All are invited to attend (members & non – members)

Date: Wednesday March 7th, 2 012

Time: 9:0 0am – 4:00pm, registration begins 8:30am.
Location: Loyola House, Ignatius Centre.
5420 Highway 6 N.
Guelph, ON N 1H 6J2

Registration: Free for OCO Members / $45 .00 for Non Members (hs t included)
– Includes an Organic Lunch . Vegetarian option available.

Please RSVP by March 2nd , 2012
519 -827 -1221 or by email info@organiccouncil.ca

* A limited number of table top booths are available to OCO members for a
nominal fee. Please contact the OCO office for more details.

AGM Agenda

9-9:30 Opening Remarks – OCO Chair Matt LeBeau

9:30-10:30 Keynote Address- John Ikerd, Agricultural Economist

10:30-11 Organic Federation of Canada Update – OFC Chair Ted Zettel

11-12:30 OCO Business Meeting and Elections

12:30-1:30 LUNCH

1:30-2:30 PANEL- Trends in Organic and Your Business
Tom Manley (Homestead Organics, Eco Farm Day)
Dr. Ralph Martin (Sustainability Chair, University of Guelph)
Alvaro Venturelli (CSA farmer, NFU)
To Be Confirmed- Retail Association Representative
Moderator: Jodi Koberinski, ED Organic Council of Ontario

2:30-3:15 Social Media Workshop with Barry Martin of Hypenotic

3:15-4 Social Networking and Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group meeting

Board Election

Up for election this year are the following representative positions:

Processor, Marketer, Certifier, Producer (2 year terms)
Distributor (1 year term)

To nominate please fill out the nomination form and return it to the OCO office.

Full rules and regulations for election are available for download

If you cannot attend and would like to vote please use our proxy voting form

Take Instant Action

Send your letter to the Minister of Agriculture instantly by clicking here!

More Actions

1. Share the video with your friends and family on facebook, embed the video on your website, “Like” the video!
2. Screen the video at your local events, include it in your local film fests.
3. Get signatures on the petition.
4. Print and download the flyer about GM alfalfa.
5. Ask your local health food store to put up this attractive poster about GM alfalfa! The store could also collect signatures on the petition, screen the video or display alfalfa-related foods!
6. Order buttons for your community group or event. Contact us.
7. Join the GM Alfalfa Campaign Action Listserve.
8. Donate today to support the campaign. Thank you for your support!
9. Send us your action ideas and share photos from your community. Contact us.

   

Even More Actions!

1. If your Member of Parliament is a Conservative: Click here for important action suggestions that could make a huge difference!
2. Farmers: you can send usyour testimonials about how alfalfa will impact your farm business. Email Lucy at coordinator@cban.ca
3. Farmers: We need videos of you talking about how important alfalfa is to your farm – What is alfalfa? Why is GM alfalfa such a big threat?
4. Groups and Businesses: Your group can sign the No to GE Alfalfa campaign statement. Please encourage organizations, producer associations, companies and community groups to sign!
5. Retailers: Download and print this poster for your store!
6. Retailers: Coming soon: “GM Alfalfa Campaign Action Kit for Retailers”. Let us know if you are interested in receiving one.

Information

Summary: Alfalfa growers do not need or want GM alfalfa and have been trying to stop it for at least five years. Organic food and farming in the U.S. and Canada is under immediate threat from GM alfalfa. Conventional farmers will also lose their markets. The introduction of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready) alfalfa would have serious negative impacts on many different types of farmers and farming systems, both conventional and organic. Because alfalfa is a perennial crop pollinated by bees, GM contamination is inevitable. GM alfalfa was actually approved in Canada in 2005 but still needs to go through one more step before it can be legally sold as seed in Canada.

Why is Alfalfa Important? Alfalfa (harvested as hay) is used as high-protein feed for animals like dairy cows, beef cattle, lambs, poultry and pigs and is also used to build up nutrients in the soil, making it particularly important for organic farming. If introduced, GM alfalfa would ruin export markets for alfalfa products and threaten the future organic food and farming in the North America.

What are Farmers Saying about GM Alfalfa?

Conventional and organic farmers agree that GM alfalfa is not wanted or needed: What conventional alfalfa producers told the House of Commons Agriculture Committee, June 7, 2010

Read the list of 127 farmer and consumers groups that say no to GE alfalfa.

