CCOF Blog

The latest addition to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) series of crop cost and return studies describes the practices and associated costs of producing organic processing apples grown on the Central Coast, including land preparation, fertility and pest management, irrigation, labor, and harvest. The reports also include tables reporting potential profits under various price and yield scenarios. Processing apples grown in the Central Coast are typically used to make juice and sparkling cider.

All cost and return studies are available for free…

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) believes in supporting organic farmers and ranchers in their constant search for innovation and farm profitability. The Farmer Led Trials (FLT) program puts farmers in the driver’s seat and recognizes their wisdom, experimentation, and problem-solving skills. Built in the spirit of curiosity and collaboration, this program will support farmers and ranchers in conducting impactful research that can address their unique challenges.

Organic farming and ranching take dedication, financial investment, and a great deal of trial and error to…

The California State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) has been a popular program for producers and will be open for applications at the end of November. 

SWEEP offers grants to update irrigation systems to reduce greenhouse gas release and improve water efficiency. Eligible system components or improvements include (among others) soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low-pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives, and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water and energy use.

The California Department…

If you’re transitioning to organic production, you don’t have to do it alone. 

Producers interested in implementing organic practices and achieving organic certification can now be connected with an experienced organic producer mentor for on-the-ground learning, real-time support, and guidance. Learn more and apply at www.organictransition.org.

The benefits of organic are vast; from accessing new markets and securing better prices to increasing a farm’s positive climate impact to creating healthier workplaces for farm families and farmworkers, organic is the right choice…

Ensuring equitable access to organic certification is a priority for CCOF. In one strategy to level the playing field, we are introducing our financial assistance program. Specific discounts vary (see below for more details), but financial aid packages include reduced rates for new application fees, annual fees, and/or other specific certification charges. 
We want to help you be successful! Please apply for financial aid if you or your operation falls into one of the following categories: 

Organic farmers face a unique set of challenges, many of which revolve around the critical issue of labor. As I delved into the CCOF Labor Survey, a common theme emerged—a call for a guest worker program that supports the needs of both farmers and farmworkers. CCOF members vocalized the need for a guest worker program that is accessible, especially for small-scale farmers, and that supports the livelihoods of farmworkers. 

The lack of access to labor is a pressing concern for many organic farmers, particularly during crucial stages of the growing season. The seasonal nature of…

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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in collaboration with the State Board of Food and Agriculture, will be hosting the first of five public listening sessions on December 6, 2023, via Zoom to receive comments that will help define “regenerative agriculture” for state policies and programs.

CCOF encourages our members to participate in the December 6 listening session to remind the state that organic agriculture is regenerative agriculture and that the state’s definition must build on organic agriculture and focus on cultivating soil health as a…

Organic Rising, the new feature-length film directed by Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award winner Anthony Suau, is now available to watch online. It aims to demystify organic agriculture, and provides thoughtful, well-researched insights even for consumers who are already well-versed in the merits of organic.

Organic Rising presents a wide range of voices from across the organic and conventional food production spectrum, including people from the CCOF community who have contributed to and helped grow the organic movement since the 1970s.

One of the most compelling ideas the film…

This webinar presents information on the GoGreen Business Energy Financing program, which offers support for small and medium-sized businesses in California to invest in energy-saving building retrofits and installations. 

Watch the webinar for more details, and use these links to dig deeper:

GoGreen Business (GGB) website: https://www.gogreenfinancing.com/energy-efficiency-business-loans-california/

GGB participating contractors: https://www.gogreenfinancing.com/energy-efficiency-business-loans-california/find-a-contractor/

GGB participating…

Erin Raser of Far West Fungi and Jeffrey Chean of Groundwork Coffee Roasters recently were appointed by Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross to the California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC). 

Raser and Chean join other CCOF-certified members who have been appointed to COPAC, including CCOF Board Chair Philip LaRocca of LaRocca Vineyards, Kaley Grimland of Sol Seeker Farm, Blake Alexandre of Alexandre Family Farm, David Will of Pierce Egg Co., and Amanda Felder of Taylor Farms/Earthbound Farm.

COPAC is a body established by state law to advise the…

Example of integrated farming methods courtesy of JSM Organics - pollinator flowers growing simultaneously with crop of strawberries. 

CCOF is offering two 16-hour, virtual-led courses to provide growers of plants with key insights and understandings of the GLOBALG.A.P. requirements for the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Version 6 SMART and GFS. Come join CCOF to learn about the various certification options and requirements and how to prepare your operation for the transition to GLOBALG.A.P. Version 6 audit in the coming 2024 season.

Join us for the GLOBALG.A.P.…

(Apolinar next to bean plants at his farm in Watsonville, California)

Farmers are an essential part of their communities. Apolinar “Poli” Yerena, owner of Yerena Farms, has been farming organically in the Watsonville community since 2010. For Poli, farming is more than a business, it is a way of life. 

Poli first learned to grow strawberries from a Japanese farmer he worked for in his mid-20s. Back then, he did not know he would go on to own his own farming business, also growing strawberries. However, his interest in growing food came easily as he was surrounded by…

Twenty years ago, one year after the USDA National Organic Standards were enacted, CCOF member Whole Foods Market became the first ever certified organic national retailer. Doing so made Whole Foods a trailblazer in organic retail, setting the stage for other retailers—large and small—to follow.  

“We are incredibly proud to certify Whole Foods Market, a leader and longtime steward of the organic movement,” says CCOF CEO Kelly Damewood. “Whole Foods Market not only cares deeply about maintaining the trust of its customers through organic certification but also continues to invest…

CCOF staff will be out of office from November 22 through 26 to gather with friends and family. This time of year, we reflect on our gratitude for Indigenous peoples who have tended the earth respectfully for generations. Thank you also to the organic producers who work year-round to put nourishing food on our tables. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Example of integrated farming methods courtesy of JSM Organics - pollinator flowers growing simultaneously with crop of strawberries. 

CCOF is offering two 16-hour, virtual-led courses to provide growers of plants with key insights and understandings of the GLOBALG.A.P. requirements for the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Version 6 SMART and GFS. Come join CCOF to learn about the various certification options and requirements and how to prepare your operation for the transition to GLOBALG.A.P. Version 6 audit in the coming 2024 season.

Join us for the GLOBALG.A.P.…