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March-April, 2006 Provender's 30th Annual Conference Provender's 30th Annual Conference Provender Alliance is holding its 30th Annual Educational Conference on October 5 and 6, 2006 at the Best Western Hood River Inn in Hood River, Oregon. Barely an hour east of Portland, the facility is right on the river and has an outdoor space for croquet and/or volleyball plus a path that follows the river for about a mile. Sleeping rooms are spacious and comfortable and the hotel has ample meeting space. The drive to Hood River along the Columbia River is one of the most scenic in Oregon, passing the famous Multnomah Falls with numerous other waterfalls visible from the highway. You may also want to spend some extra time and travel along the old highway that sits higher up in the gorge and passes by numerous waterfalls, many with trails into the forest. In addition to the conference, there will be events to participate in on Wednesday, October 4. We are hoping to include tours of a few manufacturers in the area as an optional activity. In addition, Equal Exchange is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and it has offered to host a pre-conference reception for anyone wishing to attend. We are encouraging conference attendees to arrive on Wednesday since the conference begins with breakfast on Thursday. Call for Photos:Thirty years is a great milestone for Provender. We unfortunately do not have much of a photographic record of past conferences. If you have any pictures we ask you to please send them to us. We we scan them and return them to you promptly. We have a timeline of written history that folks have added to over the years and a photographic timeline would be really fun. Please help us recreate our history. Photos can be sent to the provender office. Food and Energy: A Return to Renewable Resources Food and Energy : A Return to Renewable Sources Provender Alliance members recognize the intricate link between food and the health of the environment. In the context of making agriculture more sustainable, energy is becoming an increasingly important part of the equation. Being producers and distributors of food, you directly provide millions of calories of food energy to thousands of customers across the country. A recent analysis discovered that it takes an average of ten fossil fuel calories to produce one food calorie in the American diet. This disturbing finding paints a bleak picture for future food production. Since the chemical inputs and transportation of conventional agriculture contribute to that number considerably, it clearly points to the need for more localized, organic, low impact food systems. You are all part of that solution. By limiting petro-chemical pesticides and fertilizers you also reduce the demand for an increasingly scarce, polluting resource that fuels environmental destruction and global climate disruption. As national attention increasingly focuses on energy issues, you have an opportunity to further define your organization’s values and ideals by supporting renewable energy sources. In California, Oregon and Washington, a number of programs exist to help directly integrate renewable energy into your business. These take the form of tax credits and rebates available for farms and manufacturing facilities that invest in on-site solar and small wind systems. There is also a way, however, to support renewable energy without installing any equipment on your property. Through partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), you can offset all or part of your facilities’ electricity and carbon impact by purchasing Green Tags from wind and solar energy sources. Green Tags are a simple way to demonstrate a commitment to renewable energy and deliver more clean electricity on to the grid. Additionally, your company can highlight the environmental benefits of your purchase and receive national recognition for your decision to support green power. A number of Provender Alliance members are already offsetting 100 percent of their electricity usage through green power purchases, including Turtle Island Foods, Lundberg Family Farms, Organically Grown Company, and Equal Exchange. Supporting renewable energy is just one way that these companies are closing the loop, and accounting for the impact that their business has on the environment. By returning to the sun and wind for their energy needs, these companies serve as models for a more sustainable food system. For more information about Green Tags and renewable energy, contact Jaimes Valdez by phone at 541.716.4569 or jaimesvaldez@b-e-f.org, or visit us on the web site at www.GreenTagsUSA.org. —from Organic Trade Association, www.ota.com All Things Organic™ will team up once again this year with four other shows at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 6-9 in an event billed as “The Power of Five”. Co-located with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show, Spring Fancy Food Show, United Produce Expo and Conference and the U.S. Food Export Showcase, the 2006 All Things Organic, presented by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in partnership with Diversified Business Communications, is the only conference and trade show in North America focusing on the organic trade industry. Keynote