transition

CCOF hosted a panel discussion, “Transition to Organic: How Brands & Organizations Can Support Farmer Success,” at the Natural Products Expo West.

The USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt, together with Daily Harvest CEO Ricky Silver, Ryan Laur from American Farmland Trust, and CCOF’s Jessy Beckett Parr spoke about creative strategies to support successful organic transition efforts through public and private partnerships. 

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.

The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) proudly announced the launch of its official website, www.organictransition.org, earlier this month. This online platform results from a cross-collaborative effort by TOPP's six regional leads, dedicated to advancing the organic farming movement.

Curious about what it takes to transition your operation to organic? Or are you a newly certified producer with questions on how to stay in compliance? Just ask Jamie! 
Join weekly Zooms with organic expert Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms. Learn about organic certification, organic system plans (OSPs), how to get certified, and more. All questions and experience levels welcome! Se habla Español.

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the details of a $300 million investment to support organic and transitioning farmers, and to address targeted organic market challenges. The Organic Transition Initiative is consistent with many recommendations made to USDA by the National Organic Coalition (NOC) to increase support for organic agriculture to help build a more ecologically sound, resilient, and climate-friendly food and farm system.

Both bills sponsored by CCOF were passed out of the California Assembly Agriculture Committee at the hearing on April 27th. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the application deadline for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) to February 4, 2022. OTECP offers certification cost share, support for transitional producers, and reimbursement for educational expenses and soil testing expenses. Apply soon, because if funds run low, payment levels may be reduced.

OTECP is funded through USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers Program; $20 million has been authorized for the program. 

You still have one week to apply for a $5,000 boost for your organic transition! It can be challenging to transition to certified organic, and we don’t expect farmers to do it alone. That’s why we’ve partnered with Anheuser-Busch and their Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Contract for Change program to provide financial support to growers during the critical phase of becoming organic.