Blog posts by Jane Sooby

Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, July 13, 2020

The Farmer Equity Act passed by the California legislature in 2017 defined “socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers” and required the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to ensure that food and agriculture laws, policies, and programs be developed in consultation with socially disadvantaged and women farmers and ranchers. CDFA recently issued the 2020 Report to the California Legislature on the Farmer Equity Act on progress to date in implementing the Farmer Equity Act. Using data based on stakeholder and agency interviews, the report identifies four primary challenges…
Written by Jane Sooby on Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Jeff Huckaby, president of CCOF-certified Grimmway Farms and Cal-Organic Farms, has received the Organic Trade Association’s prestigious Farmer of the Year award for 2020. Huckaby is a fourth generation farmer who discovered a passion for growing organic carrots over 20 years ago when he first started experimenting with organic practices. He has since led the expansion of Grimmway and Cal-Organic’s organic production to more than 45,000 acres of certified organic vegetables in five states. He is a leader in organic marketing as well, convincing Costco to stock only organic carrots in their…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, June 8, 2020

The Agricultural Statistics Review released annually by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) includes organic data for the first time. The organic section of Agricultural Statistics Review reports producer, handler, and processor gross sales by county for 2018 and harvested acreage of 29 crop categories by county. Kern County was the top organic county in 2018 with over $782 million in sales. Monterey County was second with $480 million, and Fresno County third with $299 million. Collectively, California counties produced over $10 billion of organic agricultural products…
Written by Jane Sooby on Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast Water Board) has released a draft Agricultural Order 4.0 to take the place of the existing order, which expires January 31, 2021. The Central Coast Water Board will hold three virtual workshops on June 2, June 3, and June 4 to explain the new Agricultural Order, review its monitoring and reporting requirements, and provide information about the draft environmental impact report. Links to join each workshop are listed below.  The workshops will be broadcast via Zoom, which may be accessed via computer or telephone.…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, May 11, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that families value high quality, organic food. While the impact of COVID-19 on food and agriculture has been uneven across sectors, the demand for some types of organic processed foods, such as pre-cut vegetable assortments and pantry staples, has increased as families search for healthy options while saying at home.  Beyond the health benefits, organic processed foods are an important part of California’s economy. The California Department of Public Health recently reported that organic processors made $15.5 billion in gross sales in 2019, a 17 percent…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, May 4, 2020

In what has become a routine practice during the COVID-19 shelter in place orders, the California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) will meet via teleconference from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2020. COPAC advises the California secretary of food and agriculture on the State Organic Program and on current issues in the state’s organic sector. The State Organic Program is managed by two state agencies: the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which regulates organic processed products, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), which…
Written by Jane Sooby on Tuesday, April 28, 2020

As part of USDA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) plans to spend $3 billion for vendors to purchase, package, and deliver boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and meat to non-profit distribution centers such as food banks, schools, churches, and community groups. According to AMS officials, this will not be “a normal purchasing program” that buys truckloads of agricultural commodities. Instead vendors will assemble boxes containing a variety of products that are ready to load “off the truck and into the trunk.” Vendors are also responsible…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, March 9, 2020

Healthy Soils Program Requests for Applications Released Acknowledging the many benefits of improved soil quality, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) initiated the Healthy Soils Program in 2017, which offers grants to farmers and ranchers to implement new soil-building practices on their land. CDFA recently opened the Healthy Soils Program for 2020 applications. Applications for the Incentives Program will be accepted on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. PT on June 26, 2020, or until available funds are expended, whichever comes first. Applications for Demonstration…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, January 13, 2020

CCOF’s Director of Inspection Services Sean Feder has been appointed by California’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross to the alternate certifier seat on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC). COPAC advises the secretary on education, outreach, and technical assistance for organic producers in the state. The committee is comprised of 15 primary members plus alternates for each seat.  Term limits opened up a number of primary producer seats that were filled with alternate members. CCOF members who now fill primary seats on COPAC are Benjamin Diesl with…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, September 23, 2019

The California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) advises the California secretary of food and agriculture on education, outreach, and technical assistance for organic producers in the state.  COPAC will convene a meeting on September 26 from 10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau office. Items on the agenda include National Organic Program updates,  GMO test pilot program update featuring a discussion on synthetic biology,  Processor and CalCannabis Subcommittee updates,  origin of livestock rule, and  access to organic slaughter facilities.  See the full agenda …
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, July 29, 2019

Producers whose international sales have been negatively impacted by trade tariffs are eligible to enroll in the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), part of the Trade Mitigation Package that will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to agricultural producers nationwide.  Sign-ups began July 29, 2019 and will continue through December 6, 2019. Payments will be based on 2019 planted acres with some additional restrictions. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is administering the program. Producers affected by natural disasters who filed prevented planting claims then planted an MFP-…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, June 17, 2019

Invoking the challenges American farmers have faced from increased weather extremes, Brise Tencer, the Executive Director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), presented testimony last week to the U.S. House of Representative’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research during its hearing on Increasing Resiliency, Mitigating Risk: Examining the Research and Extension Needs of Producers. Tencer, who previously served as policy director at CCOF, cited OFRF studies that characterize organic farmers’ research needs. She explained how organic farming practices…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, April 29, 2019

USDA issued an update on its progress in implementing provisions of the new farm bill, which was signed into law December 2018. Here are some highlights: TITLE I – Commodity Programs Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy): On March 22, 2019, Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program in 2018 can now retroactively participate in the MPP-Dairy for 2018. Contact your local FSA office for more information. Dairy Margin Coverage Program: On March 28, 2019, the National Agricultural…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, April 29, 2019

The California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC) will assemble for a public meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture building in Sacramento.  COPAC advises the California secretary of food and agriculture on education, outreach, and technical assistance for organic producers in the state. The committee is comprised of 15 primary members plus alternates for each seat.  Topics that will be considered during the meeting include: Update on the GMO test pilot program Glyphosate subcommittee update Processor…
Written by Jane Sooby on Monday, March 4, 2019

CCOF is excited to release a new contribution to the scientific literature, Roadmap to an Organic California: Benefits Report, which distills the findings of more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific studies into a captivating and beautifully illustrated read.  The Benefits Report presents clear evidence that organic agriculture is more than a system of food production; it is a comprehensive approach to solving the issues threatening California’s long-term security and prosperity.  “Organic food production is an opportunity to stimulate the state’s economy, promote public health, and…