Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

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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 However, later in 2003, the StateAssembly repealed the non-food provision ofthe COPA ’03.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
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Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

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