In the E-News this month...
Regulations & Standards
 Organic Products Regulations, 2009
Canada-U.S. open trade on organic products
For love of organic food - and country
Canada
P.E.I.: Organic farming could go with threatened beef plant
Opinion: Low food prices come at high cost to industry health
Biotech
Ag groups push back against biotech wheat
American Academy Of Environmental Medicine calls for moratorium on GM foods
Research
Report: Agriculture holds the key to solving global warming
OTA presents report on consumer attitudes to organics
U.S. ag report: Direct-to-consumer farm marketing growing faster than total
Emerging issues in the U.S. organic industry
Trends
Planet Organic sees $1.2M net loss in Q3
Organic farming in a recession
Global
Brazil sets regulations for organic farming
China aims at 5 per cent share in organic world food market
Coming Events
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Regulations & Standards 
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Organic Products Regulations, 2009
Full story: Canada Organic Office
The Canada Organic Office is pleased to announce that the Organic Products Regulations, 2009 will be published on June 24, 2009 and come into force on June 30, 2009. The objectives of the Organic Products Regulations are to facilitate international market access, provide protection to consumers against deceptive and misleading labelling practices through a uniform approach to organic product certification and labelling, and support the further development of the domestic market. For a copy of the regulations, visit the website at the link above after June 24.
Organic Logo
Included in these regulations is a new organic logo that may be used on June 30, 2009. Parties wishing to use the logo, for any use other than product labelling (i.e., in retail marketing/advertising for informational purposes), will be able to apply for a license starting on June 24th. Requests for an application form may be sent to OPR.RPB@inspection.gc.ca
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| Canada Organic Office - 05/26/09 |
Canada-U.S. open trade on organic products
Full story: National Post
| Canadian organic producers and manufacturers will soon be able to export their products to the United States without the need for additional certification, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said June 17. The announcement comes just weeks before Canada begins to enforced organic product labeling standards. The CFIA said the agreement will allow Canada to export certified organic products to be marketed in the U.S. as organic without the need for additional American certification. Similarly, Canada would also deem imports of U.S. organic products certified under their organic regime as meeting the Canadian requirements for organic products.
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For love of organic food - and country
Full story: National Post
| [Soon,] the new Canada Organic Products Regulations will come into effect, ensuring that every apple, carrot and milk carton using the word "organic" has been federally certified and contains at least 95 per cent organic ingredients. To help consumers, a small sticker or imprint will be placed somewhere on the item bearing an official logo. Although the new regulations are incredibly helpful, the branding of this new initiative could do with a little help. One woman who could be of particular assistance in the design department is Allison Carter, a 22-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON, who recently graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design. She has spent the past seven months overhauling the aesthetics of the Canada Organic Regime for her final thesis project, posting all of the work online. As a start, she changed the title to Organic Canada - "the word 'regime' is just off-putting and unfriendly," she says - and made the French title Canada Biologique. The logo is much easier to read now, with the single phrase "Organic Canada Biologique" running around the edge of the circle.
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Canada
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P.E.I.: Organic farming could go with threatened beef plant
Full story: CBC.ca
| The failure of the Maritimes' only federally inspected beef plant could prompt a chain of events leading to serious problems for expansion of organic farming. Atlantic Beef Products, in Albany, P.E.I., is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars a month and the P.E.I. government has said it can only continue to fund it for a few more months. It is looking for a private investor to purchase it. For many people, the future of agriculture is organic, the fastest growing segment of the food business. But the threat to the beef industry could leave organic farming short of a crucial component - manure.
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Opinion: Low food prices come at high cost to industry health
Full story: Saskatoon StarPhoenix
| Once again, the only price category in the latest Statistics Canada report to show signs of upward pressure was food. Although food prices in retail stores have gone up by 8.3 per cent over the past year, Canada is actually in a good situation if we take a broader perspective on global market conditions. Not only are we better positioned than most countries to absorb adverse economical developments, but higher prices become investments in food industries, local and global, that sorely need redevelopment to deal with problems such as food safety and production efficiency. Retail food prices in other industrialized countries are much higher, and even worse in developing nations. But higher food prices are desirable for two reasons [- food safety and capital investment]. More wealth within the food industry serves the common good. Organic and fair trade products will become more attractive because the gap between retail prices of conventional food products and premium items is diminishing.
