PROGRAMCOPAC MEETINGNOVEMBER 4, 2003By Sean FederTHE C ALIFORNIA O RGANICProducts Advisory Committee(COPAC) is an industry advisorybody set up under the California OrganicProducts Act of 2003. COPAC meets quarterlywith CDFA and DHS staff. RayGreen is the supervisor of the CaliforniaOrganic Program. Certifiers do not havea seat on the committee, however severalCCOF certified producers are current representatives.CCOF staff attend COPACmeetings when possible.The November 4, 2003 meeting washeld in Sacramento. Ray Green reportedthat they are still waiting for the USDA toact on California’s application to becomean official NOP State Organic Program.This will grant CDFA and DHS theauthority for enforcement and administrationof appeals under the NOP.The Federal Organic Certification CostShare program is continuing through theend of September 2004. Certified operationsmay apply for 75% of their certificationcosts to be reimbursed (up to $500maximum). A surprising number of certifiedorganic operations did not apply forthe one-time reimbursement. Newly certifiedoperations or those that did not applythis past year should apply to CDFA toreceive their funding. The cost share applicationform is available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/fveqc/organic.htm, county agricultureoffices, CCOF, or by contacting RayGreen’s office at (916) 445-2180.Former COPAC representative BryceLundberg addressed the committee regardinggenetically engineered (GE) crops inCalifornia. He reiterated a message he hasput forth for the past two years—thatCOPAC should take a position to protectorganic growers fromrisks associated withthe introduction ofGE crops. TheCOPAC/CDFAresponse has been torequest a survey oforganic registrants todetermine if there is asufficient consensuson this issue to warranttaking a position.When Lundberg cameup with a survey, it was seen by some committeemembers as non-scientific. Lundbergexpressed some frustration with the CaliforniaOrganic Program’s stance. He felt that itshould be clear to representatives of organicgrowers that it is a major issue withouthaving to send out a survey, and that thereis already sufficient published evidence thatGE has negative market implications. Hewould like to see CCOF consider sendingCDFA a petition from its members to helpdemonstrate that this is an important issue.At the recent meeting, Gay Timmons,Chair, revitalized this concern and hastaken it on as a focus issue.Winter 2003–2004 Page 21

CCOF HISTORY: 2000 ~ 2003SOWING THE FUTUREBy Keith L. ProctorThe last two decades of the 20th Centurybrought widespread recognitionand respect to CCOF and organicfarming, produce, and food products. Thepopular California organization had helpedthe state and national organic communitiesovercome many obstacles in the 80s and 90s.New threats to California organic agricultureappeared in 2000, although this time notin the form of pro-agrichemical governmentrules and smear campaigns as seen in the late90s. This first of many threats was natural.The Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (GWSS),seen first in California in the late 1800s andagain in the 1940s, was reintroduced to thestate in the late 1980s. This type of sharpshootertransmits the bacterium xylella fastidiosawhen it feeds on favored plants, suchas almonds, grapes, and citrus. The stemsharden over time, causing Pierce’s Disease,which usually kills susceptible crops withintwo years. As a menacing threat to the economicpowerhouse that is the Californiawine industry, local and statewide task forceswere created to more effectively deal with theproblem. Fearing that organic growers wouldbe left out of any abatement plans, theorganic voice made itself heard. In response,CCOF grower Steven Pavich was includedon the statewide task force charged with findingsolutions to the GWSS threat. The taskforce recommended organically sensitivetreatments, detailed tracking plans, finding ascientific cure for Pierce’s Disease, continuous1973CCOF founded.Activist growers,seeking to promoteand define organicproductionpractices, form achapter system thatlater becomesCCOF as it is knowntoday.1974Oregon passesState law definingorganic.1979California passesthe CaliforniaOrganic FoodAct of 1979.inspections, and a color-coded tagging systemfor plants leaving infected areas. As a result ofthese efforts, GWSS sightings are becomingfewer and fewer each year. The sharpshooterstill exists in California, and likely will foryears to come, but the threat it poses to conventionaland organic agriculture has beensignificantly lessened, thanks to all affectedparties working together. This cooperativeresponse has been a template for subsequentstatewide and regional pest control plans,such as those to combat Exotic NewcastleDisease in poultry and the Mexican Fruit FlyPhilip LaRocca and CCOF President Brian Leahythreat, both during 2002/03, and therecently arrived West Nile Virus. Such cooperationillustrates how organic has grownfrom a marginal practice to a respected agriculturalsystem equally welcome at the negotiatingtable.In 2000, CCOF was seated at anothernegotiating table—this one with the federalgovernment regarding the conflict of interest1985Organic FoodProductionAssociation ofNorth AmericaIncorporates.OFPANA laterchanges its nameto the OrganicTrade Association(OTA).1987CCOF publishesfirst Handbookand Materials Listclause in the National Organic Program(NOP) final rule. For CCOF members whoheld member-control of the organization as afundamental strength, negotiations with theUSDA would not produce fruit to save thelong-held structure of CCOF’s governance.The USDA determined that certifying organizations,now quasi “agents” of the USDAissuing a government license, must be freefrom conflict of interest to assure consumersthat products are truly organic according tothe NOP rule. This meant that CCOF certifiedmembers could no longer oversee thesame certification program that certifies theirbusinesses. Under the leadership of BoardChairman Philip LaRocca, the organizationwas forced to restructure or face non-accreditationby the USDA and the failure of anearly 30-year old California institution.Several proposals to satisfy USDA wereoffered. A Certification Division Committeewas created, made up of non-certified partiesto supervise the certification program, but theconnection to the member-directed boardwas still too strong; USDA did not see theseparation as sufficient, and ordered CCOFto try again. Various models were visited andrevisited. Success was finally achieved in theformation of a Limited Liability Corporation(LLC), separate from the member-directedCCOF Inc, the politically active trade association.Non-certified members of the organiccommunity now direct CCOF CertificationServices LLC, while CCOF Inc. still retainscontrol of the name, seal, and budget. CCOFalso created a tax-deductible non-profit organization,CCOF Foundation, designed toreceive grants that would help educate theTimeline of the Birth of the National Organic Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988CCOF holds the firstinspector trainingand recognizes thatinspectors need tobe qualified,trained, and paid.1989Natural Resources Defense Council(NRDC) releases “Intolerable Risk:Pesticides in our Children’s Food.”Aired on 60 Minutes, this becomesknown as the “Alar scare.” This mediaevent propels organic production intothe mainstream market and begins agrowth trend that has averaged 20%each year to date.Page 22CCOF Magazine

public and conventional farmers on the benefitsof organic food and farming. Uponreceipt of the tax-deductible non-profit statusfrom the IRS for the new arm of CCOF, thereorganization to meet the USDA’s demandswas nearly complete after nearly three years ofwork, with members still retaining a largemeasure of control over the organization andits branches.Another threat to agriculture appearedearly in the new millennium—one thatcould not be resolved by those it mostaffected. The California energy crisis of 2001impacted agriculture more than most urbandwellers realized. While urban home electricitycosts rose, and they were rightly upset byit, California farmers, processors, and retailerswere hit much harder. Some CCOF certifiedbusinesses were forced to scale back productiongreatly that year due to the high cost ofgas and electricity, while still trying to earnenough to pay those bills and keep food onthe table. At least one CCOF certifiedprocessor notified the CCOF Home Officein Santa Cruz that it was closing its businessas a direct result of the high energy costs.Another told of many conventional peers inhis region who were locked into contracts butcould not meet obligations due to high costs.The chain reaction of financial woes frombusiness to business led to a sharp increase inbankruptcies in the agricultural sector in California.There was little that CCOF could do(and little that the State would do) in theshort term to alleviate the pain quickly. Agriculturewas hurting all over California. Theonly option, short of closing down, was topinch pennies in the extreme and ride thewave until the powers that be brought itunder control. The cost shockwave eventuallyreached the rest of the country, resulting inhigher prices from coast to coast on mostCalifornia agricultural products.OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONOnce reserved for farmers, and later toinclude processors, CCOF certification wasextended to two new businesstypes in the new millennium—thefirst certifiedorganic retailer in thegreater San Francisco BayArea—New Leaf Marketsin Felton and BoulderCreek, in 2000—andthe first certified organicbrew pub in the UnitedStates—Ukiah BrewingCompany, in 2001.Increased recognition ofthe CCOF name at thestate and national level wasimportant for the organization, but it wasalso an indication of the worldwide growingpopularity of organics. In recent years,research from multiple countries has emergedto show that organic food is more nutritiousin content, and that organic food productionis in fact healthier for the environment.Organic sales have increased on average 20%each year since the early 90s, indicating thestrong and steady growth of consumer consciousnessof how our food is produced.Responding to this growth of and changewithin the organic trade, CCOF reached furtherinto the consumer sector to help educatethe general public during this confusing time.CCOF joined the internet age by merging itswebsite and the annual Membership Directoryto create the Find-A-Farmer Search Engine.Later expanded to include all farmer andprocessor members, and renamed theOrganic Directory, this marketing tool allowsanyone with access to the World Wide Webto search for CCOF members and view theircrops, products, services, sales methods, andcontact information. The Newsletter of CCOFalso expanded its outreach to more consumers,thanks in large part to MichaelSteinberg of Flying Frog Farm. AfterMichael hosted a one-weekproduct promotion atWhole Foods Markets inSebastopol, customersreturned to request morecopies of the Newsletter.Whole Foods contactedCCOF and made plans topurchase the quarterly publicationfor their customerson a regular basis. Becauseof this great customerresponse, the renamedCCOF Magazine is nowavailable at all 15 Whole Foods Marketsin Northern California.With the new growth in organic camethose who sought to ride the coattails of itspopularity, and capitalize on the word“organic”. To ensure the further protectionof the word, the process, and the fundamentalbeliefs, committed members of the Californiaorganic community decided it wastime to update the California Organic FoodsAct (COFA), to protect organic everywherein the state. With the public’s increasedinterest in organic products, companies werecreating “organic” body care and other nonfoodproducts not covered by the COFA ’90.Organic proponents, most notably GayTimmons, worked tirelessly with legislatorsto rewrite the law. Large multinational conglomerateswere also interested in helping—to ensure the defeat of any limits on the useof the word “organic” on non-food products.Their powerful lobbying, at this time, did. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . continues next page1989Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) hosts the first conference of itskind to bring organic groups together with consumer groups from throughout thecountry. Coming right after the Alar scare, this conference enables CCOF to joinwith other groups to make organics known on a national level.Organic Food Alliance and Organic Farmers Association Council forms. Togetherwith OFPANA, they begin to lobby for federal regulation to define and protectorganic production practices.CCOF starts pioneering review of Brand Name Products. Oregon Tilth joins in thisproject two years later.1990US Senator Patrick Leahy submits a bill to define and regulate organic productionpractices as part of the Farm Bill. The bill is not approved by the SenateAgricultural Committee as part of the Farm Bill.Organic Foods Production Act, as originally proposed by Senator Leahy, passes asa separate piece of legislation not attached to the Farm Bill. This is considered anincredible success in light of the Senate Ag Committee’s earlier refusal of the bill.The revised California Organic Foods Act of 1990 is passed.Winter 2003–2004 Page 23

