Organic Gives Back - CCOF

Member News Continued from page 5Saracina Receives EQIP GrantCertified member Saracina Vineyardsreceived an Environmental QualityIncentives Program (EQIP) grant toconvert some of their last uncertifiedland to organic as well as to implementconservation practices and planningover the next four years. “This awardwill offer us the chance to bring lifeback to some troubled acreage,”says David Huebel, Saracina’s RanchOperations Manager. David has alsooffered to answer questions from anygrowers who are interested in obtainingmore information about his experiencesin securing this funding. Pleasecontact David via email at dhuebel@saracina.com. For more informationon funding for organic, visit www.ccof.org/classifieds.php#funding.Earthbound Farm Switches to100% PCR PETIn honor of the company’s 25th anniversary,Earthbound Farm announcedit would shift 100% of its clamshellpackages to post-consumer recycledpolyethylene terephthalate (PCR PET).PCR PET is made from recycled plasticproducts such as water and sodabottles. Virgin PET is produced withnatural gas feedstock. The conversionsaves 68,000 gallons of water andeliminates 16,000 tons of CO2 annually.The PET clamshells are shatter resistant,recyclable, and light. This shiftemphasizes Earthbound Farm’s commitmentto the environment as America’slargest grower of organic produce.Azomite Mineral Products, IncNames New ManagersCCOF Supporting Member, AzomiteMineral Products, Inc., named JamesPhillips as their Production Manager,responsible for overseeing qualitycontrol and all levels of productionat their Utah location. In addition,Azomite announced Thetis Sammonsas Western Region Director, chargedwith developing sales and distributorshipsfrom the Santa Barbara, CA area.UC Santa Cruz and UCBerkeley Listed as“Eco-Enlightened”The UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden’sCenter for Agroecology and SustainableFood Systems (CASFS) placed in thetop 20 on the Sierra Club’s third annuallist of “Most Eco-Enlightened U.S.Universities.” UC Berkeley was alsolisted as their primary food serviceprovider was the first to be certifiedorganic in the United States.Sustainable ProducersChosen to Present at InvestorConferenceMarrone Bio Innovations has beenchosen as part of a group of eightproducers to present at the first investorconference to be devoted to sustainableagriculture. The ‘Agriculture2.0’ conference organizers searchedthrough over 50 companies to findthe best representatives in the sector.Speakers at the New York City conferenceinclude: Bruce Kahn, of DeutscheBank, Grayson Hoberg, former CFO ofEarthlink and Tod Murphy, Presidentand CEO of The Farmers Diner.Remembering KathrynKennedyCCOF certified member KathrynKennedy passed away last August atthe age of 82. Kathryn began growinggrapes in 1973 in the Santa CruzMountains after attending the Universityof California, Davis. The vineyard isrenowned for producing full bodiedand award winning organic cabernetwines. She will be greatly missed.Certified Olive Oils ReceiveBig AwardsA number of CCOF certified membersreceived special recognition at the 2009LA International Olive Oil Competition.Pacific Sun Olive Oil received Bestin Show for their Extra Virgin OliveOil. Apollo Olive Oil won a Best ofClass Gold Medal for their OrganicSacramento Valley Blends Mistral.Olivas de Oro, Cliff Family Farm, StoneEdge Vineyard and Harris Ranch NapaValley received Silver Medals whileEmbry Family Farms and FigueroaFarms were both awarded bronze medalsfor their various organic olive oils.32 CCOF Certified Organic Magazine—Fall 2009