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| Saskatoon StarPhoenix - 05/28/09 |
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Biotech
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Ag groups push back against biotech wheat
Full story: Alberta Farmer
| A bid by a number of Canadian, U.S. and Australian growers' groups to help clear the regulatory road for gene-altered wheats has run up against equally opposed groups from the same three countries. "In light of our existing experience with genetic engineering, and recognizing the global consumer rejection of genetically engineered (GE) wheat, we restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops," 15 farmer, consumer and "civil society" groups said in a joint release June 1. Canadian groups putting their names to the statement include the National Farmers Union (NFU), Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Union Paysanne, Union Biologique Paysanne, Reseau Quebecois contre les OGM and the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate.
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| Alberta Farmer - 06/02/09 |
American Academy Of Environmental Medicine calls for moratorium on GM foods
Full story: GlobalResearch.ca
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) on May 22 released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that "GM foods pose a serious health risk" and calling for a moratorium on GM foods. Citing several animal studies, the AAEM concludes "there is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects" and that "GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health."
The AAEM calls for:
. A moratorium on GM food, implementation of immediate long term safety testing and labeling of GM food.
. Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community and the public to avoid GM foods.
. Physicians to consider the role of GM foods in their patients' disease processes.
. More independent long term scientific studies to begin gathering data to investigate the role of GM foods on human health.
It remains to be seen if the scientific critique of the AAEM is given the attention it warrants.
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| GlobalResearch.ca - 05/22/09 |
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Research
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Report: Agriculture holds the key to solving global warming
Full story: ABC/GreenRightNow
| Agriculture, so often cited as a factor in global decline - for claiming natural grasslands that store carbon, soil erosion and pesticide runoff - could become a big part of the solution to global warming, according to a hopeful report by Worldwatch Institute Mitigating Climate Change Through Food and Land Use. Innovations in food production and land use that are ready to be put to work could reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to roughly 25 per cent of global fossil fuel emissions and be managed to reduce carbon already in the atmosphere as well, according to WWI and Ecoagriculture Partners. The report outlines five ways to reduce and sequester carbon using farming strategies.
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| ABC/GreenRightNow - 06/02/09 |
OTA presents report on consumer attitudes to organics
Full story: Progressive Grocer
| Findings from the 2009 U.S. Families' Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, which [was] released at the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) All Things Organic Conference and Trade Show in Chicago, indicate that U.S. families aren't giving up on organic products despite the uncertain economy. According to the study, which was jointly sponsored by OTA and KIWI Magazine, three in 10 U.S. families (31 per cent) said they're actually buying more organic foods vs. a year ago, with many parents opting to reduce their spending in other areas before cutting down on organic products. In fact, 17 per cent of U.S. families noted that their biggest spending increases in the past year were for organic items. The final written report and an accompanying CD containing a PowerPoint presentation of study highlights is available for purchase from OTA's online bookstore.
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| Progressive Grocer - 06/11/09 |
U.S. ag report: Direct-to-consumer farm marketing growing faster than total
Full story: Extension.org
| A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) shows direct-to-consumer farm marketing in the United States is growing faster than total agricultural sales - the two categories increased 104.7 per cent and 47.6 per cent, respectively, from 1997 to 2007. AMS's Marketing Services Division developed Facts on Direct-To-Consumer Food Marketing to examine the contribution that direct-to-consumer marketing is making to the food system in different regions of the country. The report compares data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture with those from previous years. The AMS fact sheet focuses on farm sales made directly to consumers in marketing outlets such as farm stands, farmers markets and community-supported agriculture, and highlights the growing importance of direct marketing to U.S. farmers nationwide, and in specific regions and states.
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Emerging issues in the U.S. organic industry
Full story: Economic Research Service
| Consumer demand for organic products has widened over the last decade. While new producers have emerged to help meet demand, market participants report that a supply squeeze is constraining growth for both individual firms and the organic sector overall. Partly in response to shortages in organic supply, Congress in 2008 included provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (2008 Farm Act) that, for the first time, provide financial support to farmers to convert to organic production. This report examines recent economic research on the adoption of organic farming systems, organic production costs and returns, and market conditions to gain a better understanding of the organic supply squeeze and other emerging issues in this rapidly changing industry.
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| Economic Research Service - 06/01/09 |
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Trends
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Planet Organic sees $1.2M net loss in Q3
Full story: Edmonton Journal
| Planet Organic Health Corp. posted a 73.6-per-cent year-over-year increase in its third-quarter net loss, the natural products company announced June 1. Planet Organic said pre-tax losses were primarily driven by a foreign exchange loss of $663,565 on conversion of its U.S.-denominated debt and incremental interest charges as the U.S. dollar strengthened against Canada's currency. "Planet Organic remains confident in its position and ability to be able to capitalize when the economy recovers," CFO Darren Krissie said.
