Blog posts by Meaghan Donovan

Written by Meaghan Donovan on Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The CCOF Foundation is pleased to partner with Community Alliance with Family Farmers and “The Farmers Beet” to launch our new podcast “Radio Organic”!   Join us for our pilot series centered around direct marketing strategies for farms. In each episode we’ll chat briefly with long-time organic farmers on marketing techniques that have helped them run successful, resilient organic farms. Listen in to hear what your peers are doing in the field or glean a few ideas to test out on your own operation.   Download episodes from “The Farmers Beet” podcast on iTunes and Spotify, or listen…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Recently passed federal regulations require food processors to meet certain food safety standards. Join us for this webinar series to learn what your business needs to do to comply. Through the nine-part series, we will walk through the different compliance categories of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for food processors, as well as review what each category of businesses needs to do to comply. Then we’ll dive deeper into food safety topics such as hazard analysis and validation. Get your food safety questions answered in this introductory series for organic processors!…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, May 3, 2021

Join the CCOF Foundation and EcoFarm on May 18 for a webinar that dives into the details of the organic labeling requirements for organic meat producers, including marketing strategies for organic livestock producers who don’t have access to certified organic slaughter facilities. Expect to learn about marketing tips from successful organic meat producers, organic labeling requirements from organic certification experts, and state-wide efforts in California to address the lack of certified organic slaughter facilities. Organic regulations and labeling requirements are intended to foster…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, April 5, 2021

Join the CCOF Foundation and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) on April 13 for a webinar that will help food hubs and other local food buyers (including farms in some cases) understand how to verify their farm suppliers in compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). In this webinar, we will break down the complex supplier verification requirement of the FSMA’s Preventive Controls Rule (also known as the "PC Rule"). The PC Rule applies to “facilities,” which in some cases can include farms. Part of the PC Rule requires food hubs and other buyers to “verify their…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, March 15, 2021

Join the CCOF Foundation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) on March 23 for a webinar that will provide updates on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. As of January 2020, farms with more than $25,000 in annual produce sales need to comply with the federal FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The March 23 webinar will provide a brief overview of the three legal classifications for farms: fully exempt, qualified exempt (partially exempt), and fully covered (full compliance required). Presenters from CAFF and the FDA’s…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, November 9, 2020

With its consumers and retailers demanding more sustainable packaging, the produce industry has begun to turn its eye toward sustainable packaging options. Earlier this year, many North American fresh berry producers committed to switching to 100 percent recycle-ready clamshell packaging by 2025.  Farms that sell directly to consumers also see the benefits of sustainable produce packaging. Many organic farms consider the use of recyclable or compostable packaging as aligned with their commitment to maintain and improve natural resources. On October 20, 2020, farmers and representatives from…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, November 2, 2020

Join the CCOF Foundation on November 17 for a webinar that highlights the innovative ways farms and local food businesses like restaurants, bakeries, and candymakers have joined forces to support each other and pivot marketing in light of COVID-19 restrictions.  Unprecedented times call for creative measures. Gain tips from two farms that have partnered with food businesses to expand their marketing and support their communities during the pandemic.  In the first half of the webinar, hear about Soil Born Farms’ drive-through farm stand. Started after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders went into…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, October 12, 2020

Join the CCOF Foundation on October 20 for a webinar that highlights how to create beautiful displays with pre-packed produce that draw in customers and keep them moving through your farm stand or farmers’ market stall. Then learn about various sustainable packaging options for produce growers who sell directly to consumers.   Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms will start off the webinar by reviewing basic design principles for produce displays that catch the consumers’ eye and draw them into the stand. Then hear how she has adapted  her stand display in light of COVID-19 restrictions by…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, October 12, 2020

The CCOF Foundation is trying out something new. After the broadcast of our Sustainable Produce Packaging for Farms that Sell Directly to Consumers webinar on October 20, we will offer a limited number of 20-minute private marketing consultations via Zoom with our webinar partner and farm marketing consultant, Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms. Collins can provide consultation to farms that sell at farmers’ markets or other direct-to-consumer outlets on the following topics:                – farm stand design and display                – social media engagement                – marketing/…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, May 18, 2020

We changed the date of our Innovative Direct Marketing Webinar for farmers. The new date for the webinar broadcast is May 26, 2020. Innovative direct marketing can keep your farm business viable in fast changing times. Join Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms on for a webinar on tools to increase your farm’s customer base and your revenue.  Collins, a long-time organic farmer and savvy marketing coach, will highlight techniques she’s used to draw in customers and maintain her business in an ever-changing market.  Learn how she quickly adapted her marketing to address COVID-19 restrictions…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, May 11, 2020

Join the CCOF Foundation and Hannah Muller from Full Belly Farm on May 19 for a webinar that delves into social media marketing for farms selling directly to consumers.  Use social media platforms to grow your business! This webinar will review key considerations for developing a social media plan, such as how and what to post to target specific audiences, how to create hashtags that help increase your outreach, and how to turn followers into consumers. Muller will explain why social media is an important tool to use to tell the story of your farm and brand. She will show-and-tell what has…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Innovative direct marketing can keep your farm business viable in fast changing times. Join Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms on April 28 for a webinar on tools to increase your farm’s customer base and your revenue.  Collins, a long-time organic farmer and savvy marketing coach, will highlight techniques she’s used to draw in customers and maintain her business in an ever-changing market.  Learn how she quickly adapted her marketing to address COVID-19 restrictions by reestablishing her CSA and modifying her approach to farmers’ markets. In this webinar, Collins will share things to…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, January 27, 2020

With wildfires and other natural disasters becoming more common, disaster preparedness is an important part of running a sustainable livestock operation. Join the CCOF Foundation on February 11 for a webinar that highlights best management practices that organic livestock operations can take to be prepared in the event of a disaster. This webinar will also review USDA risk management and disaster assistance programs that aid farmers and ranchers in recovering from a disaster after it has occurred. Our first speaker, Dr. Stephanie Larson, director of Sonoma County University of California…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The CCOF Foundation’s Farmers’ Marketing: Tools for Success project is aimed at helping growers who sell at farmers’ markets finetune their marketing to increase sales and revenue. The project offers both on-line and in-person workshops for farmers and resources on organic for farmers’ market managers. Farmer Resources  – Webinars              o Recordings                                                   ■ Organic Labeling and Marketing Strategies for Meat Producers                          ■ Farm & Food Business Marketing Collaborations                          ■ Sustainable…
Written by Meaghan Donovan on Monday, January 6, 2020

Join the CCOF Foundation and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) on January 14 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time for a webinar that reviews techniques for managing soil and irrigation during times of drought. Find out how to use your water resource most efficiently and hear about managing soil for best water absorption and storage. This webinar is very timely in the context of both the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and preparing for climate change and drought conditions. The webinar will cover the important considerations of irrigation scheduling…