not prevail. In September 2002, GovernorGray Davis signed into law the CaliforniaOrganic Products Act of 2003. Beginning January1, 2003, all products sold in Californiawith less than 70% organic ingredients arenot allowed to use the word “organic” on thefront label. However, later in 2003, the StateAssembly repealed the non-food provision ofthe COPA ’03. The State Senate will take upthe matter in early 2004 (see page 28).Organic farming had received officialsanctioning in 1980 when the federal governmentfinally acknowledged the existenceof this “alternative” (nay! traditional!) farmingsystem. It received another boost withthe 2002 Federal Farm Bill when organicVanessa Bogenholm of VB Farmsbusinesses received a share of the wealth.With mandatory certification for all organicbusinesses in the U.S. with more than$5,000 in annual sales, coupled with the risingcosts of certification, the federal governmentcreated a cost-sharing program to helpoffset the cost of certification. Previously,Farm Bill subsidies have gone only to conventionalagriculture, and even then only tothe largest of the large. Organic farmers andpolitically conscious consumers have longfelt that government subsidies should go tothose who farm the Earth in balance withnature and leave the least impact on theenvironment. Organic consciousness isgrowing, and eventually politics will too.In early 2003, CCOF elected its firstwoman to the position of Board Chairperson—Vanessa Bogenholm of VB Farms inWatsonville. Under her leadership, CCOFcompleted the revisions to the organization’sbylaws, thus driving the last nail into thenew framework of the organization asrequired by the NOP. But as soon as thattask was complete, CCOF was presentedwith another major challenge to organicfarming—a complete ban on hand weedingin California agriculture. Pitting previousallies against each other, and finding newallies that were former opponents, CCOFworked to educate legislators and CalOSHAthat hand weeding is necessary with certainkinds of crops in organic agriculture. Theefforts of CCOF and its allies forced the billto be pulled for amending. When it returnedto the floor without consideration to organicfarming, the Hand Weeding Bill (SB 534)was soundly defeated. CCOF, CommunityAlliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), theCalifornia Farm Bureau, Western Growers,seed companies, nursery companies and thewine industry all banded together to defeatthis bill. In the end, it was the organic issue,as the consistent main topic in the final committeemeetings, that really brought over thevotes needed to defeat this bill.CCOF’s presence was also felt in Sacramentoin June 2003, when the USDA andSecretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman,along with the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) and the U.S.Department of State, hosted the three-dayInternational Ministerial Conference &Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology.A coalition of organic farmers, businesses,and farming organizations gatheredtogether the $8,000 needed to rent boothspace, set up a small organic food standinside the Expo, and offered organic foodand information to over 100 ministers fromthird-world countries. Major agriculturalbiotechnology and food technology companies,including BASF, Cargill Dow, Coca-Cola, Dow AgroSciences, Kraft, Monsanto,and SureBeam Corporation, were also inattendance to convince the ministers of thebenefits of the scientific and chemical dominationof the Earth in growing food. Outside,the event was attended by nearly 4,000protesters opposed to the corporate patentingand control of food from seed to shelf.CCOF prepared the summer issue ofCCOF Magazine specifically for this event toeducate ministers and the general publicabout the already-proven dangers of agriculturalbiotechnology, the numerous questionsremaining about genetically engineered (GE)crops and new food technologies, and theirresponsible overuse of toxic pesticides.Serving the only fresh, local food availableinside the conference (surprising at a conferenceon agriculture and technology!), theorganic booth reminded the ministers thatagriculture is about the production of nutritiousfood grown with knowledge of andrespect for nature. The organic booth had astrong impact on ministers and media, garneringa variety of stories from the localSacBee to the National Journal’s CongressDaily in Washington, DC.While the Ag conference was taking place,the California State Senate Select Committeeon International Trade held a hearing on theTimeline of the Birth of the National Organic Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992National OrganicStandards Board(NOSB) membersare announced atthis year’s EcoFarmConference. Mostare not from theslate of candidatesproposed by theorganic community.1993NOSB begins work of writing standardsand compiling the National List. CCOFparticipates heavily by educating newNOSB members on the issues, usingCCOF standards as a starting point,and sending the initial list of materialsto be reviewed through OTA to theNOSB.1995NOSB submitsrecommendationsto the USDA fornationalregulations.1997First proposed NOP Regulation appears in the Federal Register. The organiccommunity is shocked to find genetic engineering, irradiation, and sewagesludge (the “big three”) written into the standards. The public rejects theproposed regulations with 280,000 comments, setting a record for the mostcomments received to any USDA proposed regulation. USDA is “awestruck atthe size and fury of the protest,” and announces the withdrawal of the “bigthree” from the standards.Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is created out of CCOF/Oregon Tilth.Page 24CCOF Magazine

health, environmental and economic impactsof GE crops and products in California.CCOF President Brian Leahy and CCOFrice grower Bryce Lundberg both gave testimonyto the shocked committee members,who were appalled at learning how prevalentGE products are in the American food supply,and how little Americans know aboutwhat they are eating.CCOF has long been an active memberin the statewide focus on genetic engineering,and has lent its name and resources toother organizations in collaborative effortsto inform consumers, farmers, and processorsabout agricultural biotechnology. Thegreatest impact on agbiotech in Californiacame from a coalition of sustainable agorganizations, of which CCOF was afounding member in the hands of staffmember Brian Sharpe. Formed in 2002,Californians for a GE-Free Agriculture(CGFA) includes CCOF friends CommunityAlliance with Family Farmers, EcologicalFarming Association, OrganicConsumers Association, Occidental Artsand Ecology Center, The Center for FoodSafety, Genetic Engineering Action Network,and Four Elements Farm.At present, California is nearly free of GEcrops, with the major exception of GE cottongrown in the Central Valley. In the nextfew years, however, the agbiotech industryhopes to commercialize a new generationof GE crops in the state, including: Bayer’sherbicide-tolerant rice; Ventria Bioscience’spharmaceutical rice (with human genes);and, Monsanto’s herbicide-tolerant strawberries,lettuce and rice. Bayer’s GE rice wasrecently approved by the federal governmentand could soon be grown in California. TheCGFA coalition has recognized the immediateand future threat to California agriculturethat is the new untested and virtually unregulatedagricultural biotechnology industry.To try to prevent these crops from forevertaking root in California, considering genepollution, the coalition seeks to educatefarmers as the first line of defense. The coalitionis largely successful in that it gives informationto farmers presented by their peersand other knowledgeable industry leaders.Farmers learn of the promises and the realitiesof GE crops, and the effects on theirfarm economy and the environment. Conventionalfarmers are responding positivelyto the coalition’s message, but for CCOF,CGFA, and all of California agriculture, thisis just the beginning.HARVESTIn February 2004, CCOF will celebrate its30th Anniversary in Monterey on the CentralCoast of California—the same area thatwitnessed CCOF’s birth in 1973, and thatnurtured it back to health after its near-collapsetwo years later. It is astounding at timesto reflect on the long strange trip this organizationhas had over these last 30 years, fromits creation as a fringe movement to arespected worldwide player in the organicmovement. Started with the commitmentof 90 organic farmers and Rodale’s OrganicGardening & Farming magazine, CCOF surviveddecentralization with a handful offarmers who were dedicated to an organizationin which they saw great social and politicalpotential. With their hard work, CCOFquickly grew to help create the first organiclaw in the state of California. In the 1980s,news of human illness due to toxic syntheticpesticides helped propel organic even furtherinto the public eye. In response, with StateAssembly member Sam Farr’s help, CCOFhelped write the second organic law in California,the most comprehensive in the nationat the time. The 1990s saw a steady surge inorganic sales, further solidifying it as ahealthy and natural alternative to chemicalagriculture and overly processed foods. TheNational Organic Program appeared withagribusiness special interests included in thelaw—and the organic community found itscollective voice, forcing an awestruck federalgovernment to revise the law. Such a moveworried the agrichemical industry, and a PRcampaign was launched against organic—with little success. The final NationalOrganic Program was released in 2000 andimplemented in 2002, with a revised Californiaorganic law appearing in the followingyear. Forced to reorganize with the desire tokeep the long-held member control, CCOFwas successful in satisfying the new federallaw and maintaining its historical structure—inthe end, assuring organic supportersin California, the nation, and worldwideof its continued commitment to and protectionof this traditional farming system.Three organizations from one—CCOFInc, CCOF Certification Services LLC, andCCOF Foundation—started in 1973 toconduct organic certification with only 13standard points, and after 30 years still goingstrong in the face of challenges, modifications,and government regulation. It is thededication of the people that make upCCOF and the organic community as awhole that have made this possible. Certifiedand Supporting Members and staff, andthousands more like them, have helpedCCOF grow to become the politically andpublicly respected organic organization thatit is today.Thanks to Brandon Lee, Tammy Hansen,Ron Nielsen, and Sy Weisman for theirprevious writings on the history of CCOF.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000Third and final version of theFederal Rule is publishedin the Federal Register2001 ~ March 20NOP rule becomes law, startingan 18-month implementationperiod.2001 ~ October 17CCOF applies for accreditationwith the USDA. CCOF isaccredited in the first round ofaccredited organic certifiers onApril 29, 2002.2002 ~ October 21USDA Organic Seal is releasedfor use. Implementation periodends. All organic businesses inthe United States earning over$5000 in annual organic sales(excluding retailers) must nowbe certified by law.2003 & beyondCCOF remains committed toserving organic farmers,handlers, and consumers.Winter 2003–2004 Page 25