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| Edmonton Journal - 06/01/09 |
Organic farming in a recession
Full story: Midwest Agnet (U.S.)
| The Wilson family farm, outside of Cuba City, is as old as the state of Wisconsin, established 1848. One-thousand acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, rolling waves of pasture, populated with dairy cows. And since 1996, totally organic. "There's definitely more work, it's more hands-on. You just can't go out and spray it," said Keith Wilson, who has lived on the farm his entire life. He thought farming organic would bring financial security. Now, high production costs and the recession are causing him concern. . . Whatever happens, Wilson is standing by his methods. Organic farming he believes, is better and healthier, and the way mother nature intended. "It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. We get back to figuring out what the soils are all about. We really get back to farming."
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| Midwest Agnet (U.S.) - 06/06/09 |
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Global
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Brazil sets regulations for organic farming
Full story: Latin American Herald Tribune
| The Brazilian government [has] established regulations for organic products and [is] creating a producers registry to promote the growing market. The registry will allow officials to determine how many organic growers are operating in the South American nation and the volume of agricultural products being grown without pesticides. The government has set regulations and will tally output of agricultural commodities, such as fruits, legumes, vegetables, milk, meat and honey, as well as goods like cosmetics and cleaning products, being produced using organic practices. The Agriculture Ministry also plans to negotiate the inclusion of organic foods in public school cafeterias.
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| Latin American Herald Tribune - 06/01/09 |
China aims at 5 per cent share in organic world food market
Full story: Green Planet
| Organic food consumption is expected to grow sharply in China over the next decade, while the volume of organic food production and export will increase at a fast rate as well, as reported by the official Chinese newspaper People's Daily Online. At present, the international organic food market is enjoying annual growth of between 20 and 30 per cent, and China is expected to become the fourth largest consumer of organic food in the world, with organic food expected to occupy between 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent of China's entire food market. Demand for organic food produced by China will reach or exceed five per cent of the international organic food market.
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| Coming Events
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To stay current on organic happenings between e-newsletters, check out COG's online calendar.
Bowmanville Community Organic Garden - Grow Your Own Organic Fruit & Vegetables
Bowmanville, ON
The Canadian Organic Growers, Durham Gardeners, would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to take part in the Bowmanville Community Organic Garden (BCOG). Founded several years ago through the hard work of COG members, the garden provides space for organizations and individuals who would like to explore nature through the art of gardening.
For more information, call Vincent Powers at 905-263-9907 or Peggy Clark at 905-623-5278.
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Summer 2009
CRAFT - Summer Farming Internship Opportunities
Ottawa, ON (area)
There are still a few spots left for people to become an ecological farm intern this summer!
Are you interested in being an intern on an ecological farm in the Ottawa area this summer? CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) connects interns with farms who will take them in a season-long exchange of work for knowledge. Farms usually offer a weekly stipend and room and board, while interns are expected to be motivated, hard working and committed to the ideals of ecological agriculture. Interns will also have the chance to participate in a series of on-farm training workshops and visit other farms in the region. Summer interns exchange their labour for room, board, a stipend and education that touches on all aspects of farming.
Please visit the CRAFT website for the details on farms in the Ottawa area and elsewhere in Ontario, and to learn more about a CRAFT internship.
Website: www.craftontario.ca
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Summer, 2009
Farm Life Ecology Program Seeking Applicants
Green Mountain College is seeking applicants for its Farm Life Ecology Summer Program. The 13 week, 12 credit summer intensive program allows students to manage all elements of the farm's operation while gaining a strong curricular foundation in sustainable agriculture. Details at the website.
Website: Green Mountain College
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June 20, 2009
Farm Tour - Heartwood Farm
Mid-morning to mid-afternoon, 1 hour northwest of Toronto near Acton, ON
Presented by Canadian Organic Growers - Toronto chapter. Val Steinmann and Brent Klassen are happy to welcome us to Heartwood Farm. They have produce, mixed livestock and a sugar bush, and we will learn about the joys and challenges of farming in Ontario today. Come and see the baby goats and chicks! Cost: suggested donation $15 per adult, kids free. Car pooling can be arranged. Bring a picnic lunch. RSVP required as space is limited.