For the full story please visit the Campaign Page on CBAN’s website

CBAN’s Lucy Sharrat will be the guest speaker at the Saturday evening gala. The all organic gala meal featuring Ontario meat and vegetarian options, accompanied by Ontario organic beer, wine and juices, is the social highlight of the conference.
Cocktails at 5:30PM. Dinner at 6PM.

Saturday Plenary: Steve Beauchesne of Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. will describe how his family-run brewery has built a solid brand in an incredibly tough competitive market by firmly sticking to the goals of making organic beer, supporting their community and sustainable business practices.

Eco Farm Day just became  Eco Farm Days….

For the first time, the perrenial Eastern Ontario conference on all things organic will play host to an Organic Council of Ontario Meet and Greet. Keynote Randy Whitekker from the Ontario Natural Food Co-op will frame our conversation and introduce Canadian leaders along the value chain:

• Producer Colleen Ross of Waratah Downs
• Distributor Randy Whitekker of ONFC
• Restauranteur Ron Farmer of Ottawa’s Green Door
• Retailer Colin Harding of Ottawa’s Kardish Foods

Each panelist will be accompanied by another Organic Ambassador with experience in various scales of marketing and distribution, including advisors for processors. Sign up for 10 minute speed meetings with a panelist or colleague to ask your specific questions!

Please see http://www.cog.ca/ottawa/ecofarmday/ENprogram.html for registration details.

Breakfast, lunch, Panel, and one-on-one mentoring for only $56.50 +HST

Eco Farm Day will move the dinner, traditionally held on the Friday night, to the Saturday night, giving the trade show folks time to set up on Friday evening, and everyone at the conference will have a singular evening event Saturday- and a reason to stay Sunday. Visit the Eco Farm Day website for more information on an excellent conference.

Issues:
1) Aqua-culture standard led by Ted Zettel for input to proposed standard
2) ‘State of the industry’ update with Theresa Schumilas on current OCO research: production, sales outlets, processing sector challenges
3) Understanding growth on the organic value chain including current branding strategy update by J.P. Lacroix. Guests will be engaged in sector planning.
4) GMO policies concerning organics with input to go to form policy positions OCO leads multi-stakeholder effort with OFC help (OFC: Organic Federation of Canada).

Who should attend? ***organic traders, distributors and brokers; ***retailers wanting to understand current organic marketing issues so they can transmit these to consumers; ***motivated consumers – the beauty of a seminar like this is that you can learn first-hand about the burning issues of the current organic business in Canada; ***government and academics: this sector is moving, is animated, has passion, is building cash-flow – and you have to incorporate it into your department; ***anyone who wants to get involved in the organic marketing business. Why not? It’s time.

Register at http://www.guelphorganicconf.ca/register/

Note: Organic Council of Ontario is one of 16 Official Sponsor of the Guelph Conference. As such, they operate in the public sector and draw together multiple speakers and issues under one master symposium, such as this one. Don’t forget to register for OCO’s Organic Awards, downtown Guelph, Saturday evening, 7.00 pm

For the complete details please visit the Guelph Organic Conference website: http://www.guelphorganicconf.ca/workshops/friday/

This event is a celebration of the organic sectors’ continued contribution to the Ontario economy. Organic businesses in Ontario continue to show strong growth, driven by increasing consumer demand which results in increased acreage and increases in employment for Ontarians. This good news story has resonated well with eaters and is a key piece of the emergent sustainable economy.

Dr. Ralph Martin, our keynote, challenged the assumptions upon which the conventional wisdom that the world requires a 70% increase in production capacity to feed our growing population. He spoke eloquently about the history that created our current obsession with production at the expense of food quality and sustainability. Dr. Martin encouraged the audience to consider focusing on sustaining food systems rather than the word “sustainability”- food for thought and more conversations to come!

We also highlighted for the attendees the accomplishments of the Council over the past year including:

• Creation of the Foodland Organic brand
• Establishing the Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group
• Launching the Ontario Organics Roadshow
• Pre-view our Retailer video and the CBAN GE Alfalfa animated video
• Re-launching our website to provide solid market support and two-way communication with our members
• Initiating data collection projects to improve business intelligence totalling more than $250,000

Our event was a huge success again this year, raising close to $5,000 for OCO’s work.

Thanks to our sponsors at The Big Carrot, Canadian Health Food Association, Fieldgate Organics, Yorkshire Valley Farms, Organic Meadow, Pfennings Organics, Hart House, Forgpond Farm, SOuthbrook Vineyard and Organic Garage for making our event possible.

