Organic

 

 

Arizona Resources

Colorado Resources

New Mexico Resources

Utah Resources

Regional Resources

Organizations related to Organic Production and Marketing

Transitioning to Organic Production

Accredited Independent Organic Certifiers

Organic Certification

Organic Marketing

Organic Regulations and Standards

Success Stories

Funding Resources

 

*Each resource within the Four Corners region will be marked with an asterisk

 

See also:

 

 

Arizona Resources

 

Arizona Department of Agriculture Organic Certification Program

Katie Decker is the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s organic contact. Although Arizona is currently not accredited to complete organic certification under USDA’s standards, she can refer all interested parties to independent certifiers out of state.

Contact Information:

Katie Decker

Public Information Officer

AZ Dept. of Agriculture

1688 W. Adams, Room 124

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Phone: (602) 542-0958

E-mail: kdecker@azda.gov

 

*For more resources on Organic Farming Marketing and Production in Arizona, please refer to, “An Organic Producer’s Resource Guide to the Four Corners States.” Information for Arizona is on p.18

http://www.swmarketingnetwork.org/publications/2005_Regional_Organic_Producers_Resource_Guide.pdf

 

Colorado Resources

 

CO Department of Agriculture: Organic Program

This program serves both the producer and consumers of organically grown crops through an application and inspection process.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1167928162828&p=1167928162828&pagename=CDAGWrapper

 

Colorado Department of Agriculture

Division of Plant Industry and Accredited Organic Certifying Agent
Don Gallegos

700 Kipling St., Ste. 4000
Lakewood, CO 80215-8000

303-239-4149
E-mail: Don.Gallegos@ag.state.co.us

 

*Colorado Organic Producers Association
Provides education, information, and networking services to promote and facilitate the production, distribution, and consumption of Colorado organic food products. COPA members represent all segments of agriculture-production, processing, wholesale, retail, and consumer.

http://www.organiccolorado.org/

 

New Mexico Resources

 

New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission

The NMOCC is an independent agency of New Mexico State government, charged with regulation and promotion of organic agriculture. Regulation includes organic certification and registration, as well as oversight of enforcement and compliance with organic statutes. The NMOCC also aids with organic marketing.

http://nmocc.state.nm.us/index.html

 

New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission
Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Brett Bakker

4001 Indian School, NE, Suite 310
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-841-9070
E-mail: brett.bakker@state.nm.us

New Mexico Organic Producer Marketing Guide

This guide is dedicated to supporting agriculture that enables the farmer to make a decent living; allows all of us to nourish ourselves with delicious, healthful, beautiful food; and protects the planet by building the soil, conserving water, increasing biodiversity and generally lightening the footprint left by humankind.

http://nmocc.state.nm.us/pdf/MarketManual.pdf

 

Utah Resources

 

State of Utah Organic Certification

This program is intended to serve producers, processors and consumers of agricultural products. The goal is to manage a process that will maintain the integrity of food products produced without the use of restricted chemical inputs.

http://ag.utah.gov/plantind/organic.html

 

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Organic Food Program Coordinator and Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Seth Winterton
Box 146500
Salt Lake City UT 84114-6500

Phone: 801-538-7141
Fax: 801-538-7126

 

Utah Organic Standards

This is a link to the Utah Organic Standards. The state of Utah has adopted and incorporated National Organic Program Final Rule.

http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r068/r068-020.htm

 

Regional Resources

 

Organic Farming Compliance Handbook: A Resource Guide for Western Region Agricultural Professionals

For agricultural professionals in the Western US to: Understand effective practices, materials, and processes that comply with organic standards; access expertise and informational resources on organic farming, and answer questions from their clientele regarding effective practices that meet organic standards.

http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/organic/complianceguide/

 

*For more resources on Organic Marketing and Production in the region, refer to, An Organic Producer’s Resource Guide to the Four Corners States by Katy Pepinsky.