NEWS BRIEFSCA SENATE TO VOTE ON BEAUTY REPEALThe State Senate will vote in 2004 on a bill torepeal the personal care products provisionsof the California Organic Products Act of2003. The State Assembly has alreadyapproved the measure, AB 1335. Eliminatingthis portion of the state law would re-openthe door to misleading claims on personalcare products. The state law sets a minimumof 70% organic ingredients for makingorganic claims. The National Organic Programdoes not regulate organic claims on personalcare products. Please contact statesenators and urge them to vote against therepeal (www.senate.ca.gov).OTA URGES PRECAUTIONARY APPROACHHard on the heels of the FDA preliminaryannouncement that meat from cloned animalswould be allowed into the food supply,the Organic Trade Association issued a statementcriticizing the FDA for taking a shorttermapproach. OTA’s position is that meatPage 28from a cloned animal could not be labeled“organic” even if it came from an organicallyraised cell donor.DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORGANIC ANDCONVENTIONAL VEGETABLES PROVEDA Danish study concludes that organic vegetableshave a higher concentration offlavonoids—natural antioxidants. The scientistsbehind the study do not exactly knowwhy this difference appears. One theory isthat organic producers use plant varieties thatare more resistant to insects and diseases, andanother possibility is that organic vegetablesare not sprayed with highly toxic chemicals.Until now, flavonoid studies have mainlyconcentrated on the effect of single flavonoidsgiven in large doses. However, this particularstudy focuses on the excretion of a number offlavonoids at a realistic dietary intake andderived from a variety of flavonoid sources.ORGANIC COFFEE SALES SURGEWhile the regular coffee market has remainedflat and specialty coffeesare growing at only1–2% each year, theorganic coffee marketgrew last year by 10.5%overall. Many companiesreport sales increases upto 25%. Reaching out tonew markets (churches,zoos, websites) hashelped sales dramatically.INSPECTION STATIONSCLOSEEasier access for pestsand diseases to California’s$27 billion ag economymay be theuntended consequenceof the state’s budget crisis.Already 11 of the 16inspection stationsastride the state’s bordershave been ordered shutby the end of 2003. Thefive remaining could beclosed in 2004, according to a CDFAspokesperson.STATE’S PESTICIDE USAGE CLIMBSFollowing four years of declining pesticideusage in California, the Dept. of PesticideRegulation reports a jump in usage in 2002in its new Pesticide Use Report. The reportdocuments a 14% increase from 151 millionpounds applied in 2001 to 172 million in2002. This is still lower than any year in the1990s. The farming industry used 156.5 millionpounds of the total, up 19 millionpounds from the year before. While TulareCounty shows a slight decline, other SanJoaquin Valley counties report increases,ranging from 7% in Merced County to 26%in San Joaquin County. Fresno, Kings andMadera counties were in the 14% –16%range. Kern County was unable to reportaccurate figures in 2001 so comparisons arenot possible. Coastal counties generally wereabout even with the year before but MontereyCounty increased by 7.5% and SanDiego by 10%. Imperial County pesticideusage declined.PESTICIDE DRIFT SICKENS 136 IN KERN COClororpicrin applied in an onion field inLamont is blamed for drifting into a residentialarea sickening 136 people and hospitalizingfour during the weekend of October 4.The product, Metapicrin, which is 100%chloropicrin, was being applied by WesternFarm Service on a 40-acre field. Kern Countyag officials said the drift was unusually strong.Kern and state DPR officials are investigating.In July 2002 a drift of metam-sodium inArvin hospitalized 20, with 250 peoplereporting illness.UC STUDY: EASEMENTS SHIELD FARMSAgricultural easement programs are slowingthe rate of farmland conversion in suburbanand semi-rural parts of major metropolitanareas—counties with populations greaterthan 100,000 that have been experiencingrapid population growth. The 46 programsstudied have spent a total of $1.8 billion toprotect 887,000 acres on 5,800 farms. SixCalifornia programs are included in thestudy, A National View of AgriculturalEasement Programs, which was conducted byCCOF Magazine

American Farmland Trust and the Universityof California’s Agricultural Issues Center, incollaboration with Farm Foundation.BUSH ADMINISTRATIONCHANGES PESTICIDE LAWSUITSA new interpretation of federal law at EPAwill limit farmers’ ability to sue pesticidemanufacturers when their products do notperform as promised. This interpretation isdiametrically opposed to the previous administration’sposition on the subject. In effect,the new ruling says that growers cannot usestate laws to sue a manufacturer when theproduct fails to do what the federallyapproved label says it will do.EMORY U. STUDY WARNS OF PESTICIDESA new study conducted by Emory U.School of Medicine and reported at theSociety for Neuroscience meeting says threepesticide active ingredients attack humanmitochondria. Rotenone, which is also toxicto mitochondria, has been cited as a potentialcontributor to Parkinson’s disease, butno relationship has been drawn from thethree pesticides’ active ingredients tested—pyridaben, fenazaquin and fenpyroximate.Mitochondria are described as the “powerplants that provide all cells with energy.”METHYL BROMIDE UPDATEMontreal Protocol signatories failed toapprove the US request to increase its use ofmethyl bromide in 2005 from the baselinefigure of 30% to 38.2% at a UN-sponsoredmeeting in Nairobi, Kenya. As a last ditcheffort, the 180 nations that signed the reductionplan will meet in early 2004. In themeantime Congressman George Radanovich(R-Mariposa, CA) plans to introduce legislationallowing higher usage in violation of theProtocol.GROUPS SUE FDA OVER CLAIMSThe Center for Science in the Public Interestand Public Citizen sued the FDA over its July2003 policy of allowing more health claimson foods even when the evidence to supportthose claims is weak or inconclusive. TheFDA will also permit claims in which theweight of the evidence suggests the claim islikely false, as long as a disclaimer accompaniesthe claim.EPA BACKS OFF “SENIOR DEATH DISCOUNT”The Bush EPA recently proposed recalculatingthe effects of pollution so that an olderperson’s life is worth only 63% of a youngerperson’s life. By that formula, power plantemissions cause fewer American deaths peryear. In response to media coverage and outrageby seniors at “listening sessions,” theEPA said it will no longer use this calculation.WHO URGES END TOGROWTH-PROMOTING ANTIBIOTICSThe World HealthOrganization has urged nations to “phase outthe widespread and controversial use ofantibiotic growth promoters in animal feed”;this action will “help preserve the effectivenessof antibiotics for medicine…without significantexpense or health consequences tofarm animals.”CONSUMER TRENDSA nationwide survey released in May 2003showed that approx. three-quarters of Americansare concerned about the presence ofantibiotics in meat production when theyshop for beef and poultry. Less than one-halfare aware that beef and poultry purchased atsupermarkets are commonly raised on feedcontaining antibiotics.A survey of 4,014 Ohio residents conductedby Ohio State U. asked respondentsto rank seven perceivedfood safety risks. Pesticideresidues in food wasranked first, followed bydrinking water contamination,growth hormonesin meat or milk, bacterialcontamination, bioterroristattacks on thefood supply, mad cowdisease, and geneticallymodified foods.Sources: Field Talk, a weeklye-newsletter of Rincon Publishing;Alternative AgricultureNews; Biodemocracy,OCA; National Campaignfor Sustainable Agriculture;NewFarm.Org; UCANR;www.foodoresund.com; TheOrganic Report, Sept. 2003;Organic Business News, Sept.& Oct. 2003; CaliforniaEnvironment, Fall Report2003.CDFA PEST& DISEASEINFO ONLINEGlassy-winged Sharpshooter(GWSS)www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdcpMediterranean Fruit Flywww.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/mediterranean_ff_profile.htmMexican Fruit Flywww.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/mexican_ff_profile.htmOlive Fruit Flywww.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/olive_ff_profile.htmWest Nile Virus (WNV)www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/wnv_info.htmExotic Newcastle Disease (END)www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/avian_health_program.htmPest Detection/Emergency Projects Branchwww.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/insect_pests_and_diseases.htmWinter 2003–2004 Page 29

Page 30THE GE REPORTNEWSFROM THE GENETICENGINEERING FRONTGE CROPS GIANT MONSANTOPULLS OUT OF EUROPEMonsanto, the American pioneer of geneticallymodified crops, said recently that itwas pulling out of its European cereal seedbusiness. The move was widely seen as asign that it has given up hopes of introducingGE cereals in Europe. It announced itsdecision on the eve of the publication ofresults of farm-scale British evaluations ofGE crops, the final and most influentialpart of the government’s investigation intowhether to allow GE crops to be growncommercially. Two other governmentreports on the economic benefits of growingGE crops and on scientific understandingof their environmental and healtheffects have also failed to present a strongcase for rushing into commercial GE cultivation.Monsanto’s announcement that itwants to sell its cereal development stationsat Cambridge, England, and in France,Germany and the Czech Republic, followedhardening resistance to GE cropsthroughout Europe. Anti-GE lobbyists saidthe withdrawal was a sign that Monsantowas “throwing in the towel” in Europe.JAPAN WHEAT BUYERS WARN AGAINSTBIOTECH WHEAT IN USThe premier export market for Americanwheat could be destroyed if the UnitedStates approved production of a geneticallymodified variety of the commodity, aJapanese industry official said in early September.In the year that ended March 31,Japan bought nearly 2.5 million tons of USwheat, slightly more than half of its importneeds, according to the US Wheat Associates,which promotes sales of Americanwheat abroad. St. Louis-based MonsantoCo. has asked the US and Canadian governmentsto approve an herbicide-tolerantbiotech wheat hybrid. Members of theJapanese Flour Millers Association arebeginning a week-long visit to the UnitedStates to meet with federal regulators andto assess the quality of the US wheat cropin North Dakota and Oregon. The groupaccounts for about 90 percent of the wheatmilled in Japan.CABINET PAPERS WARN CANADAOF GE CROPSA secret briefing to the Canadian governmenthas warned that the country’s massivefood exports are at risk from its continueduse of GE crops. Such fears contrast withthe government’s repeated endorsement ofGE crops and technology as a great opportunityfor Canada. The paper, which wasdrafted by a senior civil servant, says that“producers are becoming worried aboutlosing markets and losing choice over whatthey produce,” while consumers arebecoming more worried that they cannotdistinguish between GE and non-GE products.The paper says that the production ofGE canola (oilseed rape) is affecting thevalue of non-GE canola in some markets.The Canadian farmers’ greatest fear, however,is the introduction of GE wheat, ofwhich trials are imminent. The CanadianWheat Board has just surveyed its overseascustomers in Europe, Japan and the US,with 82% saying that they would not takeGE wheat. The export market for millingwheat into bread is worth $2 billion a yearto Canada.USDA REPORTS 115 INFRACTIONSOF BIOTECH RULESUS biotech companies and research universitieshave violated strict federal regulationson planting experimental genetically modifiedcrops more than one hundred times inthe last decade, the Agriculture Departmentsaid recently. The department publishedfor the first time the number ofviolations the biotech industry has committedwhen planting GE corn, soybeans,wheat and other crops not yet ready forcommercialization. With more and morebiotech companies targeting GE crops foruses other than feeding humans and animals,the USDA said it wanted to make itsenforcement actions more transparent tothe public. Environmental groups said theyhave sought these documents for morethan four years through the Freedom ofInformation Act.GREEN GROUPS SUE USDATO STOP BIO-PHARM PLANTINGA coalition of environmental groups andconsumer advocates sued the US Departmentof Agriculture in federal court inNovember to try to halt the experimentalplanting of biotech crops engineered tomake medicine. Environmentalists, consumeradvocates, and food industry groupshave urged the USDA to impose stricterregulations on pharmaceutical crops, fearingthe unapproved plants could accidentallyslip into the food supply. Biotechcompanies like Dow Chemical Co. andMonsanto Co. have experimented withcorn, soybeans, tobacco, rice, and sugarcrops as a cheaper way to mass-producemedicines to treat a range of human ailments.The coalition, which includesFriends of the Earth and the Center forFood Safety, accused the USDA of allowingthe experimental crops to be planted inopen fields without assessing the risk toother crops, wildlife, and humans.CONFUSION, IGNORANCE ABOUT BIOTECHAmericans appear to know less aboutbiotech foods than they did two yearsago—and much of what they do “know”is wrong, according to nationwide surveyresults released in September. Research forthe Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnologyfound that even though an estimatedthree-quarters of processed food on grocerystore shelves contains genetically engineeredingredients, only 24 percent of surveyrespondents believed they had eatensuch food. Nearly half opposed introducingbiotech foods into the nation’s foodsupply—something that was done yearsago. Among its clearest conclusions, however,was that consumers want the USFood and Drug Administration to take amore active role regulating genetically engineeredfoods. About a decade after the firstCCOF Magazine

