Organic Farmer June 2019

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Continued from Page 39 “First, the term organic can’t be used unless it’s USDA certified,” explains Bob. “There’s another group called Certified Naturally Grown. Right now, you can go online and get your backyard certified Naturally Grown. They use the good ole boy approach where Sam Jones wants to be certified and he calls Phil Roberts who lives a mile down the road to come by and say, “Oh, yes, you’re certified.” They claim they are the same standards as the nationally certified organic standards, but the big difference is there is no independent third-party inspection and review. It’s a way to get around the USDA Organic certification without the expense, the trouble and the compliance.” He adds: “The value in the USDA Certified Organic program is that the public has a great deal of trust in it. It’s the only standard that they can hang their hat on. They know with a high degree of trust in this program they are getting a true (organic) product. Plus, the penalties for non-compliance can be really stiff. From the time we became USDA Organic certified our business has grown exponentially.” Bob McClendon even has marketing advice for the organic farmer, especially McClendon’s select. those just starting out and struggling with managing the business. “Live the business,” he says. “Get to know your customers. Define the market and cater to that market and meet that market’s needs. If they go into a farmers’ market and see an opportunity they first need to assess the status quo and figure out how to do it better. (The aspiring directmarket farmer) must ask how they can offer something different, something better; high quality. Sometimes, it’s the simplest shifts in how they are doing something, for example, if they’d just keep something cold by packing the produce in ice. If not, within two hours you will have a wilted product but don’t expect to sell it. “Customers want to see and know who grew their stuff. As a result, either Sean, my son, or I are at the market. Don’t send the hired help to put out a bunch of stuff to sell. Directmarket farmers also need to have an educational mindset. If they put out a variety of produce they should be prepared to tell people how to cook it because they’ll ask you. They’ll also ask how to cut the produce. We have people that work market hours to talk to our customers about cooking and recipes. It’s the educational part of what we do. If our customers know how to cook something, they want to know a different way to cook it.” Today, McClendon’s Select has grown. Their 93 acre operation included growing crops on 68 acres adjacent to the Cancer Treatment Centers of American in Goodyear, Arizona. Helping Arizona Families Connect to Local and Organic Farming We’ve all heard the statistic: by 2050, almost 75 percent of the world’s population will be urban. And most of us, including Arizona families are generationally removed from the farm even though America began very agrarian. So, if American families have no contact with the source of our food other than eating it, we have a real challenge with making a reconnection. Arizona Farm Bureau realized the importance of this and set out to make a difference. The opportunity to meet a modern-day farmer growing food for the local market is not a difficult connection to make if you think creatively. We did it through Fill Your Plate. Fill Your Plate is an online, searchable database of Arizona farmers and ranchers that can sell food products and certainly local Arizona food directly to Arizona families. We stay Arizona focused. Two other searchable databases include recipes and our statewide listing of farmers markets. And, the majority of farmers featured on Fill Your Plate are organic growers, certified and non-certified. Launched in 2007, Arizona Farm Bureau’s Fill Your Plate serves to help form a unique relationship—a common bond—between Arizona farmers and ranchers and Arizonans. In fact, it’s one virtual way to build community! Fill Your Plate provides chefs and our Arizona families with an opportunity to find and purchase locally grown food and along the way make friends with the farmers and ranchers who grow our food. One of our regular Fill Your Plate users, Arizonan Janel Rogers and mom of Continued on Page 42 40 Organic Farmer June/July 2019
keep white space around the seal equal to 25% the size of the seal clean NO Compromise - Organic Nutrition Don’t settle when it comes to your organic nutrition program – choose AGRO-K and see the difference CLEAN delivers on your farm. Focused efforts on combining the “5R’s” of crop nutrition – Right Nutrient, Right Time, Right Form, Right Mix, Right Place – in the plant will deliver the highest quality, highest marketable yield and highest return on investment. Agro-K’s certified organic CLEAN line of foliar nutrients and soil biological products are manufactured to ensure maximum uptake and biological activity. We integrate our superior formulations with our deep knowledge of plant physiology and peak nutrient demand timing to build complete, high efficiency, cost effective nutrient programs that provide better value to organic crop production. The CLEAN line is specifically designed to address the nutritional needs of organically grown fruit crops. Our formulations are soft on plant tissue, rapidly taken up, highly bio-available and compatible with most organic crop protection products. CLEAN nutrition helps fruit growers meet peak nutrient demand timing and address nutrient deficiencies quickly while easily being integrated into crop protection programs. Fruit quality has many different components: size, color, visual appeal, internal texture, storability, shelf-life, reduced shrinkage & bruising. All these factors, are directly affected by nutrition and influence ultimate crop quality and marketable packout. Agro-K has a 40 year track record of helping growers increase profitability. CLEAN ZN, MG, MN, FE, CU, B – Organic micronutrients - zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and boron designed for fast uptake and high availability so critical peak nutrient demand timings are not missed, preventing yield drag and quality issues. CLEAN SYMSPRAY – A seaweed based foliar nutrient designed to complement a support plant growth and function. CLEAN Symspray is also an excellent tool to prevent and/or reduce both environmental and physiological stress, leading to higher quality fruit at harvest. CLEAN CALCIUM – An organic foliar calcium designed to increase calcium levels in both tissue and fruit while improving the nitrogen to calcium ratio. Higher calcium levels in the crop helps build stronger more disease tolerant cell walls. Thicker more durable fruit cells generate higher yields, less bruising, less shrinkage and longer shelflife – in short better quality and increased grower returns. CLEAN BIOMAX – A fermentation derived food source for beneficial soil borne bacteria and fungi. Designed to increase nutrient cycling of compost and other organic matter while also maximizing plantavailable nutrients in the rhizosphere. Increasing soil available nutrients is the basis for increased crop quality and higher yields. If you’re looking to increase marketable yield in your organic farm talk to Agro-K today about tailoring a nutrient management program to improve results and deliver higher economic returns. Science-Driven Nutrition SM © 2018 Agro-K Corporation AGRO-K CORpORAtiOn 8030 Main Street, NE • Minneapolis, MN 55432 800-328-2418 • www.agro-k.com
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Organic Farmer June 2019

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