(Photo by Edible Monterey)
Are you a farmer who is certified organic or in organic transition who needs help staying in compliance and understanding the organic regulations? Maybe you are a mentor needing to find out how to best help a farmer through the organic process, or an organization tasked with helping a soon-to-be organic farmer?
If so, Organic Office Hours are for you. Join me every week, Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. to noon (PST) on Zoom, and ask me all of your organic questions. Find the link to join and more info on the CCOF Events Calendar at https://www.ccof.org/page/calendar.
I have been an organic inspector, a farm and farm business consultant, and a certified organic farmer for over two decades and will use my experience and expertise to help answer all of your organic-related questions. For example, I am available to help you fill out your Organic System Plan (OSP), figure out if a fertilizer is approved for organic use, or navigate the certification process. I can also help you determine how to respond to action items and compliance issues to maintain your current certification.
The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative, has provided CCOF funding allowing us to offer free technical assistance, mentorship, and ongoing support for transitioning and existing organic producers. These funds allow us to provide this cost-free, one-on-one weekly service to help farmers navigate the organic certification process.
Recently, I have helped row crop farmers navigate their Pre-Inspection Compliance Report, allowing them to move forward with their first inspection. A seed handler brought questions about how to handle, store, and label their organic seeds and non-organic seeds with organic coating. Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) provides technical assistance to farmers under the TOPP program, and I supported their staff to better understand the nuance of organic compliance for a producer that is storing and selling their soon-to-be organic produce along with purchased conventional produce at their farm stand. I’ve also walked a mentor through the OSP in its entirety so they can understand it and better help farmers with the organic process.
All questions are welcome, no matter how small or how complicated. I promise I can help make the process easier and smoother, so take advantage of the free help and move the organic process along for your operation! Meet me every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 899 4117 6462, password: organic.
If the time slot on Tuesday doesn’t work for you, send me an email at organictransitionprogram@gmail.com and we will set up a time that does. The process to certify organic does not have to be daunting! I’m here to help get questions answered and streamline the paperwork process so farmers can get back to what they do best: farming!
Are you heading to the Eco Farm Conference in January? I’ll be hosting Organic Office Hours in person during the “Meet the Experts” sessions. Visit https://www.eco-farm.org/ to learn more.