New Publication Released: Organic Certification of Vegetable Operations

Are you interested in getting your vegetable operation certified organic, but don’t know if you qualify? Are you confused by organic record keeping requirements? What factors should you consider, when choosing a certification agency? In the new publication, “Organic Certification of Vegetable Operations,” Jim Riddle explains organic certification requirements in common sense, understandable terms. The publication explains the requirements for organic seeds, seedlings, greenhouses, crop rotations, soil amendments, pest and disease control inputs, harvest, and storage, as well as how to transition your operation to certified organic production. The publication, written for eOrganic, explains the certification process, and contains examples of record keeping forms used by organic produce growers.

Plans to attend “Expand Your Zone - Extend Your Season” Workshop

Make plans now to attend “EXPAND YOUR ZONE - EXTEND YOUR SEASON,” a season extension workshop led by one of the nation’s leading experts, Eliot Coleman, author of The New Organic Grower, Four Season Harvest, and Winter Harvest Manual. Eliot Coleman will discuss suitable crops, soils and fertility management, tunnels and tunnel construction, timing of plantings, yearly scheduling, growing crops not normally grown in northern zones, and much more. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions.

The workshop will be held Thursday, January 15, 2009, 1:00 to 5:30 PM at the St. Cloud Civic Center. The $50 Registration Fee includes the workshop, afternoon break, and a copy of Eliot Coleman’s book, Winter Harvest Manual. Seating is limited. See the flyer for registration information.

The event is brought to you by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center with additional funding from: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Sow the Seeds Campaign, Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Wedge Co-op, Organic Valley, and UM Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

Presidents Club Certificate Awarded to Organic Valley

The Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund (FAFO), which is a fund maintained by Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative farmers to promote organic research and policy development, has provided two gifts to the University of Minnesota’s Southwest Research and Outreach Center (SWROC). Those gifts are helping the SWROC conduct research on organic no-till production and season extension using a high tunnel for organic vegetable production.

On September 12, 2008, Pauline Nickel, SWROC Head, and Jim Riddle, Organic Outreach Coordinator, presented Organic Valley management with a certificate welcoming Organic Valley to the University of Minnesota’s President’s Club.

The certificate read, as follow: “Through your generous support of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, you help assure that the University of Minnesota remains vital and relevant in its mission of teaching and research, outreach and public service. With gratitude, we honor your philanthropic spirit.”

Doug Delling, FAFO Board member, and Jerry McGeorge, David Bruce, and Kate Shillin of Organic Valley graciously accepted the certificate and joined Pauline Nickel and Jim Riddle for an update on organic research and outreach activities being conducted by the University of Minnesota. They also discussed larger trends in the organic industry and future organic research opportunities.