Press Release

April 26, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jeanne Ikemoto
COPES Program Manager
(831) 476-2434
jikemoto@copes-ca.org

Jake Lewin
COPES Marketing Manager
(831) 423-2263, ext. 21
jlewin@copes-ca.org

Seminar Will Offer Tips to Successfully Export Organic Products

Santa Cruz, CA (April 26, 2004) - A.J. Yates, Administrator of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, will present the keynote speech at an upcoming organic export seminar hosted by the Certified Organic Product Export Strategy - California (COPES). The seminar, "Succeeding in the Global Marketplace," is open to all California growers, processors, shippers, and other interested parties. It will be held on Thursday, May 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Piccadilly Inn - University in Fresno, CA. Visit www.copes-ca.org for additional information or to register online ($30 per person; includes lunch).

With the organic industry growing in excess of 20% annually for the last 12 years, organic farmers, processors and handlers are looking to the export market for the next wave of growth in the organic market. COPES is pleased to host this event with industry experts representing certification, export, government, trade promotion services, and businesses experienced in organic exports.

In addition to A.J. Yates' keynote address, presenters will include:
o Brian Leahy, President, California Certified Organic Farmers, "Growth of the Organic Marketplace"
o Brian McElroy, Certification Services Manager, California Certified Organic Farmers, "Hurdling Organic Technical Barriers to Trade"
o Tony Livoti, President, Monterey Bay International Trade Association, "How to use New Online Technology to Become More Cost-Effective, Efficient and Competitive in the Global Marketplace"

In addition, an Organic Export Panel will discuss and answer questions about organic export topics, including international market opportunities, marketing organic products to the European Union and Asia, overcoming organic trade difficulties and barriers. Panelists will include:

o Robert Blue, Winemaker, Bonterra Vineyards
o Cindy Richter, Export Coordinator, Pacific Organic Produce
o Candy Hansen, Director, Center for International Trade Development-Fresno
o Steven Herrick, Trade Department, The Bank of the West
o Steve Crider, International Sales Manager, Amy's Kitchen

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and the Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA) have combined their networks and resources to develop and implement the COPES program. COPES includes extensive marketing assistance to certified organic California companies to initiate and increase export activities, including key trade shows in Europe and Asia, foreign and reverse trade missions, seminars and desktop-to-desktop eLearning courses and webinars, covering export topics such as overcoming trade barriers.

This is the third in a series of eight organic export seminars hosted by COPES. These seminars offer vital information about how to sidestep potential export barriers and successfully deliver organic products to the global marketplace. Previous seminar attendees report that they have benefited from their COPES learning experience. Russ Lester of Dixon Ridge Farms said, "The COPES seminar was extremely helpful in providing information about how to work with the various foreign organic certification standards." "The COPES seminar helped me to identify which overseas markets are right for my organic wines. I also learned how to identify and overcome potential barriers to exporting my products to Japan," said Phaedra LaRocca of LaRocca Vineyards.

Seminar sponsors include California League of Food Processors, California Liquid Fertilizer, Center for International Trade Development-Fresno, Geller International, Inc.; Overseas Merchandise Inspection Co., Ltd. (OMIC), The Bank of the West, and Whole Foods Markets. Affiliate sponsors are Allied Grape Growers, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Western Growers Association and Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA).

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About CCOF
CCOF was founded in 1973 and is one of the nation's largest and oldest third-party organic certifying agencies. CCOF's purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in California and elsewhere through:
o A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, handlers, and retailers.
o Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
o Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.

About MBITA
MBITA is a non-profit international trade association dedicated to promoting business networking and education in the greater Monterey Bay Region. MBITA provides access to global resources and utilization through the latest technologies in order to maximize their members' profits in the global economy.

Funding for this project has been made available by the Governor's Buy California Initiative, the CDFA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CDFA or USDA, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial products and organizations imply endorsement of them by CDFA or USDA.