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Written by Peter Nell on Monday, January 11, 2021
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This winter CCOF launched a survey of our membership to learn more about your certified organic businesses and to improve CCOF services. If you have not completed your survey, there is still time to submit!
How do I submit my CCOF member survey?Members within the United States: CCOF members based within the United States were mailed a hard copy of the survey with an addressed return envelope. Please use the addressed return envelope and do not mail your survey to CCOF. Members can also complete the survey online at www.opinion.wsu.edu/ccof using their personal access code.
…Written by Guest Blogger on Tuesday, December 22, 2020
The 41st EcoFarm Conference, Reimagining Our Future, will be live online in collaboration with Sierra Harvest, Jan 20–23, 2021, featuring over 50 workshops, intensives, keynotes, Spanish content, a virtual expo, networking, special events, and more! Using a farmer-to-farmer education model, EcoFarm is an essential networking and educational hub for ecologically minded farmers, ranchers, and all who support their success in growing a healthy and just food system and world. Register by Tuesday, December 15 with code reimagine and save $30!
There's something for everyone at EcoFarm…
Written by ManualMigrator2 on Monday, December 14, 2020
Thank you for your support of organic in 2020!
As you are gathering close with family this holiday season, CCOF staff will be doing the same. Please note that the CCOF office will be closed from December 24 through January 1.
We’ll be sure to get back to your messages and requests right away when we return.
Happy holidays!
Written by Rebekah Weber on Monday, December 14, 2020
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, has established emergency standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These new temporary standards apply to most workers in California, including those in the agriculture sector.
The standards require employers to
create a COVID-19 Prevention Program to evaluate employee exposure to COVID-19, correct unsafe and unhealthy conditions, and ensure workers wear face coverings; provide training on how COVID-19 is spread and infection prevention techniques; provide information on benefits to which…Written by Shawna Rodgers on Monday, December 14, 2020
As food insecurity increases due to the coronavirus pandemic, Clif Bar has doubled its annual donation of Clif bars to families in need.
Snewsnet.com reports that Clif Bar “is doubling its previous 7 million bar donation that went to frontline health care workers and first responders and is distributing another 7 million bars…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, December 14, 2020
The bright spot in coronavirus-and-smoke summer was the surprise appearance of a feline family in our backyard. The first things I noticed about Nefertiti were her wide, crazy-looking eyes and her boldness; she came right up to the door and craned her neck to look in, even putting a paw in the sliding doorways of the living room and my…
Written by Shawna Rodgers on Monday, December 7, 2020
Australia is no stranger to the devastation wildfires wreak upon the communities and natural habitats in their wake. With this year so full of unexpected twists and turns, many of us need to be reminded that 2020 started off with devastating fires that engulfed the Australian countryside. Our friends and organic colleagues in Australia endured months with no access to water. Communities lost years' worth of work and belongings that cannot be replaced. And yet, despite all the loss, when fires devastated the West Coast of the United States, our fellow food producers in Australian called us…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, December 7, 2020
Are you a farmer or prospective farmer in inland Southern California who wants to learn more about organic farming methods and regulations? Attend the free Zoom workshop, Introduction to Small Scale Organic Farming, on December 15, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., taught by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE).
Topics include
UC ANR Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Program (SAREP) Goals and Resources (Gail Feenstra, director), UC ANR Organic Agriculture…Written by Shawna Rodgers on Monday, December 7, 2020
Join the CCOF family for a special viewing of Gather this Thursday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. PST. Director Sanjay Rawal has generously donated his time to participate in a live Q&A session that will take place after the film screening.
Gather is a timely portrait of the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political,…
Written by Shawna Rodgers on Monday, November 23, 2020
Tanimura & Antle is leading the way in setting an industry standard for housing by providing modern, quality housing for its farmworker staff. In California, housing is an issue for all industries. Many high-end tech companies are investing heavily in housing to attract and retain a skilled workforce. Farmworkers, one of the most overlooked highly…
Written by Guest Blogger on Monday, November 23, 2020
The Real Organic Project celebrates nearly 500 farms nationwide and is expanding its educational efforts this winter by inviting farmers and students to attend their Virtual Symposium each Sunday in January from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. PST at a reduced rate, or to view the recorded sessions for free. The 2021 symposium, titled “Can Real Organic Farming Be Saved?” features over 60 leading voices in sustainable agriculture and food, including Al Gore, Vandana Shiva, Leah Penniman, Paul Hawkin, Chanowk Yisrael, JM Fortier, Elliot Coleman, and Dan Barber.
Did you know California is the third…
Written by Shawna Rodgers on Monday, November 23, 2020
When Ge Moua and her family purchased their first plot of land in August of last year, they never could have foreseen the challenges 2020 would bring. Owning their own land was supposed to bring them stability after a decade of farming organically on leased plots that were continually sold to developers, causing the Mouas to start over again each time. Seven months after becoming landowners…
Written by Adrian Fischer on Monday, November 16, 2020
You still have one week to apply for a $5,000 boost for your organic transition! It can be challenging to transition to certified organic, and we don’t expect farmers to do it alone. That’s why we’ve partnered with Anheuser-Busch and their Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Contract for Change program to provide financial support to growers during the critical phase of becoming organic.
Want to take your farm forward and transition to organic? Maybe you’re already practicing organic methods and need that final incentive to get certified. Now is your chance to lessen the financial challenge…
Written by Noah Lakritz on Monday, November 16, 2020
The deadline for farmers and ranchers to apply for financial relief from USDA through the second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) is December 11. CCOF encourages members to consider applying for the program, which may provide significant financial relief for your agricultural business. The CCOF policy team has spoken with multiple members who have benefited from the program and is ready to support members with the application process directly.
In addition to the CFAP resources outlined in our previous blog post, the following resources are newly available, including a…