speakers scheduled are Ted Koppel, Steve Levitt, author of Freakonomics, and Carol Moseley Braun, founder and CEO of Good Food Organics. Visitor and media registration information can be found at www.organicexpo.com. Oregon Tilth Launches New Program —from Oregon Tilth, www.tilth.org On Thursday, February 9, longtime organic certifier and shepherd of sustainable agriculture Oregon Tilth announced the launching of their Organic Fiber and Textile Handling certification program, bringing their tradition of experience, expertise, and integrity to the fiber and textile community and industry. Oregon Tilth will be certifying to the American Organic Standards for Fiber and Textile Handling, a standard of the Organic Trade Association. Years of work and collaboration went into the broadly inclusive American Organic Standard, representing the priorities of the organic community. Oregon Tilth’s Board of Directors voted to finalize the adoption of these standards at their January 30th meeting, bringing the experience of their certification program to contribute to this emerging, dynamic sector of the organic industry. For more information about Oregon Tilth and its programs, visit www.tilth.org. —from The Organic Advantage, www.bfa.com.au Two environmental organizations have together developed a web site that quickly and easily calculates your ecological footprint. It tells you if you are consuming more than your 1.8 hectares of productive land and water, which is how much each person has when the world total is divided among the world’s population. You will be amazed! You may think you have a fairly small ecological footprint, but be prepared to be surprised! Everyone should try this, and pass it on to friends. This is the question you will find the answer to–how many planets would it take to support the world’s population if we all lived like you? Go to www.myfootprint.org. The Non-GMO Project Natural food retailers in California and Canada have launched a new campaign among fellow retailers that aims to encourage natural food and supplement manufacturers to certify their products as non-GMO. The Non-GMO Project, jointly developed by The Natural Grocery Company in Berkeley, California, and The Big Carrot in Toronto, Ontario, is a collaborative effort among retailers to ensure the non-GMO status of the products they sell, says Corey Nicholl, Non-GMO Project coordinator at the Natural Grocery Company. The Non-GMO Project will adopt a non-GMO standard to define which products are non-GMO. The standard will be developed in consultation with Genetic ID, a recognized GMO testing lab. Natural food and supplement manufacturers will be asked to go through a review process to confirm the non-GMO status of their products. Genetic ID will provide technical support. The project’s goal, says Nicholl, is to have retailers throughout the US and Canada offering food and supplements that have been reviewed for compliance with the standard and certified non-GMO. Initial plans are for manufacturers to achieve non-GMO status in a series of stages, working toward achieving a threshold of less than 0.1% GM content in their products, which is recognized internationally as the ideal for non-GMO certification. Getting as many retailers as possible to participate will be key to the project’s success because they will encourage manufacturers to certify their products according to the non-GMO standard. If many retailers join the project, Nicholl is confident that manufacturers will want to participate. Nicholl says natural food distributors will also be contacted because they are in close contact with both retailers and manufacturers. The Non-GMO Project is based on earlier non-GMO initiatives developed by the Natural Grocery and The Big Carrot. In 2001, The Big Carrot implemented a non-GMO purchasing policy, which involved discontinuing purchases of product not confirmed as being non-GMO. In 2003, the Natural Grocery launched the “People Want to Know” Campaign that involved 161 US grocery stores and co-ops in a letter writing campaign asking natural food manufacturers to declare whether or not their products contained genetically modified ingredients. The Non-GMO Project will act as a membership organization of natural food retailers operating through a self-appointed steering committee. Member retailers will be asked to provide a list of their vendors, distributors, and companies that provide products directly to their stores. Nicholl says retailers can participate in the project to whatever degree they feel inclined, including helping to develop the non-GMO standard and being on the steering committee. Member retailers will pay a nominal annual membership fee depending on their resources. Member retailers will receive a list of participating manufacturers and regular updates on new additions; these will also be accessible on the project’s web site. Retailers will also receive store display materials to educate their customers. Initial steps in the Non-GMO Project will be to write a letter to retailers encouraging them to participate and to develop the non-GMO standard. Once the retailers are on board, manufacturers will be contacted. For more information about The Non-GMO Project, contact Corey Nicholl at 510.526.2456, ext.154 or email: gmoteam@naturalgrocery.com. Canadian retailers should contact Asa Copithorne at The Big Carrot at 416.466.2129, ext.638 or email: asa@thebigcarrot.ca. —from Wise Acres Farm, www.herbaltransitions.com