iotech foods were introduced, the industryremains largely self-regulated on questionsof food safety. Most consumers don’tknow anything about government regulation,according to the new survey, but theyaren’t comfortable with the FDA’s voluntaryconsultation program that allows companiesto submit only a research summary.SCIENTISTS FRET OVER WEEDS’ GROWINGRESISTANCE TO ROUNDUP HERBICIDE“Farmers are planting too many RoundupReady crops,” said Stephen Powles, anexpert on weed resistance at the Universityof Western Australia. Should weed resistancebecome widespread, he said, “Theproblem will become a crisis.” In 1996,Australia was the first to note that weedresistance to glyphosate was developing inrigid ryegrass found in a few grain andsorghum fields. Five years later, SouthAfrica reported seeing the resilient rigidryegrass had infested a few hundred acresof vineyards. In 2000, University ofDelaware scientists reported that in somesoybean fields, mare’s tail was resistingglyphosate. Since then, resistant weedshave been reported in Indiana, Kentucky,Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Arkansas,Mississippi, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois andMissouri.JUDGE REJECTS CLASS ACTIONAGAINST SEED PRODUCERSA federal judge denied class-action statusto an antitrust lawsuit that accused someof the world’s biggest agricultural seed companiesof conspiring to fix prices. The decisionis a severe blow to a case brought in1999 by some of the nation’s most prominentantitrust lawyers, who accused theMonsanto Company and other big agriculturalseed makers of trying to control thebooming market in genetically altered seedsin the 1990’s. Judge Rodney W. Sippel ofFederal District Court in St. Louis wrote ina 20-page ruling that the plaintiffs had notprovided “common evidence” to show thata broad class of farmers had been affectedby the conspiracy described in the suit.Judge Sippel sided with the companies,who argued in April that the pricing datafor seeds was so varied, complicated andtied to geography, seed types and other conditionsthat there seemed no way to provethat a large group of farmers were affected.The lawyers who brought the antitrust suiton behalf of a group of farmers said theyplanned to appeal.GE CORN SPREADING IN MEXICOContamination of Mexico’s corn by geneticallymodified varieties, including thebanned StarLink, is much more widespreadthan previously reported, according to anew study sponsored by a coalition ofindigenous and farmer groups. The studyalso found that some plants contained two,three and four different GE types, allpatented by transnational biotechnologycorporations. Mexico prohibits planting ofGE corn anywhere in the country in a bidto protect the plant that originated in thecountry, and which has become one of theworld’s most important food crops. Thecontamination is likely the result of farmersplanting some of the five to six milliontons of US corn bought by Mexico or sentas food aid, according to Silvia Ribeiro ofthe environmental non-governmental organization(NGO) ETC Group. The coalitionused commercially available GE testkits on some 2,000 plants (in 411 groupsof samples), from 138 farming and indigenouscommunities. Working with biologistsfrom the National AutonomousUniversity of Mexico, they found the presenceof transgenes in native corn in 33communities (24 percent of the total samples)from nine states: Chihuahua, Morelos,Durango, Estado de Mexico, Puebla,Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Tlaxcala and Veracruz.Sources: Robert Uhlig, The Daily Telegraph;Reuters News Service; Paul Brown, environmentcorrespondent, The Guardian;Randy Fabi, Reuters; Mike Lee, SacramentoBee; Emily Gersema, The Associated Press;David Barboza, New York Times; StephenLeahy, IPS News via NewsEdge Corporation.GE Report compiled by Brian Sharpe,CCOF’s GE point-person and ChapterResource Coordinator.Winter 2003–2004 Page 31

CERTIFICATION CORNERUPDATES ATHOME AND ABROADBy Brian McElroy, Certification Services ManagerCHANGES TO THE NOP RULEChanges to the NOP regulations wereprinted in the Federal Register on October 31and November 3, 2003. A summary of materialsadded to be allowed is listed here; this isonly a summary. If you are affected by aproduct listed here, you should read the fulltext of the amendment. To read the entirenotice go the USDA website www.ams.usda.gov/nop/TodaysNews.html for November13, 2003. The CCOF website will provide adirect link to the Federal Register Notice.Summary of Synthetic Substances allowed foruse in organic crop production (Section205.601):• Copper sulfate allowed for use as an algicidein aquatic rice systems and for thecontrol of tadpole shrimp. May only beused for tadpole shrimp once in 24months.• Ozone gas may be used as an irrigationsystem cleaner.•Peraceitic acid may be used as a disinfectant(equipment, seed and propagant plantmaterial) also for control of fire blight.•Pheremones, may be used as insect management.Also EPA List Three inters areallowed for use in passive pheromone dispensers.(NOTE! Listing still does notallow for use of puffers).I NTERNATIONAL T RADE U PDATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CCOF Certification Services will require that an “import authorization” be in place priorto issuance of an “import certificate.” Each member state of the European Union has anestablished procedure and related documentation for the importation of product fromorganic agriculture. There has been some confusion in the past when producers obtained“import certificates” prior to the importer obtaining the required “import authorization.”The importer is responsible for obtaining the authorization but the exporter or CCOFproducer may obtain the import certificate. If the authorization is not in place prior toshipment, the product may be stuck on the dock at the port of entry.Giberellic Acid (GA) is allowed for use by CCOF International Standards. GA was previouslyprohibited by CCOF International due to the European Union regulations 2092/91prohibition. Since IFOAM allows the use of GA, CCOF has determined that GA will beallowed by CCOF International Standards, but that CCOF Certification Services willnotify producers that the product is prohibited in the European Union. CCOF CertificationServices will not issue European Union Export Certificates for product where GA hasbeen used.Factory Farmed Manure (FFM) is prohibited by European Union Regulations. There areno CCOF standards that prohibit the use of FFM; however, CCOF Manual Three providesan explanation of what CCOF considers to be FFM in Section 5.5.2 (D). Essentiallyyou should avoid manure from caged poultry or poultry where stocking density isgreater than 12 birds to the square meter, and from dairy animals treated with geneticallyengineered bovine growth hormones.CCOF inspectors collect information on manure sources for CCOF InternationalClients and this information is used to evidence CCOF client compliance to EU regulations.If you think that your product could be exported to the EU, then you should verifythat your manure source (including the manure in compost) is not from a factory farm.CCOF will accept a letter from your compost or manure provider regarding the source ofmanure to evidence compliance.Summary of Synthetic Substances allowed foruse in organic livestock production (Section205.603)• DL-Methionine may be used only in poultryproduction until October 21, 2005.•Trace minerals may be used for enrichmentor fortification only when FDA approved.Summary of Synthetic Substances allowed forin processed products (Section 205.605)• Agar-agar.• Carageenan.•Ethylene—allowed for degreeningof citrus.•Potasium hydroxide is prohibited—exceptfor use when peeling peaches for the IndividuallyQuick Frozen (IQF) process.•Tartaric acid.• Cellulose.• Animal Enzymes without lysomsyme.CSCUPDATES FROM THE NOVEMBER, 2003MEETING OF THE CCOF CERTIFICATIONSTANDARDS COMMITTEEThe CCOF Certification Standards Committeehas approved the following policystatement with regard to the use of brandname products on CCOF Certified OrganicOperations.Producers may use brand name productson the following lists:•Organic Materials Review Institute(OMRI) Brand Names List (omri.org)•Washington State Department of Agriculture(WSDA) Brand Name Materials List(http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Organic/MaterialsLists.htm)Or, with the following labeling:• US EPA—pesticide products labeled“For Organic Production”(epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/organic-pr-notice.htm).Producers who use brand name productsnot listed in the OMRI Brand Names Listor the WSDA Brand Name Materials List,or not bearing the US EPA “For OrganicProduction” label, must provide full disclosureof all active and inert ingredients toPage 32CCOF Magazine

CCOF in order to verify compliance, or awritten statement from the manufacturerattesting that the inert ingredients are NOPallowed and/or on EPA List 4. Any products that containinert ingredient(s) not on the EPA List 4are prohibited under the National OrganicProgram sections 205.601(m)(1), and205.603(e)(1), unless specifically listed asallowed in NOP Section 205.600.Where a producer or CCOF CertificationServices discovers that a brand nameproduct has been used in good faith (allactive ingredients complied with theNational List) but an inert ingredient isdisclosed (with documented evidence) thatdoes not comply, the producer must ceaseand desist the use of the product. CCOFreserves the right to retain the land and/orcrop as certified organic if the infraction isconsidered to be a minor non-compliance.Remember! It is the producer’s responsibilityto determine if a material meets stateand federal requirements before use.Mark NorthFinancial AdvisorThe Zimmerman Group1700 Second Street, Suite 100Napa, CA 94558(707) 254-4408(800) 829-0194Winter 2003–2004 Page 33

