As part of a broader effort to increase organic farming, CCOF has partnered with Anheuser-Busch and their Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Contract for Change program to provide financial support for farmers during the critical phase of transitioning to organic. We are honored to introduce you to Organic Transition grantee Dr. Portia Fulford of Organpi Farms in Selma, Alabama.
Dr. Fulford is dedicated to improving access to healthy organic food and providing jobs for the Black Belt counties of Alabama. Fulford has a history of farming kale, watermelons, and a few other vegetables and envisions expanding her woman- and family-owned business by growing more vegetables like summer squash, melons, and collard greens. Already using holistic growing methods, Fulford and her team focus on continually improving soil health and are taking steps toward certification to be able to offer organic at local stores and markets. Fulford knows that the route to success means caring for the soil and ecosystem as she strives to “devise an organic regimen that helps the plant to use its own vitality.”
Another huge motivator for Fulford and her team is to battle the rise of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes by offering organic, healthy food high in nutrients. Organpi Farms is one of the few fresh produce providers in the Selma, Alabama rural area. They provide fresh produce for local schools, the elder community, and underserved communities throughout Dallas County in Alabama. Fulford and her team work to fill the vital need for organic fresh produce in a city that has limited access, not only by growing the food, but also by opening a farmers’ market for underserved members of the community. Fulford’s efforts are positively impacting her entire community; she understands the profound effects of improving the food system and sees organic as part of the solution.
Congratulations to Dr. Fulford and her team at Organpi Farm! The CCOF Foundation and Anheuser-Busch are proud to support your family farm’s transition to organic.