 

Organizations related to Organic Production and Marketing

 

Organic Consumers Association

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

 

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)

OFRF is a non-profit whose mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.

www.ofrf.org

 

Organic Trade Association

Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.

http://www.ota.com/index.html

 

Transitioning to Organic Production

 

How to Go Organic

This is a resource website produced by the Organic Trade Association. The site is devoted to helping producers make the transition to organically certified operations.

http://www.howtogoorganic.com/

 

Transitioning to Organic Production

"Transitioning to Organic Production" lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production. http://www.sare.org/publications/organic.htm

 

Accredited Independent Organic Certifiers

 

Certified Naturally Grown

Certified Naturally Grown is a non-profit alternative eco-labeling program for small farms that grow using USDA Organic methods but are NOT a part of the USDA Certified Organic program. They certify farms primarily distributing locally and directly, through Farmer's Markets, Farm Stands, Community Supported Agriculture projects, to local restaurants, coops, small grocery stores or through other direct sales channels such as the Internet.

www.naturallygrown.org

 

Oregon Tilth

Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Primarily an organization of organic farmers, gardeners and consumers, Tilth offers educational events throughout the state of Oregon, and provides organic certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers internationally.

www.tilth.org

 

Quality Assurance International

QAI offers organic certification under the National Organic Program for Producers, Processors, Private Labelers, Distributors, Retailers, Restaurants, Wild Crop Harvesters, Greenhouse, Mushrooms, and Facilities.

http://www.qai-inc.com/0_0_0_0.php

 

Organic Certification

 

Organic Farm Certification & the National Organic Program

Farmers planning to market their products as "organic" must become certified. This guide outlines the considerations involved in "going organic" and the basic steps to organic certification. The sole exemption to mandatory certification is also discussed.

http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/organcert.html

 

Transitioning to Organic Production

"Transitioning to Organic Production" lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production. http://www.sare.org/publications/organic.htm

 

Organic Marketing

 

A Guide to Marketing Organic Produce

This guide analyzes marketer perceptions, consumer perceptions and the economics of organic marketing.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/publications/organicproduce/organic.html

 

Labeling and Marketing Information

This article discusses the specifics of what is required to label a product as “Organic” under the USDA organic standards.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/FactSheets/LabelingE.html

 

The New Farm

"Farmer-to-farmer know-how" is how the Rodale Institute describes its new website and newsletter, The New Farm. The site and newsletter feature a frequently updated "Organic Price Index," tales of high-value farming, a specialty cut flower corner, research updates, numerous columns by experts, book suggestions, letters from farmers, plus lots of other news.

http://www.newfarm.org/

 

Organic Farming: ATTRA Publications

This is an excellent list of publications from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Articles include information on such topics as marketing, production, certification and transitioning to organic.

http://www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html

 

Organic Marketing Resources: ATTRA Publications

Market resources for organic food and fiber products, including organic prices, sales data, market trends, and other market data, organic trade associations, directories, and other organic marketing publications and resources, with contact information for ordering them.

http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/markres.html

 

Selling Certified Organic Produce to Retail Produce Markets in the Upper Midwest
This article provides useful information to help growers market their organic produce. While aimed at the Upper Midwest, its information can be useful to growers in other areas, as well.

http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/2000/01/01/selling_certified_organic_produce_to_retail_produce_markets_in_the_upper_midwest/index.php

 

Organic Regulations and Standards

 

The National Organic Program: USDA

The NOP is the body within the USDA that has come up with the nation wide organic standards. This site includes regulatory texts, list of approved materials, lists of accredited certifiers, as well as background and consumer information.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexNet.htm

 

Organic Regulation, Certification, Transition & History

This is a very detailed collection of articles related to organic regulations. There are resources to help with documentation of production methods to help with preparation for inspections.

http://www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html#overview

 

Success Stories

 

*Duncan Family Farms, Goodyear, Arizona

The Duncans have a wholesale vegetable and fruit operation on 2,000 acres, about 400 of them certified organic They also have diverse “agri-tourism” educational and recreational components of their business.

http://www.sare.org/publications/naf2/duncan.htm

 

*Resources and Testimonials from Farmers and Ranchers in the SWMN

This is an excerpt from the publication; “An Organic Producer’s Resource Guide to the Four Corners States.” The stories (p.11-17) are profiles of three growers in the Four Corner States who have had successful experiences in transitioning to and utilizing organic practices.

http://www.swmarketingnetwork.org/publications/2005_Regional_Organic_Producers_Resource_Guide.pdf

 

Funding Resources

 

National Organic Certification Cost Share Program

The Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program. The program provides financial assistance to producers in 15 states to transition into organic farming. Contact information for each state involved in the program is listed on the website.

http://attra.ncat.org/guide/n_z/organic_certification.html

 

Organic Farming Research Foundation: Research Grants

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) funds research on organic farming and food systems and the dissemination of these research results to the greater agricultural community.

http://ofrf.org/grants/apply_research.html

 

Organic Farming Research Foundation: Education and Outreach Grants

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) funds the development of educational opportunities and materials. Visit the OFRF website for more details.

http://ofrf.org/grants/apply_education&outreach.html

 

See also:

  • Financing for general resources to help fund agricultural marketing ventures.