Email: RSVP
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June 20, 2009
Food Share AGM and Open House
10am - 3pm, FoodShare, 90 Croatia Street, Toronto
Please join us, in our 25th year, as we celebrate our work and look to the future with the launch of our Strategic Plan.
Website: www.foodshare.net/
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July 4-5, 2009
Farm Tour with Mike Ilgert
Ottawa, ON (area)
The farm tour starts at 5 pm on Saturday, July 4, at the farm of COG-Ottawa Chairman, Michael Ilgert, with a brief tour of his organic chicken and turkey operation followed by a mostly organic barbecue and entertainment by live local musicians! A donation of $10 to cover costs for the evening would be appreciated.
Visitors from out-of-town can either bring a tent and camp out at Michael Ilgert's farm or book a room at a nearby B&B called Bonnechere Lodge. This B&B is located on the south shore of Golden Lake and features a fantastic view; free swimming; and organic coffee, tea, and eggs for breakfast! Book your room at Bonnechere Lodge by calling 613-625-2659 or visit their website: www.bonlodge.com.
The tour starts again on Sunday morning at 9:30 with a visit to Steven and Megan at the Algonquin Tea Company, located just north of Golden Lake. They grow the ingredients for their six kinds of tea from their own organic gardens or wildcraft it from wilderness areas. The tea is then dried in their barns and bagged and distributed throughout North America and Europe. To learn more about the Algonquin Tea Company, visit their website at www.algonquintea.com. We are still developing plans for an organic lunch at this time.
At 1:30 pm, we will travel 20 minutes to Ron and Linton McCoy's organic dairy farm near Cobden. The McCoys milk about 50 Holstein cows twice daily and sell their milk to the Organic Meadow Cooperative.
More information and updates are available via email.
Email: Michael Ilgert
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July 4-5, 2009
Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo
Glendale Gardens & Woodland, Victoria, BC
Highlights: 150 exhibits, solar powered, near zero waste.
Adults: Advanced: $10 Door: $12
Youth (13-18)/Seniors (65+): Advanced: $7.50 Door: $10
Family Passes: Only available at the Door: $35 (includes 2 adult & 2 youth/senior)
Register online.
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July 26, 2009
Gerrie Baker's Organic Greenhouse and the Worm Factory
Near Westport, ON
Tour presented by Canadian Organic Growers - Ottawa chapter. Contact Colin Lundy (613-489-2948) or Gerrie Baker (613-273-7595) for more information.
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August 6, 2009 (tentative)
COG Annual General Meeting
Ottawa
Join Canadian Organic Growers (national office) for its Annual General Meeting in Ottawa. Details TBA (check out our website for updates).
Website: Canadian Organic Growers
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August 8, 2009
Vankleek Hill Growing Up Organic Project Tour
Presented by Canadian Organic Growers - Ottawa Chapter. This tour will highlight two farms and other activities associated with the Growing Up Organic Project in Prescott-Russell. First stop will be McAlpine Farm, a long standing certified organic farm focusing on soybeans, small grains, lamb and poultry (among other projects). Next will be a stop at the Vankleek Hill Farmers' Market (website below) followed by a tour and picnic at the Village Green. This is a large new community, communal and educational organic garden literally in the heart of Vankleek Hill. The afternoon will be spent at Ferme de Ruisseau, an off-grid and truly mixed commodity farm, though with a focus on organic vegetable and greenhouse production.
Website: Vankleek Hill Farmers' Market
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August 25-28, 2009
First International IFOAM Conference on Organic Animal and Plant Breeding - BREEDING DIVERSITY
Sante Fe, NM, USA
Visit the IFOAM website for more information.
Website: IFOAM
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September 13, 2009
Feast of Fields Ottawa
Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa, ON
Presented by Canadian Organic Growers - Ottawa Chapter. 25 local organic farmers team up with top area chefs to highlight the best of the harvest (vegetables and meat).
Ticket prices:
Adults: $40 in advance / $50 at the gate.
Youth: $25 in advance / $30 at the gate.
Tickets will be available online beginning July 1st and at various local businesses August 1st.
For more information visit the website or contact Michele Green at 613-244-4000 or email.
Website: Feast of Fields
Email: Michele Green
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Note:
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Whenever possible, stories are linked to the original source. Some sites may require registration, and/or not archive the stories. All links were active at the time of publication.
Articles reprinted in this newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by Canadian Organic Growers.
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This newsletter is produced by Canadian Organic Growers.
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