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The Farmer's Pledge©™ Registry
The Farmer's Pledge is a commitment to a broad set of principles that go far beyond the National Organic Program by addressing labor issues, community values and marketing. It is a commitment that either certified organic farmers or uncertified organic farmers can make to their customers and neighbors.
The Farmer's Pledge is not a substitute for USDA organic certification. Instead, The Farmer's Pledge is a commitment that does not imply that anyone is looking over the shoulder of the farmer, but goes beyond certified organic. It may serve the small organic farmers who have never been certified in the past for whatever reason, who must abandon the word "organic" as the descriptor of their product because of the mandatory nature of the NOP. It also offers certified farmers the opportunity to say more to their customers about how they farm. It is both a marketing tool and an educational tool we hope will help people support small farmers who have strong ecological approaches to farming, are treating and paying labor in a socially responsible way and are working towards once again making farming an integral part of communities everywhere.
Since its introduction in 2003, The Farmer's Pledge continues to grow with several organizations and organic certifiers from other states, representing both the east and west coasts, inquiring about adopting The Farmer's Pledge as an alternative program, so we hope the number of farms that sign The Farmer's Pledge will continue to grow within and outside of New York. We are also very pleased that FEDCO and Growing for Market wrote that The Farmer's Pledge was an alternative to USDA Certified Organic worth investigating.
In addition to being listed in our annual publication The Local Organic Source, Organic Food Guide and on our website Registry, you also receive an 8½x14" personalized, laminated display document, 10 free Farmer's Pledge logo labels that can be easily used as templates for stationary, invoices, price lists, etc. and a thick cardstock 22"x28" full color poster. We believe that this easy to read poster will not only promote the Farmer's Pledge, but NOFA-NY's mission to teach the principles of sustainable agriculture, which we believe are well summarized in the Pledge.
The Farmer's Pledge is not written in stone. At each NOFA-NY Annual Conference there is a meeting session to discuss the Pledge and potential improvements. If you can't make it to the Conference, please do not hesitate to write us with your suggestions. One of the strengths of the Pledge is that farmers only have to communicate amongst themselves to improve it. The credibility of the Farmer's Pledge, therefore, is based not only on its words, but its participants.
We believe that the heart of sustainable agriculture is the integrity of the farmer. We are gladdened that both uncertified and certified organic farmers have recognized this principle by signing the Farmer's Pledge. Thanks to your participation in the Farmer's Pledge, a growing number of farmers are able to stand on and unite behind this value.
The list below includes 113 farmers who signed on to this commitment for responsible, sustainable agriculture in 2008! (List updated 10/7/08)
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