Blog posts by Kelly Damewood
Written by Kelly Damewood on Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Organic Insider, a self-proclaimed organic newsletter and aggregator, published false and misleading information about CCOF on Feb 7th, 2024. The publication refused to take a statement from CCOF over the phone and did not present any independent research to verify their allegations. CCOF is a proud and trusted leader in the organic movement, and we feel it is necessary to protect the reputation of organic certification and the integrity of thousands of hardworking certified farmers and producers from those who either purposely or naively spread disinformation.
CCOF is a mid-size nonprofit…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Wednesday, February 7, 2024
OrganicEye is attempting to fundraise for their staff salaries by discrediting certifiers who maintain producer governance and engagement.
In December 2023, OrganicEye launched a fundraising campaign that centers around ending organic producer governance and services. From the beginning, the organic community has been self-made – we have self-funded research, technical assistance, and education. We have always worked in partnership to advocate as underdogs for federal and state funding, regulatory exemptions for organic producers, and other critical needs.
Now, after over 50 years of…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Wednesday, January 17, 2024
CCOF is currently seeking representatives from companies engaged in organic specialty crop production who are interested in exporting or increasing exports to Mexico.
About the Specialty Crop Trade Mission to Mexico
In partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), CCOF will lead a trade mission to Mexico June 17-21.
The goal of this project is to create economic opportunities for specialty crop organic producers through an international market development activity and by leveraging the unique qualities of specialty crops grown in California.
The intended…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Dear CCOF Members,
A concerning fundraising letter was sent to our clients by Mark Kastel under the name of “The Organic Eye.” Mark Kastel has a reputation for harassment and bullying. Despite his rhetoric of shaming companies as sell outs, Mark Kastel seems to target companies that do not donate to his own organization. He ends the letter asking you to send him money.
While we hate to take up more of your time with the silly accusations made in the letter, we are also firm believers in transparency. Here are clarifications:
- CCOF is partnering with the Organic Trade Association (OTA).…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Dear CCOF members and supporters,
Here at CCOF, we have a vision of a world where organic is the norm. We value integrity, courage, community, and representation of and for organic producers. Together, our vision and values compose a compass that directs and focuses our work supporting the organic community. In 2022, the CCOF Foundation returned over and over to these principles to evaluate whether our actions mirror our core values. Learn more about our work over the last year in our 2022 Annual Report.
Examining our values alignment has inspired us to redesign our grant program that…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Joanna Letz of CCOF-Certified Bluma FarmDear CCOF Members and Supporters,
Last year, 2021, was a year of internal reflection and focused action. We’re navigating a new world after a tumultuous couple of years. This time of change gifted CCOF with the opportunity to home in on who we are and how we do our work while also taking strategic action to grow and support organic.
Our vision is a world where organic is the norm, where everyone has the opportunity to grow, sell, and most of all, eat organically.
To reach our vision of a world where organic is the norm, CCOF set a five-year milestone…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, August 23, 2021
Dear CCOF members and supporters,
Every time I heard the term “essential” in 2020, it led me to think more deeply about how accurately the word describes the organic community. Of course, keeping families and communities fed with healthy, nutritious food despite whatever crises arise is essential. But organic is more than just essential for getting food on the table. Organic is essential for fighting climate change, helping our economy recover and become more resilient, and solving health inequities.*
In the early days of the pandemic, CCOF made it our mission to continue safely serving our…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Dear CCOF Family,
2020 has been a wild ride. A national pandemic, a looming recession, a racial injustice reckoning, and now unprecedented wildfires sweeping through CCOF’s hometown of Santa Cruz, California and across Northern California.
But, despite it all, CCOF is stronger than ever before. We implemented successful emergency preparedness strategies, including securing our company and member data to ensure as little interruption in services as possible. Additionally, our skilled remote workforce ensures stability when staff and members experience geographic-specific natural…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Dear CCOF Members and Supporters,
Each summer, we write to you to tell you about all the things you’ve helped CCOF accomplish in the previous year. As we sit down now to reflect on 2019—in the middle of 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic—it almost feels like another lifetime ago with how much the world has changed in such a short time. But what we learned and achieved in 2019 can help us chart the path forward. We can’t know what healing and renewal for the world will look like after this crisis ends. But what I do know is that CCOF members will be there every step of the way to feed, nourish…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Dear CCOF Family,
The unjust killing and systemic oppression of Black lives transcends politics—it speaks to the deepest core of our humanity.
We are deeply disturbed by the unjust murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Dreasjon Reed, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and David McAtee. We understand that these are the most recent tragedies, and countless Black lives have been lost to racist violence in the United States.
Like all predominantly white communities, CCOF must grapple with its own role in systemic racism. Our agriculture and food systems are built on a history of…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, March 16, 2020
La oficina de CCOF en Santa Cruz, California, está temporalmente cerrada, con vigencia inmediata. El personal de CCOF seguirá trabajando desde sus hogares.
De acuerdo con las recomendaciones de contención y cuarentena de la Enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) y el Departamento de Salud Pública de California, la oficina de CCOF en Santa Cruz, California, se cerrará de inmediato para ayudar a mantener nuestro personal y la comunidad a salvo del COVID-19.
El personal trabajará desde casa mientras la oficina física está…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, March 16, 2020
The CCOF office in Santa Cruz, California is temporarily closed to the public, effective immediately. CCOF staff will still be working from their homes.
In line with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) containment and quarantine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California Department of Public Health, the CCOF office in Santa Cruz, California will be closed to the public effective immediately to help keep our staff and community save from COVID-19.
Staff will be working from home while the physical office is closed to the public. Please note that…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, March 2, 2020
The CCOF Board of Directors hosted a special discussion about hydroponic and container-based systems at their quarterly board meeting on February 18.
Background
Over the last few years, disagreement has percolated throughout the organic community about hydroponic and container-based systems. Many organic producers feel frustrated that the National Organic Program (NOP) allows hydroponic operations to achieve certification because they believe that soil is essential to any organic production. Others feel that hydroponic systems for some types of crops and locations can be valuable parts…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, October 21, 2019
My day starts with a bike ride along Santa Cruz's foggy coastline.
At the CCOF home office, Erica and Lucia say hello as I walk my bike into our open office space. I pass the policy and marketing teams who joke with one another as they prepare for their morning meetings. I smile at the office dogs who look up to see if I might give them a little attention.
I put my bike away and note the pictures of smiling grantees from our Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund. They stand in a colorful organic flower field at the University of California, Santa Cruz farm, which served as a training ground…
Written by Kelly Damewood on Monday, August 12, 2019
Dear CCOF Members and Supporters,
It is with great pleasure and honor that I write to you as CCOF’s new CEO. Since assuming the role in January, I’ve been continually inspired by CCOF’s many accomplishments over 2018, which you helped make a reality. I’m no stranger to the strength of CCOF’s incredible membership of organic farmers, professionals, and supporters, and I’m excited to harness the power of this unique community to continue laying the path to an organic future.
You helped us lay bricks in our organic path by enabling us to help 7,898 students and teachers get funding for…