We hope you will join us NEXT year in making our event a success!

Over 120 Farmers, consumers, businesses and individuals from across the organic value chain gathered in Guelph on January 27^th 2012 to celebrate excellence in Ontario’s organic sector.

Thirteen individuals and businesses received awards, highlighting outstanding achievement across the value chain and their dedication to provide consumers with the best quality food while protecting Ontario’s ecological heritage.

The Organic Council of Ontario hosted this second annual event to celebrate the commitment of the sector and the care that is put into each operation.  Please see the full list of recipients below for full details about each business or individual.

  Hugh Martin (left) receives lifetime achievement award, presented by Ted Zettel, Board Member of Organic Council of Ontario and Chair of Organic Federation of Canada, at 2012 Ontario Organic Awards, hosted by Organic Council of Ontario.

Photo credit: www.AshleyCamara.ca

COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Outstanding Horticultural Producer: The New Farm, Gillian Flies and Brent Preston

Gillian Flies and Brent Preston of The New Farm for Outstanding Horticultural Producers. The New Farm is a family-run organic farm growing over 150 varieties of premium, hand-harvested, seasonal vegetables from their 100-acre farm on the crest of the Niagara escarpment just west of the village of Creemore.

Gillian and Brent are also inspiring innovators having partnered with The Stop Community Food Centre, in Toronto’s west-end, to create a unique program that supports sustainable local farming and provides fresh, healthy, organic food to people in need in the Toronto area.

The Stop is one of Toronto’s most dynamic and effective organizations working to end hunger and food insecurity. The Stop strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality, through food education, urban agriculture projects, a community kitchen, pre and post natal nutrition programs and a traditional food bank.

Every time you purchase delicious GROW FOR THE STOP produce 10% of the proceeds is donated directly to THE STOP to buy fresh organic produce from The New Farm. Instead of macaroni and canned food, people in need receive a wide diversity of the freshest organic produce available.

Outstanding Livestock or Grain Producer: Golden Acres Farms, Robert Fleishauer and Family

Rob bought a farm in 1982, after a number of years he transitioned to organics. Through continual improvement in rotation and crop management his farm is very attractive. Clean, weed free crops are meticulously grown. This is so encouraging for others to see, it proves that an organic farm can be a prosperous and successful one.

He is involved in many groups including the Oxford Organic Growers and SLOP (some local organic producers). Rob also has hosted round table meetings as well as field and crop tours. He does some consultation work where people have questions over the phone or drop in for advice.

Rob has done many field trails with many of the products offered organically.  He definitely has a knack for detail and documentation of all trials is very well calculated. This is so valuable to other organic farmers in a young and growing industry.

Rob is married to Dianne and they have three girls, Sheri-Lyn, Julie and Rachel.  The girls are very involved in the farm and organic market gardening. They grow approx 100 varieties of garlic seed as well as other fruits and vegetables. Rob is a friend, a leader and a great teacher. He is a tremendous asset to the organic farm community in Ontario.

Outstanding Dairy Producer: Sunholm Farms, Grant Martin

This young family produces milk for Harmony. Grant is constantly improving production techniques including introducing intensive rotational grazing, grazing sorghum and maize, pasturing poultry and also working with Harmony to produce Harmony’s first butter this year, from a shipment of milk directly from their farm.

Outstanding Processor: ShaSha Bread Company

ShaSha Bread Co. is an artisan bakery that represents the essence of a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. The constant innovation of the sourdough baking methods and sprouting techniques set this nominee apart.
ShaSha Co. is the only bakery to receive a grant from the National Council of Canada. With this assistance, founder and CEO, Shasha Shaun Navazesh, has determined the environmental factors to optimize sourdough bacteria and fungus to replace commercial yeast, boosting lactic acid levels and contributing to greater health, energy, and vitality. The development of Shasha’s sourdough method has greatly benefitted those inflicted with an intolerance to yeast.
ShaSha Co. is also extremely supportive of organic and natural local farmers who responsibly harvest the earth and reduce the carbon footprint of the planet. The conservation of natural resources is an attitude maintained throughout the facilities with staff.

Outstanding Direct Farm Marketing/CSA: Everdale’s Harvest Share CSA

Everdale’s Harvest Share CSA for their dedication to farmers markets as well as innovation in their CSA program in their use of a points based system to avoid food wastage.

