Executive Director Calfo to Attend Delegation Meetings in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
(April 8, 2013) Santa Cruz, CA – Cathy Calfo, Executive Director and CEO of CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), will travel to China as part of a delegation of business leaders who will join Governor Jerry Brown in opening the California-China Office of Trade and Investments in Shanghai. Agriculture is a leading sector of the California economy and there is strong demand in China for U.S. agricultural products, including organic.
“I am honored to represent CCOF and organic agriculture as part of this trade mission,” says Calfo. “I look forward to learning more about the country and about the Chinese system of organic certification.”
“There are many U.S. organic producers who want to access the Chinese marketplace, where there is vast demand for organic products. Currently, there are a number of regulatory barriers that might, over time, be reduced or eliminated as we learn more about each others’ organic programs,” she adds.
Calfo and other representatives of California agriculture will meet directly with agricultural trade officials and government officials who are responsible for organic certification, ports, and inspections in China.
The governor’s California-China Office of Trade and Investment and San Francisco’s Bay Area Council organized the trade mission. The trip unites two of the largest and most dynamic economies and business communities globally.
For more information, contact Robin Boyle, (831) 423-2263, ext. 27, rboyle@ccof.org.
About CCOF
CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1973 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest third-party organic certifying agencies. CCOF certifies, educates, advocates, and promotes organic through:
- A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, private labelers, and retailers.
- Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
- Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.
CCOF certifies more than 2,500 organic operations in 33 states and three foreign countries and serves over 240 supporting members – consumers, suppliers, businesses and individuals – interested in supporting its work.