HANDLER HIGHLIGHTSFINDING YOUR ORGANIC CONTROL POINTSA DAPTING H AZARD A NALYSIS AND C RITICAL CONTROL P OINTS TO YOUR O RGANIC S YSTEM P LANBy Janning Kennedy, Director of Handler CertificationTHE CONCEPT OF “ CRITICALcontrol points,” originally developedover 40 years ago to protectastronauts from microbial food contamination,can be used by organic processors andpost-harvest handlers to optimize theirOrganic System Plan. “Hazard Analysis andCritical Control Points,” or “HACCP,” isnow applied not only to microbial hazardslike bacteria, but also to physical hazards, likemetal shards, and chemical hazards, like toxins.The concepts introduced by HACCPprotect consumers from food safety hazardsby identifying and monitoring critical controlpoints. They can be adapted by organic businessesto protect organic integrity by identifyingand monitoring organic control points(OCP). Both HACCP and OCP conceptscan be used by the entire organic food productionsystem: growing, harvesting, postharvesthandling, processing, packaging,shipping, retail stores and food servicebusinesses.ORGANIC INTEGRITY, OCPS& ORGANIC SYSTEM PLANSOrganic integrity can be defined as the qualitiesof an organic product that come fromadhering to organic standards. Organicintegrity starts in the field and must be maintainedby the food handling system to thepoint of final sale. The concept of organicintegrity is included in National Organic Programstandards and in CCOF’s InternationalStandards, which were adopted from theAmerican Organic Standards. For example,the preamble to the National Organic Programstates, “The requirements for preventionof commingling and contact withprohibited substances, and labeling requirementsprotect the integrity of organically producedproducts.” An Organic System Plandescribes how a producer or processorintends to maintain organic integrity. Similarly,the goals of an OCP program are toidentify where organic integrity could becompromised, and to establish monitoringprocedures to prevent it. A well-writtenOrganic System Plan includes identificationand monitoring of organic control points,even though those terms may not be used.OCP programs can prevent costly andembarrassing recalls and help companies producea product of the highest organic qualityand integrity. First we will explore howOrganic Critical Control Pointsin Food ProcessingPRESENTATION AT THE 24TH ANNUAL ECO-FARM CONFERENCEASILOMAR, PACIFIC GROVE, CAFRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2003 • WORKSHOP SESSION E, 1:30–3:30PMOrganic Critical Control Points analysis is an extension of Hazard Analysis and Critical ControlPoint (HACCP) analysis that many large and small processors use to determine places or activitiesduring food processing where food-borne illnesses could be introduced, allowing the implementationof control measures. This workshop will first cover the essential concepts of HACCPanalysis, and then apply these concepts to cover Organic Critical Control Points.Presenters: JANNING KENNEDY, CCOF, Santa Cruz; MIKE WISE, Wiseguys Consulting, ClovisModerator: BRIAN LEAHY, CCOF PresidentHACCP programs are set up, and then showhow OCP programs can use some of thesame principles to protect organic integrity.BENEFITS OF HACCP PROGRAMSHACCP programs reduce outbreaks of foodborne illnesses or injury by emphasizingmonitoring procedures and preventative measuresto prevent potential food safety hazards.HACCP has been adopted throughout thefood processing industry as an exemplaryfood safety program. The USDA requiresHACCP for plants that slaughter or processmeat, poultry, or fish and for low acid canneries.Other segments of the food processingindustry have set up voluntary HACCP programsbecause of their proven value.HACCP programs can virtually eliminatethe need for snapshot, hit-or-miss food safetyinspections and end-product testing forpathogens or hazards. Instead, HACCP programssystematically identify the causes ofbiological or physical hazards, and monitorthose specific points in the manufacturingprocess where they can occur. When properlyimplemented, HACCP provides a record thatall reasonable precautions have been taken toprevent hazardous food from reaching theconsumer. HACCP encourages consumerand regulatory confidence in food safety.STARTING A HACCP PROGRAMTo work well, management must be committedto the HACCP system. Company leadersmust recognize the value of delivering safe,high quality products, understand the principlesand practices that make it successful, andimpart that commitment to employees.Employees must recognize their role in producingsafe food. Only when employees aretrained and the program is incorporated as anintegral part of the quality system will it betruly successful.The first step in setting up a HACCP programis to review the unique conditions inPage 34CCOF Magazine

the food processing or handling facility. Theproduct is defined, including who consumesit, and how (for example, will it be consumedby infants or the elderly? Will it be cooked, orfrozen, or eaten raw?). All ingredients, productionaids, and packaging are identified.A flow diagram is developed which describesthe process. The flow diagram provides a simple,complete outline of the steps involved,like receiving, storage, processing, packaging,warehousing, and shipment. A block typeflow diagram is usually used.APPLYING HACCP PRINCIPLESOnce the product is defined and the flowchart written, the HACCP principles canbe applied. There are seven principles ofHACCP:1. Analyze the hazards2.Identify the critical control points3. Establish critical limits4. Establish critical control pointmonitoring procedures5. Establish corrective actions6. Establish verification procedures7. Establish record keeping ordocumentation proceduresIn the first step, conducting a hazardanalysis, the flow diagram is used to identifypotential biological, physical, and chemicalhazards. For example, salmonella, a moderate-to-seriousfood borne infection, can becaused by ingestion of only a few cells of Salmonella.Salmonella may be identified as ahazard in a product that contains liquid eggs.Each hazard is assessed to determine itspotential severity and whether it is “reasonablylikely to occur.” Hazards that are likelyto occur are included in the HACCP plan.If the potential hazard were inconsequentialor not reasonably likely to occur, it would notbe included.For each hazard, critical control points aredetermined. Critical control points are thesteps at which control can be applied. Thecontrol that will be applied is essential to preventthe food safety hazard, or reduce it to anacceptable level. Examples might be cookingor freezing.For each critical control point, criticallimits must be defined. A critical limit is themaximum or minimum value to which ahazard must be controlled to prevent orreduce it to an acceptable level of risk. Forexample, in a cooked food, this might be theminimum cooking temperature and timerequired to eliminate Salmonella. Settingcritical limits for food safety may involveresearch into scientific literature orgovernment regulations.Once critical limits are defined, proceduresare established to monitor the critical controlpoints. This might include determining howand by whom cooking times and temperatureswill be monitored.Corrective actions are established that willbe taken when monitoring shows the criticallimit has not been met. Corrective actions arethose that would remedy the problem. Thismight include reprocessing the food or disposingof it if the minimum time and temperatureswere not met. When a breach of thecritical limit is discovered, it is important todetermine the cause of the deviation andeliminate it. Measures to prevent recurrencemust be established if the problem couldreoccur.Next, procedures are established to verifythe system is working. An example might becalibrating and testing the temperature andtime recorders to verify each cooking unit isworking properly, or observation of the monitoringactivities and corrective actions to besure they are implemented properly.Record keeping, the final principle, documentsthe HACCP system. Records includethe written HACCP plan and decision-makingdocuments used in its development,which justify critical limits. It includes actualdata collected, documenting the monitoringof critical control points and critical limits.Records of the corrective actions are necessary,such as the reason for holding a suspectedproduct, how and when it wasreprocessed or disposed of, and who wasresponsible. Records also include documentsof the verification procedures.STARTING AN OCP PROGRAMLike a HACCP program, an OCP (OrganicControl Points) program also requires commitmentfrom top managers to be effective.The company must communicate the importanceof maintaining organic integrity to allemployees who handle organic products.There must be a sense of dedication throughoutthe company to producing organic productsthat meet the highest standards ofintegrity.To start an OCP program, a flow diagramis needed. The same one may be used as for aHACCP program, but it will be analyzed differently.Instead of food safety hazards, theflow diagram will be analyzed for organicintegrity hazards. The three ways organicintegrity can be compromised are throughWinter 2003–2004 Page 35

commingling with non-organic foods, contactwith prohibited substances (those noton the National List of Allowed Substances),and mislabeling. Each organicintegrity hazard is assessed to determinewhether it is reasonably likely to occur. Ifit is, it must be addressed in the OCP plan.For each organic integrity hazard identified,organic control points are determined.Organic control points are where controlcan be applied to prevent the loss of organicintegrity. For example, if a companyreceives both organic and non-organicproducts, an organic control point wouldbe at receiving, where proper control canprevent or reduce the possibility of receivingnon-organic products as “organic.”HACCP programs include the conceptof “critical limits.” In some cases, the criticallimit is zero. For example where metalfragments are identified as a hazard there iszero tolerance for metal fragments. For anorganic system, the critical limit is zero forall three organic integrity hazards. There isno tolerance for commingling, contact withprohibited substances, or mislabeling underorganic standards. Thus, in our example,the critical limit for receiving non-organicproduct as “organic” is zero.The next task is to establish proceduresto monitor the critical control points. Inour example, this may be a requirementthat delivery tags for organic products aremarked “organic” by the supplier, andinclude field identification. It may includetraining receiving personnel to check preparedlists of organic suppliers and fieldidentifications.When monitoring activities show thatthe critical limit is breached, there must becorrective action. This involves having aplan or procedure to follow if the systemfails. For example, for product believed tobe “organic” but not correctly identified onthe delivery paperwork, there may be a procedureto isolate the product until its identitycan be confirmed. There should also bea review to find ways to prevent the problemfrom occurring again.Procedures to verify the OCP system isworking are necessary. This might includereviews of total product received againstestimates, or periodic oversight by supervisors.As for HACCP systems, maintainingan effective OCP system depends on regularlyscheduled verification activities.Organic operations are required to keeprecords that verify compliance with organicregulations. The records developed throughestablishment of an OCP would likely bethe same as those required under theNational Organic Program. The OrganicSystem Plan would document the developmentof the OCP. The OCP plan should beupdated and revised as necessary. Records ofmonitoring the organic control points, verification,and corrective actions would bepart of the required records maintained bya compliant organic operation.The organic food industry can increaseconsumer and regulator confidence in theorganic integrity of their products by usingOCP principles. OCP principles parallelHACCP, an internationally accepted andrational approach to food safety. By applyingthe seven principles of HACCP analysisto organic integrity issues, organic businessowners can understand how to improvetheir unique processing or handling systemsto maximize adherence to organic principlesand regulations.

NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARDREPORT ON THENOSB MEETINGOCTOBER 22–24, 2003By Zea SonnabendTHE FALL MEETING OF THE NOSBfocused on the materials reviewprocess. The board has the responsibilityto make recommendations regardingmaterials used in organic productionsystems and handling based on criteria thatare set out in the Organic Foods ProductionAct. To make those recommendations theboard receives petitions for substances tobe added to the National List and thensends those petitions to be reviewed by aTechnical Advisory Panel (TAP), which isadministered by a contractor assigned bythe NOP.Many weaknesses have beenbrought to light in the currentprocess and so the board spent thewhole meeting reviewing the currentsystem and exploring ways ofimproving it. The NOP has beenplagued in the past by poor documentationof the materials decisions,due to poor minute taking,lax policies around the voting procedure,and incomplete informationfrom the TAP reviews. The NOPstated that it is very important forthem to have proper documentationand justification of the decisions sothat they are not challenged later byspecial interests. To meet theirrequirements we used new templatesdeveloped by the NOP toevaluate all of the materials.The NOSB prepared a workingdraft of the “Compatibility/Consistency with a System ofSustainable Agriculture/OrganicProduction”, which was postedon the NOP website after themeeting. The objective was todevelop criteria that would beevaluated during the TAP review processto determine if a particular substance iscompatible with sustainable agricultureand organic production systems. Thisdocument is below. The NOSB also usedsome new form templates that the NOPdeveloped to re-evaluate all of the materialsthat were voted on during their lastmeeting.National Organic Standard Board WorkingDraft: Compatibility With Organic Productionand Handling, Adopted October 24,2003.In order to determine if a substance, itsuse, and manufacture are compatible witha system of sustainable agriculture and consistentwith organic farming and handling,and in consideration of the NOSB Principlesof Organic Production and Handling,the following factors are to be considered,when applicable:Crop production is enhanced by routine useof fine-grade high quality gypsumGood Stuff Gypsum Guaranteed Analysis…100% Calcium Sulfate“Certified organic”There are over 30 known benefits to plantsand soils by applying high analysisArt Wilson Company Gypsum100% Good Stuff Gypsum is SUPERIORto all other gypsum products…no brag, just fact!Get Maximum Economic Yieldfor your MoneyTo order contact your fertilizer dealer.For more information about100% Good Stuff Gypsum call toll free:1-888-GYP-MINE (497-6463)www.awgypsum.coma) Does the substance promote plant andanimal health by enhancing soil physical,chemical, or biological properties?b) Does the substance encourage andenhance preventative management?c) Does the substance promote the use ofrenewable resources and recycling, andreduce dependency on external inputs?d) Does the substance have a positive influenceon the health, natural behavior, andwelfare of animals?e) Does the substance satisfy consumerexpectations regarding the authenticityand integrity of organic products?f) Does the substance promote theeconomic viability of organic farmoperations?g) Is the substance mined, manufactured,or produced through reliance on childlabor or any violations of InternationalLabor Organization (ILO) conventions?h) Is use of the substance consistentwith other listed uses of thesubstance?i) Is the substance consistent withother substances historicallyallowed or disallowed in organicproduction and handling?j) What are the experiences inforeign markets with use of thesubstance?k) Is the substance compatiblewith the Precautionary Principle?i.e. when a substance, its use, andmanufacture raise concerns, precautionarymeasures should betaken when scientific data is notfully established. The proponentof a substance should bear theburden of proof to demonstratecompatibility.Page 38CCOF Magazine

OMRI BRAND NAME PRODUCTS LIST UPDATEDECEMBER 2003BRAND NAME OF PRODUCT SUPPLIER GENERIC MATERIAL OMRI STATUSCROP PRODUCTSActivit American Agritech manure, processed RAlg-A-Mic BioBizz algae ACanadian Gold Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Lambert Peat Moss Inc peat moss ACheckMate CM-WS Suterra LLC pheromones ACheckMate CM-XL 1000 Suterra LLC pheromones ACinagro Midwestern Bio-Ag Inc fertilizers, blended, Rcontains micronutrientsDesert Peat Humate Desert Peat Humate mined minerals, unprocessed ADr. Q's Organic Filthy Rich Potting Soil Star Nursery Inc transplant media, nonsynthetic ADragonfire-CPP Poulenger USA Inc nematicides, nonsynthetic AFerti-Lome Pure Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Lambert Peat Moss Inc peat moss AFertrell Liquid #1 5-1-1 Fertrell Company fish products, stabilized RGarden Safe Organic Garden Soil Schultz Company transplant media, nonsynthetic AGreen Light Fire Ant Control With Conserve Green Light Company spinosad AGreen Light Neem Concentrate Green Light Company neem extract RGreen Light Rose Defense Concentrate Green Light Company neem extract RGreen Valley Ultra Guard Plant Wash WTB Technology adjuvants, regulated RGuanorus HT Chicken Guano International manure, processed RInsecta-Kill Biofix Holding Inc diatomaceous earth AIsomate-C Plus Pacific Biocontrol Corp pheromones AIsomate-C TT Pacific Biocontrol Corp pheromones AIsomate-M 100 Pacific Biocontrol Corp pheromones AIsomate-M Rosso Pacific Biocontrol Corp pheromones AKelpropac Productos del Pacifico SA De CV kelp meal ALambert Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Lambert Peat Moss Inc peat moss ALignocell Haymark Inc coconut coir AMango Mulch Compost Grab n' Grow Soil Products Inc compost, static or in vessel AMilStop Broad Spectrum Foliar Fungicide BioWorks Inc potassium bicarbonate AMonsoon Neem Cake Monsoon Neem Products neem cake ANitragin Gold Clover Nitragin Inc inoculants ANutraplex 4% Magnesium Organic Western Nutrients Corp magnesium sulfate, synthetic Rwww.omri.orgNutraplex 5% Iron Organic with Sulfur Western Nutrients Corp iron products RNutraplex 5% Manganese Organic with Sulfur Western Nutrients Corp manganese products ROntrol Poulenger USA Inc nematicides, nonsynthetic AOrganic BioLink Humate 12, 0-0-1.4 Westbridge Agricultural Products humic acid derivatives, regulated ROrganic Bouquet Organic Potting Soil Organic Bouquet Inc transplant media, nonsynthetic APay Dirt Premium Planting Mix Star Nursery Inc transplant media, nonsynthetic AQL-Agri Desert King International LLC wetting agents AQuillaja Powder QP Desert King International LLC wetting agents AReplenish 3-4-3 Rose Acre Farms Inc manure, processed RSalmon Plant Food Fermented Salmon Concentrate Coast of Maine fish products, 1.4-0.2-0.2 Rmulti-ingredientSalmon Plant Food Fermented Salmon Foliar Spray Coast of Maine fish products, 0.09-0.02-0.02 Rmulti-ingredientSonoma Valley Worm Farm Vermicopost Tea Sonoma Valley Worm Farm compost tea ASunny Grower Peat Moss Sun Gro Horticulture peat moss ADistribution Inc USASunshine Peat Moss Plus! Sun Gro Horticulture peat moss ADistribution Inc USAA=Allowed; R=Regulated © 2003 Organic Materials Review Institute continues next pageWinter 2003–2004 Page 39

BRAND NAME OF PRODUCT SUPPLIER GENERIC MATERIAL OMRI STATUSSynthex CA 25 O Exacto Inc adjuvants, nonsynthetic AThiolux Jet Syngenta Crop Protection sulfur, crop protection RYucca Ag-Aide Desert King International LLC wetting agents AYucca Ag-Aide Powder Desert King International LLC yucca ALIVESTOCK PRODUCTSGeo Bond Bennett Mineral Company minerals, nonsynthetic AOU-Biotal Plus II Lallemand Animal Nutrition microbial products, allowed AOU-Buchneri 500 Lallemand Animal Nutrition microbial products, allowed AProcreatin-7 Yeast SAF Agri / LeSaffre Yeast Corp yeast APROCESSING PRODUCTSAntiFoam PD-2840 Magrabar Chemical Corp Inc defoamers APyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0 II MGK Company botanical pesticides RA=Allowed; R=Regulated© 2003 Organic Materials Review InstituteGrowers Since 1883 ProcessorsORGANICALLY GROWN WALNUTSRuss & Kathy LesterOwners5430 Putah Creek Road • Winters, CA 95694-9612530/795-4619 • FAX 530/795-5113www.dixonridgefarms.org • russ@dixonridgefarms.com“A Healthy Wayto Grow”Salinas • Five Points • Holtville