Everdale’s Harvest Share CSA program in Hillsburgh has been running since 1998. In 2007 Everdale established a second pick up site at the Narayever Congregation in Toronto. In 2011 Everdale’s Harvest Share program fed over 350 families.
Everdale has structured their CSA to be user friendly as we see it is important to attract and embrace new local food customers. Everdale supports other local farmers by carrying their food in Everdale’s CSA, and promotes these farmers with in-store sampling opportunities and posted biographies. the CSA also includes member’s days, movie nights, book chats, and workshops. The other unique piece to Everdale’s CSA program is that the farmer interns play key roles in the growing and selling of the food. It gives them invaluable experience to take with them to their own future farm enterprises. Many of these former interns have gone on to establish their own CSA farms using Everdale’s Harvest Share as a model (see Angie Koch and her Fertile Ground CSA http://www.fertilegroundcsa.com/ ).

One of the customers writes in their nomination: “My family have been members for the past 4 years. It is such a beautiful place and our kids love it. There is always something fun and exciting for them to do while we shop and chat to all of the familiar faces. The farmers and interns are so lovely and helpful. We love the pint system where we get to pick the food and quantities that we want. The food is amazing (especially the kale and carrots!). We have belonged to other CSA’s before and while they were wonderful they were not in the same league as Everdale.”

Outstanding Retailer: The Big Carrot

The Big Carrot is a 70 member worker owned co-op in Toronto- for their 28 years of leadership and service to the sector. The Big Carrot is the first retailer in the province to certify to the COS, and is one of the founding members of the NON-GMO Project. The Big Carrot has high in-house standards, and is a leader in consumer education, as evidenced through their free private nutritional store tours and weekly seminars as well as sponsorship of countless education/outreach events and programs that promote organics.

From one of the folks nominating the Big Carrot: “The Big Carrot – For their dedication in spreading the word about organics and for not compromising on their core values. They continue to stay to to their mission and vision and continue to serve their local community. Thanks to everyone at The Big Carrot for everything that they do!”

Outstanding Supplier: Pfennings Organic Farm

Pfennings for all of their work as a broker and distributor of organic vegetables.   Continue The Pfennings have been mentors to growers and sales staff, and have raised the bar on local and organic in horticulture into various distribution streams. Their decision several years ago to self-distribute has proven a successful model.  As third generation organic farmers, the Pfennings continue to develop the supply chain to address food as an important part of social change.

Outstanding Marketing Campaign: Organic Meadow’s ‘Clean Living’ video

“Organic Meadow for their music video, it surpasses all other organic advertising by an Ontario group this year.”

In 2011 Organic Meadow received Ontario Market Investment Fund money from the Ontario Government to help produce a unique and creative social media piece. The decision was made to produce an original music video. Music for the music video was written and produced by Ted Zettel Jr., Organic Meadow Cooperative founder Ted Zettel’s son and called Clean Livin’. With help of a Toronto based creative production company, Imported Artists, and Director Gloria Kim the Clean Livin’ music video came to life. The video was filmed just outside of Stratford and starred Organic Meadow founder Ted Zettel, Organic Meadow farmer Stew Slater and his daughter Sophia and the extras were Organic Meadow Inc. staff.
The video shares the story of Organic farmers and their dedication to the animals, the land, the environment and our future. The completed video is posted on Youtube, Facebook, the Organic Meadow website and has been linked to by various other websites and tweeted again and again.

“Organic Meadow’s Clean Living video is one of many successful marketing tools this co-op can be proud of. I also find their website highly informative, interesting and fresh.”

Innovation Award: Southbrook Vineyards

Southbrook carries three certifications:

1. Certified Organic Winery (Pro-Cert)
2. Certified Biodynamic Winery (Demeter)
3. LFP Certification Marketing Categories

On farm innovations include:
1. The Hospitality Building is LEED Gold Certified (first winery in Canada to gain this certification).
2. All lighting in the Hospitably Pavilion is set to sensors so when rooms are not in use lights turn off.
3. Reflective white roof.
4. Onsite bioswales to filter water.
5. No irrigation for vines.
6. Tractors on the property run on Bio-diesel.

Southbrook has created a line of food products that are made locally with organic products. Their food products in 2012 will come from a 20km radius from farm to shelf.

