CCOF Blog

Use our sturdy "CCOF Certified Organic" signs to promote your certified organic status at farmers' markets, organic processing facilities, your farm gate, and more, or use them as fence markers for your organic fields. Now available double-sided, you can show off your organic status from all angles! Only $40 per sign—get one while supplies last. 

Signs are also available in single-sided large, small, and mini sizes. The small and mini sizes are great for identifying organic bins and products at farmers’ markets. Organic enthusiasts are looking for the CCOF sign, so make sure yours…

The Ceres Community Project, a nonprofit that promotes the production of and access to healthy, sustainable food as the foundation of health, released a new report describing their efforts to advance policy and systems change to support a healthy, just, and sustainable world. Ceres provides medically tailored organic meals to families experiencing health crises. 

Ceres, a CCOF partner organization, is based in Marin and Sonoma counties in California and is focused on three primary policy and systems change goals:

On Monday, August 12, CCOF partner organization California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) released a publication that highlights the ongoing challenge of climate change on California farms and calls for farmer-driven solutions. 

The publication summarizes research that evaluates current and predicted climate change impacts on California agriculture, including water scarcity and changing precipitation, warming temperatures and extreme heat, pests, disease and weed challenges, and wildfires. 

It also highlights on-farm adaptation strategies and policy solutions that…

Dear CCOF Members and Supporters,

It is with great pleasure and honor that I write to you as CCOF’s new CEO. Since assuming the role in January, I’ve been continually inspired by CCOF’s many accomplishments over 2018, which you helped make a reality. I’m no stranger to the strength of CCOF’s incredible membership of organic farmers, professionals, and supporters, and I’m excited to…

Farmers’ market managers: support your organic farmers by learning more about the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

Some local producers grow and sell organic products to increase their revenue. These producers may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75% for allowed annual certification costs per scope of certification through the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

Join the CCOF Foundation and the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets for a webinar on August 27 that highlights the benefits of the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program…

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing that starting next week, 8,000 “small” and “very small” produce farms throughout California are being mailed educational letters about their roles in upholding the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), passed in 2011 to help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. Accompanying the letters are questionnaires to be returned to the CDFA by August 31 in order to verify commodities grown, determine whether annual sales qualify farms for a PSR exemption, and to help prioritize future…

Want to add some bee-lightful décor to your organic garden, while also preventing pesticide sprays? Our organic garden sign is the perfect addition to your own organic oasis. We’re retiring this friendly bee sign, so now’s the time to order yours. Get it today at a discounted price before it’s gone!

Ryan Raether’s National FFA Organization Supervised Agricultural Experience project is expanding his organic pumpkin business. He usually sells out of pumpkins by the first week of October, as he only has a half-acre of land. With the money Raether will receive from the Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund, he will expand his space to one acre. He will use cow manure compost as…

The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program is still open for 2019 applications, but only a few months remain to apply for funds. Through this program, eligible operations will be reimbursed up to 75% of their organic certification costs, not to exceed $750 for each NOP scope of organic certification. Eligible operations can also receive a refund of California State Organic…

Shannon Good’s future career goals directly relate to organic agriculture, as she plans to become a business partner in her family’s organic dairy farm, Med-O-Bloom Farms, L.L.C., after she obtains her degree from Michigan State University. There are a few specific objectives Good would like to incorporate into her farm: improvements in genetics and breeding, educating the…

“We are lucky to be alive, and to still be in business,” says Katrina Frey, executive director of Frey Vineyards. Almost two years ago, Frey Vineyards fell victim to the 2017 California wildfires, the costliest in the state’s history, with over $9 billion dollars combined in damages claimed and property destroyed. 

The fires…

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…

The first of six educational sessions at the third annual Organic Grower Summit (OGS) features a dive into the changing landscape of food safety on organic farms, and how the industry is complying with the new Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) produce safety rule. The session will explore how FDA produce inspections will be rolled out and the changes affecting the leafy greens industry.

Together, the six educational sessions will include a range of topics designed to inform and engage organic growers, farmers and producers, and their service and supply chain partners. Farm…

Are you a member of the organic food industry, but not certified by CCOF? Do you want to get involved with CCOF at the governance level? Are you a CCOF member who knows someone who may fit these criteria?

The CCOF, Inc. Board of Directors is seeking applications from individuals for appointment to the CCOF Certification Services, LLC Management Committee, which they will review at their November meeting. The LLC Management Committee is appointed by the board and has the responsibility to control and manage the business and affairs of CCOF Certification Services, LLC.

The…

Joshua Dransfield’s future career goals include continuing his family’s organic dairy farm tradition, increasing his family’s herd size, and obtaining additional rental land to certify organic. He would also like to diversify and raise organic beef cattle and develop a market for his steers. Dransfield would like to continue his relationship with Organic Valley, his…