Photo courtesy Sara Matthews
Last December 2018, the CCOF Foundation hosted its largest-ever benefit dinner, with nearly 250 of CCOF’s closest friends and supporters coming together in Monterey, California. The dinner, part of the larger Organic Grower Summit co-hosted by CCOF and the Organic Produce Network, aimed to draw awareness to the programs of the CCOF Foundation, and to bring together a group of like-minded individuals to celebrate the students, teachers, and donors who make the work of the CCOF Foundation possible. There were also some fantastic adult beverages available to those aged 21 and over.
Bonterra Organic Vineyards was among the in-kind supporters of CCOF Foundation’s “We Are Organic” dinner that evening, supplying its certified organic wine to accompany the Portola Hotel’s outstanding, 100% certified-organic menu. In 2019 Bonterra will further its support, joining a collection of committed donors that graciously support the CCOF Foundation’s Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund.
Like many in the room, our friends at Bonterra told us they were inspired by the speech of Rhyne Cureton, a recipient of the CCOF Foundation’s Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund. Bonterra seeks to collaborate with the land in a respectful and sustainable manner by farming organically, and they were impressed with the impact the Fund has on those learning about organic agriculture. The Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund is the only fund of its kind in the United States, focused exclusively on students and teachers of organic.
When asked about why Bonterra supports CCOF, the company’s Director of Vineyards Joseph Brinkley told us:
"CCOF is instrumental in raising awareness about organics among consumers, not only in the wine industry, but across all segments of organic farming. We are proud to help farmers across California convert their vineyards from conventional to organic, because we share CCOF's mission of making organic farming more accessible, viable and widespread. CCOF is an invaluable resource in this endeavor, providing essential knowledge and support along the way."
Join Bonterra and the Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund’s other supporters this year, and invest in the next generation of organic growers today.
For questions about the CCOF Foundation, please call (831) 423-2263 or email ccoffoundation@ccof.org