Southbrook has also started a line of wine called Connect. The Connect label was created with the goal of increasing the number of organically farmed acres in Ontario. With 150 acre property and only 50% of it under vine, Southbrook has vowed that they will not plant the remaining acreage until the demand for organic grapes in the area surpasses the supply. They have committed to helping local grape growers gain their organic certification and make a promise to purchase the growers grapes for this Connect Line of wines.

All marketing materials that are printed are printed with soy & vegetable inks and on 100% post consumer paper.

As a supplier to the LCBO Southbrook is the first winery to offer Ontario consumers an organic and local choice in wine under $15. The Connect Family of wines which is 100% organic and is bottled in glass bottles that are made from 100% recycled glass from the Ontario Blue Bin program. The bottles are also lightweight (under 400g) for smaller carbon foot print when shipping. As the Connect Wine Family is Southbrook’s most popular and most highly produced this is the family that they decided would make the most impact with this endeavor. So bottles being shipped to LCBOs around Ontario have 100% of the materials and product made locally and the product is certified organic.

80% of the boxes used to bring in the wine the onsite retail store (which accounts for 80% of the sales in the retail store) are reused on site for new wine releases.  Southbrook recognized a product normally considered waste (or compost) in the wine making practice – grape pumice or the skins of red grapes left over after the pressing and fermentation process take place. Rich in anti-oxidants, Southbrook has dried this skins, powdered them and created a new product for consumers called BioFlavia – turning a waste item into a product for consumption that has MANY heath benefits! The product has become so popular Southbrook has now purchased 100% of the organic pumice in Canada to reach the demand – oh right it is certified organic as well.

Volunteer Award: Peter Dowling, Howe Island

Most of Peter’s volunteer work has been on behalf of the National Farmers Union from the local level to the provincial level and the national level. With his soft-spoken nature, his focus in recent years on working behind the scenes, and the fact that his work is within a general farm organization rather than an organic specific information it would be easy to miss the volunteer contributions Peter has made to the organic community in Ontario. Peter and Dianne are organic dairy farmers themselves along with their son Tim. Their daughter Emily also has a successful organic vegetable and egg CSA on the family farm.

The National Farmers Union is quite intentional about speaking for the environmental, social and economic benefits of organic farming as a way to maintain family farms and to protect the environment. The willingness of the NFU to take that message to the government and to the public, has played a role in building support for the organic sector. Peter has been instrumental in making sure the NFU in Ontario has included support for organic farming as part of its message over the last couple of decades. In the 1990′s, Peter was the key leader from the farm community in the fight to stop rBST from being approved in Canada.

Although, Peter is not often the public voice of the NFU in Ontario, those who have been the public voice have relied on Peter’s behind the scenes work to help frame the message and his strategic thinking in how to get the message into public and government discussions. Peter also played a key role in working to have the NFU become an accredited Ontario General Farm Organization in 2002. This was an important development for the organic sector in Ontario, because as one of three GFO’s, the NFU had new opportunities to bring its positions on organic farming to the table.

Education Award: Julie Daniluk

Julie has been a passionate voice for the organic sector for almost two decades. Julie began educating eaters about the benefits of organics one by one as The Big Carrot’s in-store nutritionist. Her audiences grew rapidly as a much-requested speaker at health food and trade events across the country where, no matter the topic- the foundation of Julie’s message has been the connection between health and organic food.

Most recently Julie has had the opportunity of reaching countless eaters with her work as expert nutritionist on The Healthy Gourmet, Dr. OZ and the Marilyn Dennis show as well as her newly published cookbook Meals that Heal.

Julie’s enthusiasm, commitment and depth of knowledge in her field make her an invaluable ambassador for Organics and a very worthy candidate for the OCO Education Award.

Lifetime Achievement Awards:

Cathleen Kneen

Cathleen Kneen’s contribution to organics started many decades ago as a farmer on the east coast with her husband, Brewster. Cathleen’s work in the food systems movement has always been cutting edge. Her mentorship of community food activists across the country has created a generation of folks dedicated to including farmers and food producers in the food security conversation. She has championed organic production as an integral part of both emergency food and long term sustainability. Recently retired from her role as Chair Food Secure Canada, we trust Cathleen will find a new home for her passion and analysis.