BUSINESS RESOURCESCOMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE:RESOURCES AVAILABLEAT THE ROBYN VAN EN CENTERwww.csacenter.orgCSA brings together community members,farmers and agricultural land in a relationshipof mutual support based on an annual commitmentto one another, a commitment thatensures the survival of local agriculture todayand for future generations. The Robyn VanEn Center offers a variety of services to existingand new CSA farmers and shareholdersnationally.Links and information include: TheNational CSA Farm Directory; resources,referrals, links; publications, products; onlinepostings of events, positions and information;technical assistance and support.In addition, the Center answers inquiriesfrom across the nation and around the world.It administers a biennial CSA farm censusand reports findings. It does outreach andpublicity about CSA and co-sponsors a biennialCSA conference. Although modern technologycan be a great tool, it is ultimatelygrass roots action and networking that willgrow the CSA movement and help CSAsthrive. You can help: keep the database up todate; contribute articles, research papers andclippings for posting and for the library;donate to the Center to help support thesevaluable services.Application Packet $25.00(Grower/Processor/Handler/Retailer/Livestock)Certification Handbook (Manuals 1–4) $20.00OMRI Materials List (Manual 4) $10.00Organic Directory $10.00SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND GENERAL PUBLICSupporting Member Sign $25.00Organic Cotton CCOF T-shirt $15.00(Colors: sage, natural, blue • Sizes: S,M,L,XL)Organic Cotton CCOF Shopping Bag $10.00Bumper Sticker: $.50 each or 3/$ 1.00“Support Organic Farmers” (English & Chinese)“Save the Planet: Eat Organic”“Bring Organic Home”“¡Viva La Agricultura Organica!”“Organic Agriculture & Food” Video $49.99(plus $3 S/H)THE ORGANIC PRICE INDEXwww.newfarm.org/opxThe Organic Price Index, the OPX , is acomparison of conventional and organicprices for 40 products, from grains to vegetables.Browse fruit, vegetable, grain, meat anddairy prices. The OPX Plus has organicpricing for additional fruits and vegetables.There are no conventional comparisons availablefor these additional items, and the itemsvary from week to week.The OPX is a comparison of terminalmarket, other wholesale and selected largescaleretail prices for organic and conventionalfoods and sustainably raised meats. It isupdated on Tuesday of each week and representsprices for products gathered on Mondayof the same week from markets on theEast and West Coasts.This index will use the best available dataon the developing wholesale markets for certifiedorganic fresh produce and grains, aswell as the emerging national market for certifiedorganic dairy and self-identified sustainablyraised meats.All prices quoted represent wholesale costsexcept for meats and dairy categories. Duringsome weeks prices will not be available forsome products. Availability of product ishighly dependent upon factors such asweather and seasonality. This is especiallyrelevant for fruits and vegetables.For Sale to Clients and the General PublicCCOF CERTIFIED CLIENTS ONLYCCOF Logo Stickers (1000 per roll)• “Certified Organic by CCOF” $10.00• Logo only $ 6.00• Transitional (grower only) $10.00CCOF RUBBER STAMP• “Certified Organic by CCOF” $20.00• Logo only $15.00Twist Ties (per 900/case 10,000)6" — $6.00/$32.00 • 12" — $8.00/$62.0018" — $11.00/$90.00Certified Grower/Processor Signs $27.00(24" x 18" plastic or aluminum, w/NOP wording)(Please) Do Not Spray Signs $16.00(2 styles, black on yellow, 12" x 18")To Order, Call Toll Free 888-423-2263, ext. 10 or visit the CCOF Store at www.ccof.orgGreat care is being taken to provide datathat is compatible and comparable. New-Farm has selected products that are generallyavailable in organic and conventionalwholesale markets in the same geographiclocation and marketing area. Over timeNewFarm will add new products as databecomes available.GROWING ORGANICWINEGRAPES SUCCESSFULLYNew Handbook for Winegrape GrowersAvailable from Fetzer VineyardsAn introductory handbook for winegrapegrowers interested in converting to organicfarming is now available from CCOF CertifiedFetzer Vineyards. Written by L. AnnThrupp, Ph.D., Manager of Organic Developmentfor Fetzer, the 64-page guide is richwith practical advice gleaned from Fetzer’sexperience in farming 2,000 acres of certifiedorganic grapes, and from Dr. Thrupp’s experiencesworking with a variety of organizationsand wineries.Handbook chapters move logically frombasic concepts and principles of organicfarming, through steps necessary to become acertified organic grower and build with practicalhow-to chapters on soil and fertilitymanagement, biodiversity, weed and pestmanagement and other sustainable farmingpractices. It is designed so growers can addresources and information as they becomemore involved with organic farming.Also included are information resources,websites, suppliers, consultants and vendorsfor organic products. The handbook complementsthe workshops which have been conductedrecently for more than 150 growersby the UC Davis extension office and Fetzer,and both are part of a grower relations programdesigned to help growers meet Fetzer’sgoal of purchasing only certified organicwinegrapes by the end of the decade (Organic2010) for all wines produced at the winery.The handbook is available for $20, plustax and shipping (total $25). For order formscontact Ann Thrupp or Gloria Seeley at(707) 744-7600 or download the order formfound at www.Fetzer.com.Page 41

CCOF CERTIFIED OPERATIONSAUGUST 16 – NOVEMBER 15, 2003NEWLY CERTIFIED MEMBERSA&A MANAGEMENT CO. (BV)Serge BaghoumianP.O. Box 41Le Grand, CA 95333209-631-3141Crops Certified: Wine GrapesAGROVICE, INC. (FT)Regina Williams & Ralph Fasi6781 N. Palm Ave. #120Fresno, CA 93704559-431-5050Crops Certified: Wine GrapesANTHONY & CAROLYNMARCHETTI (ME)Anthony & Carolyn Marchetti5585 Konocti Rd.Kelseyville, CA 95451707-279-2988Crops Certified: WalnutsARROYO SECO VINEYARDSWINERY, INC. (PR)Larry Brink & William Nakata12805 Llagas Ave.San Matin, CA 95046408-683-0998Products Certifed: WineServices Certified: Wine ProcessingCONCORD FARMS INC (CC)Kelly Cox & David Tung23370 Eichler St.Hayward, CA 94545510-265-1122Crops Certified: MushroomsCORNELIA VINEYARDS (FT)Paul SinghP.O. Box 520Caruthers, CA 93609559-864-3600Crops Certified: GrapesCREATIVE RESEARCHMANAGEMENT (PR)James Mitchell2029 E. HardingStockton, CA 95205209-938-0900Products Certified: Brown RiceEL RANCHO YOBO (PS)Myoung Ja PoussetP.O. Box 755Pauma Valley, CA 92061760-742-8742Crops Certified: Avocados, OrangesELLIS RANCH (ME)Carol & Steve EllisP.O. Box 1557Lower Lake, CA 95457707-994-7520Crops Certified: WalnutsServices Certified: Hulling & DryingH & D GUNLUND FARM, INC. (FT)Lisa Jura8063 W. Herndon Ave.Fresno, CA 93722-9311559-275-5872Crops Certified: GrapesHAMBRECHT VINEYARDS (NC)Warren Burton4035 Westside Rd.Healdsburg, CA 95448707-756-2112Crops Certified: Wine GrapesHICKEY RANCHES, INC. (NV)Andrew HickeyP.O. Box 67Merrill, OR 97633541-798-1615Crops Certified: AlfalfaJOHN BELTRAN (CC)John BeltranP.O. Box 2103Freedom, CA 95019831-724-6123Crops Certified: Asparagus, Jalapeños,TomatilloesJV&F COMPANY (CC)Juan V. ReyesP.O. Box 5802Salinas, CA 93915831-443-4702Crops Certified: Cabbage, Celery,OnionsKARLONAS FARMS (YO)John & Julie Karlonas5454 State Hwy 16Guinda, CA 95637530-796-3492Crops Certified: AlmondsLINDSAY ORCHARD (CC)Stephen Lindsay77 Barnheisel Rd.Hollister, CA 95023831-760-0044Crops Certified: WalnutsMAGDALENA BERRY FARM (AL)William HendrickP.O. Box 120340Chula Vista, CA 9191252-616-166-3236 (Mex.)Crops Certified: Strawberries andRaspberriesMK FARMS (CC)Kevin Davis856 42nd Ave.San Francisco, CA 94121415-221-9043Crops Certified: Corn (dry)OLD HILL RANCH, LLC (NC)William Bucklin#8 Old Hill Ranch Rd.Glen Ellen, CA 95442707-933-1726Crops Certified: Wine GrapesRANCHO LAS ESPINAS (PS)Roland Vom Dorp511 Reposado Dr.La Habra, CA 90631562-694-3096Crops Certified: Avocados, Cactus,Cherimoyas, Lemons, Pomegranates,PersimmonsSAMUEL SMITH OLD BREWERY (SA)S.R. BarrettTadcasterN. Yorkshire, UK LS24 9SB193-783-9270Products Certifed: Ale and LagerSPRINGER WALNUT ORCHARD(ME)Jack & Elizabeth SpringerP.O. Box 432Kelseyville, CA 95451707-279-4669Crops Certified: WalnutsSTANFORD ORGANIC FARM (CC)T. Jay Cameron1133 Amesti Rd.Corralitos, CA 95076831-728-3689Crops Certified: ApplesSTEPANIAN BROTHERS (FT)Harry Stepanian10072 E. ElkhornSelma, CA 93662Crops Certified: AlmondsTHE GROVE (DV)Jack Spears, Hassan & DeborahGhamlouch3208 N. Olive Ave.Altadena, CA 91001626-786-4068Crops Certified: Avocados, OrangesTHE HULLING COMPANY (PR)Jerry Magdaleno19482 Road 19Madera, CA 93637559-674-1896Products Certified: AlmondsServices Certified: Hulling andPackagingTHE NUT FARM (YO)Leon FeltonP.O. Box 994Colusa, CA 95932530-458-3913Crops Certified: PistachiosTHE SILVIERA RANCH (NC)Holly and Morris BrinkP.O. Box 123Sebastopol, CA 95472707-829-0640Crops Certified: ApplesVALLEY TRANSPLANT CO. INC. (BV)Rick Bernardi & Robert Matheny23000 Bruella Dr.Acampo, CA 95220209-368-6093Crops Certified: TransplantsWALNUT KNOLLS RANCH (ME)Dan & James Della2535 Shadow Mountain Ct.San Ramon, CA 94583-1824707-449-0978Crops Certified: WalnutsWHOLEARTH SPICE CO. (PR)David Wells1257 Brommer StreetSanta Cruz, CA 95062831-464-2409Crops Certified: Italian, Latin, CajunSpice BlendsWINTER CREEK RANCH (YO)Caroline & Lewis Bledsoe18080 County Road 70Brooks, CA 95606-9711530-796-3723Crops Certified: WalnutsINACTIVERUSSIAN RIVER PISTACHIOS (ME)Sydney Maurer & William WaringSUSPENDEDA & P ORCHARDS (PS)Antony ChiotisAGENT’S ORANGES (PS)Allan & Sally AgentMOORE’S ORGANICS (PS)Laney Villalobos & Louise MooreNAPA WINE COMPANY (PR)Sheldon ParkerTOPOLOS AT RUSSIAN RIVERVINEYARDS (NC)Michael TopolosDue to space limitations, Withdrawn andDecertified Operations for these dates areincluded in the online version of thisMagazine. www.ccof.orgWinter 2003–2004 Page 43

