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^{Charolette Epps, CCOF Foundation grantee, in the greenhouse with her variety of sweet potato plants}

The USDA is now accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers maximize the value of their products and venture into new and better markets. 

Electronic applications are due April 11, 2024, and paper applications must be postmarked by April 16, 2024. More information on submission dates below.

As utility companies announce significant increases in energy costs, now is a good time to consider installing energy-conserving improvements in your farm or business. 

CCOF will host a webinar on the State of California’s GoGreen Business Energy Financing program on Tuesday, February 6, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Are you headed to the 44th Annual EcoFarm Conference? Schedule your free, one-on-one consultation with an organic expert and get answers to all your certification questions while you are attending the conference!

Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021 may be eligible for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. This program is an important step in delivering on USDA’s commitment of providing financial assistance to those who have faced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs.

^{(Wildfire remains Solano, CA by Fusaromike via Getty Images)}

CCOF has long offered support to its certified organic members who have experienced losses due to natural disasters including wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. In response to increasing frequency of such disasters, CCOF has created a communications and outreach strategy that will be initiated when a state or federal disaster has been declared. 

^{(Photo by Edible Monterey​)}​​​​​​

Are you a farmer who is certified organic or in organic transition who needs help staying in compliance and understanding the organic regulations? Maybe you are a mentor needing to find out how to best help a farmer through the organic process, or an organization tasked with helping a soon-to-be organic farmer? 

^{(Organic pepper plants with drip irrigation system courtesy of Diyana Dimitrova)}

Note as of 12/19/2023 - CDFA is pausing the SWEEP solicitation. Please refer to the SWEEP website for further updates: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep/ 

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The latest addition to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) series of crop cost and return studies describes the practices and associated costs of producing organic processing apples grown on the Central Coast, including land preparation, fertility and pest management, irrigation, labor, and harvest. The reports also include tables reporting potential profits under various price and yield scenarios. Processing apples grown in the Central Coast are typically used to make juice and sparkling cider.

If you’re transitioning to organic production, you don’t have to do it alone. 

Producers interested in implementing organic practices and achieving organic certification can now be connected with an experienced organic producer mentor for on-the-ground learning, real-time support, and guidance. Learn more and apply at www.organictransition.org.

Organic Rising, the new feature-length film directed by Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award winner Anthony Suau, is now available to watch online. It aims to demystify organic agriculture, and provides thoughtful, well-researched insights even for consumers who are already well-versed in the merits of organic.