Hugh Martin

Hugh Martin has contributed greatly to the growth of the organic movement, over many years, without a great deal of recognition.  Hugh spent 34 years with OMAFRA, many of those years as the Organic Lead. In the year 2012 we are likely to take for granted that we have a well established organization like the Organic Council, that has established strong links with the provincial government and particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, cooperating on multiple levels. But in the beginning, it was not so.

In order to understand the achievement of Hugh Martin, we must recollect what it was like back in those early years of the 1980’s.  We were a radical fringe movement – as far out of the mainstream as you could be without being arrested.  We considered anyone within the establishment, i.e. the government, to be the enemy, and they felt likewise.  The first, and for a long time, the only person within OMAFRA to return our calls and take an interest in this new approach, was Hugh.  He quickly became the go-to guy within the government for everything organic.

This may seem like a smart career move for a young civil servant as we look back, from the vantage point of Hugh, receiving an award.  But at the time it was anything but.  Hugh occupied a no-man’s land, with one foot in each camp, earning the distrust of his colleagues for cavorting with upstarts, and suspected by organic people as a “government spy”.

It took a special kind of person to manage such a perilous situation.  With patience, perseverance, careful diplomacy and courage Hugh managed to survive those early days and be vindicated, as organics gradually grew to be recognized as a credible and permanent part of the farming landscape.  We owe him a great debt of gratitude and recognition that is long overdue.  Together, we recognize Hugh Martin for a lifetime of achievement in serving the organic food movement.

Join us on the Saturday of the Guelph Organic Conference
@ River Run Centre in downtown Guelph.
Tickets: $45 general public, $40 students and OCO members. (Plus HST)
Dinner and music at 7pm
Awards at 8pm
Cash bar and music to follow the awards

Reserve your tickets!

Full List of Nominees

Outstanding Livestock or Grain Producer:  
Hans Hachler
Dan Konsolman
Laepple Organic Farm – Linda, Fritz, and Family.
Keith Sheardown
Rob Fleishauer

Outstanding Dairy Producer:  
Ruby Zubler
Sunholm Farms, Grant Martin (of Ethel)
Ventry Hill Farm: Paul and Dorien DeJong
Pieter Biemond
Marte and Joanne Pronk – ThisLDo Farm

Outstanding Horticultural Producer/ CSA:   
Fertile Ground CSA – Angie Koch
Everdale
Gillian Flies and Brent Preston of The New Farm
Blossoms farms and retail

Outstanding Processor/ Value-added:   
Harmony Organic
ShaSha Bread Co
Thomas Canning
Steen`s Dairy

Outstanding Direct Farm Marketing/ CSA (includes Farmers Markets):
Kitchener Farmers Market
Everdale’s Harvest Share CSA

Outstanding Retailer (includes Restaurant and Box Delivery-non-farm)
The Big Carrot
Vincenzo’s, Waterloo
Cafe Pyrus
Indulge Kitchen (Kitchener Farmers Market)
Fiesta Farms
Essence of Life (Kensington)
Tutti Fruitty (Kensington)

Outstanding Supplier (Broker, Sales Rep, Distributor, Direct-to-Retail)   
Pfennings Organics
Shannon Hayes

Outstanding Marketing Campaign
Organic Meadow’s ‘Clean Living’ video
Yorkshire Valley Chicken

Innovation Award
Pfennings
Southbrook
ShaSha Co
Ignatious Farm
Lloyd and Beth Simpson’s Polycarbonate Dairy Barn Addition
London Area Organic Growers

Lifetime Achievement Award:   
Hugh Martin
Cathleen Kneen
Shasha Shaun Navazesh
Harro Wehrmann

Volunteer Award:   
Shasha Shaun Navazesh
Tony Mcquail
Peter Dowling, Howe Island

Education Award:
Maureen Bostock
Farmstart
Jenny Butcher
Julie Daniluk
NFU Local 316 (Kingston area)

Nomination Process:

Nomination for the Awards were done using our online form or by downloading (.pdf /.docx) and sending your nominations to our office. Nominations were due January 6th 2012, after which our nomination committee will select awards recipients.

For more information about the Awards, nomination criteria, being an event sponsor or food donor, please contact our office.

Check out the 2011 Ontario Organic Awards Recipients!

The notes from the COO Liaison Committee meeting held October 17th 2011 are available for download.

You are invited to submit nominations for the Standards Interpretation Committee

The Canada Organic Office, in cooperation with the Organic Federation of Canada, has established a permanent system for interpretation of the Canadian Organic Standards. An important element of this system is the Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC). The Terms of reference document outlines the function of the committee, in detail, as well as the selection criteria and process of its members.