CLASSIFIEDSFOR SALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Established 40-acre CCOF CertifiedOrganic (since 1987) Farm in NorthernSacramento Valley, 15 miles north of Chico.• Class I Vina Loam Soil. Solid set irrigationthroughout. Walnut Orchard in 3 blocks:Hartley—17 acres (1988); Chandler—8 acres (1995); Chandler—10 acres(1999). 64 fruit trees (including severalvarieties of peaches; cherries; plums; Fujiapples); 1 acre asparagus; table grapes.• 3-Bedroom, 2-bath Farmhouse remodeledin 1994. Central heat/AC; full basementwith laundry room. Extensivelyand beautifully landscaped. Swimmingpool, deck and arbor.• 7,000 Sq. ft. barn and outbuildings.Air-conditioned upstairs office; walk-incooler (12'x16'); shop; greenhouse.• Also: JD-2640 Tractor and orchardequipment (flail mowers, brush shredder,manure spreader, airblast sprayer).Serious buyers only. $725,000.sandiaman@rediffmail.com (please allow1–2 week delayed response time)Certified Organic Wild Rice: The wholesome,healthy, hearty, gourmet grain. Bulkprocessed, graded, black or scarified(15 min). B.C. McKenzie/McKenzieFarms, CCOF grower. 916-655-3367or 916-709-7885, Fax: 916-655-3344.Available from FMP Vineyards: PremiumOrganic Jumbo Raisins (Thompsons &Flames) available year round, OrganicTable Grapes in season. Please contactlegacy@cybermesa.com for pricing.20 acres CCOF certified Tulare walnuts inYuba County. Young trees began producingthis year. Market already established for saleof nuts. 3 bedroom, 2 bath modular homebuilt in 1994, fenced for horses, 36' x 48'barn is combination 4-stall with slidingcenter doors and 3 car garage or shop. Welland septic, irrigation is turn-key gravityflow. Has grass runway for sport aviation,plus access to Yuba River for fishing. Kubotatractor and implements included.$425,000. Call owner 530-742-4128 oragent 530-671-8147.Certified Organic Oat Seed and/or VetchSeed: Cleaned Montezuma Red Oat variety,also Purple/Lana/Common Vetch. In bulktotes, Sacramento Area. Competitive pricing.For details, call Chris McKenzie at916-655-3367 or 916-709-7885,Fax: 916-655-3344.FOR LEASE/RENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Approximately 80 acres forlease, all or part, 10 milessouth of Hollister, CA. Flat,excellent ground. Neverfarmed. Plenty of water.Russell, 831-638-3807,kssrre@yahoo.comFor Rent: 4+ acres CCOFcertified. Corralitos/Aptosarea. Deer fence and irrigationsystem. District water.Contact Clair 831-724-8577(leave message).Acreage & facilities for rent: Formerly Fiddler’sGreen Farm (status: “inactive”) inBrooks, CA. 25 acres CCOF certified since1982. Incl. ag well w/pumps, packing shed,coolers, barn, pole barn, plus 1.75 acresmature asparagus. $600/mo. Some equipmentfor sale. Housing also available forrent, $700/mo. Call Jim @ 530-796-2184.SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Custom Organic Nut Roasting, Dicing,Flavoring & Butter. Packaging from 3oz.cellophane to 30 lb. VacPack. QAI certified,Kosher. Reliable service and quality finishedproducts. E-mail matt@cachecreekfoods.comor call 530-662-1764.Page 44CCOF Magazine

CALENDARJ ANUARY 21–24Ecological Farming Conference. “RealSecurity Begins with Healthy Farms &Clean Water.” This event encourages activeparticipation by people of all backgroundsand ages in the process of creating ahealthy food system. CCOF’s own BrianLeahy, Brian McElroy, and JanningKennedy will present a variety of informationat different workshops. Asilomar ConferenceCenter, Pacific Grove, CA,831-763-2112, info@eco-farm.org,www.eco-farm.orgJ ANUARY 24Antique Faire in the Park. Antique faire withan organic beer & wine garden. All proceedsfrom beer & wine garden benefit CCOF. SFCounty Fair Building in Golden Gate Park,San Francisco, CA, 10:30AM–5:00PM.More info, Angie Petitt, 415-465-2475,www.antiquefaireinthepark.comJ ANUARY 292004 Cal Poly Ag Showcase. Over 55companies from California and around thecountry attend. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo,CA, 530-514-8820 or 209-480-4387,tamador@calpoly.eduF EBRUARY 3–5Colusa Farm show. Farm equipment servicesand materials. Colusa Fairgrounds,Colusa, CA, 831-423-2263 ext. 21.F EBRUARY 6COPES (Certified Organic Product ExportStrategy) Export Seminar. 2nd in a series of 8seminars covering organic export and tradebarriers. California Farm Bureau Federation,Sacramento, CA, www.copes-ca.org,831-423-2263 ext. 22.F EBRUARY 10–12World Ag Expo. Largest farm equipmentshow in the world offers agriculture’s bestequipment, technology, products, and servicesfrom more than 1,600 exhibitors.Tulare, CA, www.worldagexpo.comF EBRUARY 13CCOF 30th Anniversary Celebration.Dinner followed by bluegrass music byStrungOver. Monterey, CA, more info,ccof@ccof.org, 831-423-2263 ext. 21.F EBRUARY 27Environmental week at Lawton ElementarySchool. Children will have a “scavengerhunt” of learning questions for eachbooth. All grade levels will attend. SanFrancisco, 9:30AM–12:30PM. More info,Debora Netkin, 415-759-2832.M ARCH 5–6Passive Solar Greenhouse Workshop.Learn how to produce food year aroundwithout fossil fuel heat. Spring Grove, PA.More info, Steve & Carol Moore,717-225-2489, sandcmoore@juno.comM AY 7–9Grow Biointensive. Sustainable minifarming3-day workshop on compost, soilpreparation and preservation, seed propagation,and more. 707-459-5958,www.johnjeavons.infoSEND CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS TO:Lisa Stutey• e-mail: lisa@ccof.org• U.S. Mail: 1115 Mission St.Santa Cruz, CA 95060• Phone: 888-423-2263, ext. 10• FAX: 831-423-4528LAST WORDHow we eat determines to a considerable extent how the world is used.~Wendell Berry (b. 1934 )American poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher and farmer

REGIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (RSRS) FOR CCOF CHAPTERSAt-Large(Unassigned countiesand outside California)Lois Christie(See Pacific Southwest)Big Valley (BV)(Contra Costa, Merced,San Joaquin, Stanislaus)Earl Hiatt13507 Quince AvenuePatterson, CA 95363T: (209) 892-8170/F: 892-6143ehent@direcway.comCentral Coast (CC)(Alameda, Monterey, San Benito,San Francisco, San Mateo, SantaClara, Santa Cruz)Jamie Collins918 Sinex AvenuePacific Grove, CA 93950T: (831) 375-2332serendipity_farm@excite.comDesert Valleys (DV)(Imperial, Riverside)Lois Christie40911 Via RanchitosFallbrook, CA 92028T: (760) 451-0912F: (760) 723-3775fiestafarms@dslextreme.comFresno-Tulare (FT)(Fresno, Kings, Tulare)Cynthia Ortegon25334 Grove WayMadera, CA 93638T: (559) 664-0471/F: 664-0471omtibet@thegrid.netHandler/Processor (PR)(Handlers, Packers,Processors, Retailers)Nadya Peattie(see Processor/Handler)Humboldt-Trinity (HT)(Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity)Elizabeth Whitlow(See North Coast)Kern (KE)Paola Legarre2512 N. Arthur Ave.Fresno, CA 93705T: (559) 229-3525F: (559) 272-6186paola@legarre.comMendocino (ME)(Lake, Mendocino)John Trinterud22760 Oak LaneCovelo, CA 95428T: (707) 983-0107/F: 983-9613jrtrint@saber.netNorth Coast (NC)(Marin, Napa, Sonoma)Elizabeth Whitlow915 Daniel StreetSebastopol, CA 95472T: (707) 824-2246ecwhitlow@mindspring.comNorth Valley (NV)(Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc,Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou,Tehama, Yuba)Tom HarterP.O. Box 817Biggs, CA 95917T/F: (530) 868-1814tomharter@juno.comPacific Southwest (PS)(Riverside, San Diego)Lois Christie(see Desert Valleys)Processor/Handler (PR)(Handlers, Packers,Processors, Retailers)Nadya Peattiec/o CCOF Home OfficeT: (888) 423-2263, ext. 23F: (831) 423-4528nadya@ccof.orgSan Luis Obispo (SL)Glenn Johnson685 Grade Mountain RoadNipomo, CA 93444T: (805) 929-3081/F: 929-3081shadyglenn@pronet.netSierra Gold (SG)(Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado,Placer, Tuolumne)Raoul Adamchack26951 County Rd. 96Davis, CA 95616T: (530) 753-8003rwadamchak@ucdavis.eduSouth Coast (SC)(Santa Barbara, Ventura)Glenn Johnson(see San Luis Obispo)Yolo (YO)(Colusa, Nevada, Placer,Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo)Raoul Adamchack(see Sierra Gold)View the CCOF Chapter Map atwww.ccof.org/ccofcertificationservices/chapters.phpCERTIFICATION SERVICES STAFFBrian McElroy, Certification Services Manager, ext. 16, brian@ccof.orgJohn McKeon, Director of Grower Certification, ext. 19, john@ccof.orgKerry Glendening, Grower Certification Associate, ext. 14, kerry@ccof.orgErica Chernoh, Grower Certification Associate, ext. 13, erica@ccof.orgRobin Allan, Grower Certification Associate, ext. 14, robin@ccof.orgJanning Kennedy, Director of Handler Certification, ext. 20, janning@ccof.orgCynthia Ritenour, Handler Certification Associate, ext. 18, cynthia@ccof.orgKaren Egerton, Handler Certification Associate, ext. 25, karen@ccof.orgNadya Peattie, Handler Service Representative, ext. 23, nadya@ccof.orgSean Feder, Inspection Operations Director, sean@ccof.org(530) 756-8518, ext. 11 (Davis Office)Visit our Website at:www.ccof.orgHOME OFFICE STAFFBrian Leahy, President, ext. 17, bleahy@ccof.orgPeggy Miars, Communications Director,peggy@ccof.orgArmando Bonifacio, Accountant, ext. 15,armando@ccof.orgAmber Proaps, Accounting Assistant, ext. 15,amber@ccof.orgKeith Proctor, Magazine Editor & Webmaster,ext. 12, keith@ccof.orgBrian Sharpe, Office Manager & Chapter ResourceCoordinator, ext. 24, bsharpe@ccof.orgLisa Stutey, Office Coordinator, ext. 10, lisa@ccof.orgJake Lewin, Director of Marketing & InternationalPrograms, ext. 21, jake@ccof.orgKenny Swain, Marketing Assistant, ext. 22,kenny@ccof.orgBOARD OF DIRECTORSVanessa Bogenholm (cc), ChairmanWill Daniels (pr), Vice ChairmanKate Burroughs (nc), SecretaryStephen Bird (sg), TreasurerJim Zeek (sg), CSC ChairBill Reichle (bv), Vanessa Bogenholm (cc)Glen Vandervoort (dv), Kurt Quade (ft)Patti Rose (ht), Malcolm Ricci (ke)Charles Fowler (me), Kate Burroughs (nc)Philip LaRocca (nv), Will Daniels (pr)Richard Taylor (ps), Hank Sharp (sc)Stephen Bird (sg), Roy Reeves (sl)Paul Underhill (yo)CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS1115 Mission Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95060(831) 423-2263 • FAX (831) 423-4528TOLL FREE: 1-888-423-2263Non-Profit OrganizationUS Postage PaidPermit #262Santa Cruz, CA