Since the SIC met for the first time on December 8 &9, 2009, more than 100 questions from the sector have been analyzed by the SIC and final answers posted on the COO website. Other questions and answers will soon be posted for public comment.

In accordance with SIC terms of Reference, the terms of four committee members, Ted Zettel, Jean Duval, Janine Gibson, Dag Falck, are ending in December 2011.

You are invited to submit nominations for these four positions. People ending their terms may run for re-election but must be nominated again. Nominees must be voting members of the CGSB Committee on Organic Agriculture (Please see the CGSB member list.)

Please note that the COO has amended the SIC terms of reference and that appointments to the SIC are now for three years.

Other members of the Standards Interpretation Committee are Gérard Bouchard, Rochelle Eisen, Maureen Bostock (terms ending December 2012)

We will accept nominations until November 4th 2011. SIC nominations should be sent to the OFC at info@organicfederation.ca

Please contact the OFC if you have any questions or require further information.

http://www.organicfederation.ca/

Background:
• The 2,400 acre open pit would be deeper than Niagara Falls and 200 feet below the water table, disrupting the natural flow of the aquifers that provide water to millions of Ontarians.

• This area is also home to some of southern Ontario’s most fertile farm land and the specialty silt loam in this area is renowned for its potatoes.

•  Melancthon and Mulmur Townships, in the County of Dufferin, are situated on the headwaters of the Grand and Nottawasaga Rivers.

•  Potatoes from this area supply 90% of Toronto’s demand—this is sustainable, local agriculture at its best.
• The mining operation would require the DAILY use of 600,000,000 litres of water. This is equivalent to 25% of daily water use in all of Ontario.
• The operation would see 7,200 plus trucks a day (3,600 in and 3,600 out) on the roads—most likely Highways 124 and 89.

• The plans call for rehabilitation of the mine back into agriculture. However, it is unclear what crops are able to grow in a 200 foot hole.
• There has been no analysis of the economic impact on the loss of farming jobs to the community, or to the impact of the loss of 2,400 acres of prime agricultural land or its impact on food prices. Furthermore, no analysis has been done on the impact on tourism and existing business due to blasting, noise, dust and traffic. Please visit http://www.citizensalliance.ca or http://www.ndact.com for more information.

Organic Council of Ontario has joined the movement demanding the Quarry be Stopped!

The Organic Council of Ontario answered the call from community organizers to write letters to government officials regarding the EPA for the quarry. In the letter written to the Premiere, the Minister of Agriculture, and other relevant ministers, dated July 5th 2011, OCO urged the government ensure the quarry project be “subject to the more appropriate and comprehensive Environmental Assessment Act. As it stands, the mega quarry proposal simply requires a zoning change under the Planning Act and a licence from the Ministry of Natural Resources under the Provincial Aggregate Resources Act- an inadequate process for dealing with the huge impact this proposal will have on the region and Ontarians.” Our letter goes on to state “the potential risks of this project cited by experts and scientists prior to even conducting an EA suggest invoking the Precautionary Principle and refuse permitting of this project.”

Executive director of OCO, Jodi Koberinski notes that the Ontario Organic sector, alongside the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, feels that “the ‘override’ aggregate extraction enjoys from the EA process- render farm communities powerless to prevent the stripping of the countryside.”  This is reminiscent of major issues that have arisen in Ontario’s First Nations communities, where large corporations have engaged in resource extraction on First Nations land regardless of opposition from those communities.

More action is needed to ensure the Mega Quarry does not destroy our ability to farm in Ontario or to drink clean water. The Organic Council of Ontario is asking people to join 70 Canadian Chefs and 20,000 other people at FOODSTOCK to taste the bounty of land threatened by the mega-Quarry.  This will take place on 4 farms that refused to sell  out in near Honeywood, Ontario, on Highway 124.  Admission: Pay what you can to support the cost of fighting the Quarry!

http://canadianchefscongressfoodstock.eventbrite.com/

They are also available on our YouTube Channel

The conference will be held in Peterborough, ON October 27, 28, 29. Workshops and plenaries will be at Trent University with tours and speaking events throughout Peterborough and the Kawartha region.

For information about Bring Food Home 2010 (last year’s inaugural conference) please visit http://sustainontario.com/initiatives/bring-food-home-2010-conference.