Beginning in March and going through May, Wise Acres Farm is offering classes every other Saturday for six full Saturdays in the spring. Students will learn to use the most important medicinal herbs known to herbalists and holistic physicians. This class is useful for the person new to herbs as well as the person wanting to get a more in-depth understanding of the properties and actions of a variety of commonly used herbs. Participants will receive verbal and written information from Dr. Sharol Tilgner on identification of specific herbs, harvesting techniques and forms to best use the herb. The class will emphasize how to use these healing plants as agents to keep yourself, your family and your pets healthy. You will also learn how each herb is used for specific health conditions. The action of the herb on the mind and body will be discussed as well as correct forms to use such as teas, tinctures, poultices, etc. You will learn correct dosages for each herb. Contraindications for some herbs will also be discussed. This series of classes will be taught by classifications of herbal properties and actions. Every class will include a sampling of the herbs discussed. Cost of Herbal ABC’s is $375-$425 sliding scale fee. For more information on the activities and events check the web site at www.herbaltransitions.com, send an e-mail to class@herbaltransitions.com or call 541.736.0164. 22nd Annual Biocycle Conference in Portland —from In Business, www.inbusiness.org
A three-day conference that informs organizations, businesses and government officials how to improve sustainability through composting programs, organics recycling projects and renewable energy will take place in Portland, March 20-22 at the Portland Marriott Downtown hotel. This 22nd Annual BioCycle West Coast Conference provides professionals in the composting, organics recycling and renewable energy industries an opportunity to learn from dynamic, innovative program managers and researchers who are advancing the concept of sustainability. During all day sessions on March 20 and 21, an outstanding faculty of speakers will talk about what it takes to achieve sustainable cities and communities by focusing on these topics: Organics recycling and future of MSW management; Municipal agencies accelerate composting; Anaerobic digestion of MSW organics; Sustainable steps to energy independence with organics recovery; Storm water management/compost use; Strategies to optimize compost facility success; Expanding markets for recycled organics; Food residuals recycling strategies; Sustainable models that inspire. Visit www.jgpress.com/conferences1/ to preview the complete agenda. On March 22, conference participants will tour a composting facility, equipment demonstrations, Rebuilding Center and asphalt/concrete recycling yard. The afternoon walking tour will feature innovative storm water management and water and energy conservation installations such as green roofs and bioretention rain gardens. The 22nd Annual BioCycle West Coast conference 2006 is sponsored by BioCycle, Journal of Composting & Organics Recycling, a national magazine for waste management professionals. The conference registration fee of $395 includes attendance at all conference sessions and the field trip. To register, interested parties should call 610.967.4135, ext. 21 or register at www.jgpress.com/conferences1/ Co-sponsors of the conference include Energy Trust Of Oregon, Metro, Oregon Department Of Energy, Washington Organic Recycling Council, Oregon Depart. Of Environmental Quality, Norcal Waste Systems, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Portland Office Of Sustainable Development and Northwest Biosolids Management Association. —from Western SAWG chair, Richard Parrott After serving as Executive Director of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (WSAWG) for 6 plus years, Jeff Schahczenski is taking a full time position with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) where he will be continuing to work on building a truly sustainable national food and agriculture system. During his tenure, among many other tasks, Jeff organized four annual meetings in the West, all of which provided great networking connections and ongoing projects for Sustainable Agriculture. Most recently his passion for CSP and NRCS accountability has played well in Montana, New Mexico and Idaho. Jill Davies has been hired to work part-time as interim Executive Director and began work officially on January 1. Jill has been an active and engaged WSAWG board member for 6 years, attending all annual meetings and board planning sessions. She has attended several annual meetings of the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, and two organic seed conferences (Seeds and Breeds) and is a member of the National Campaign’s Agriculture Biotechnology committee, which includes participating in numerous conference calls. Jill served as coordinator to the first gathering of Montana Organic producers, saw them through the development of bylaws and several newsletters before moving on to work part-time for Sustainable Living Systems in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana where she now lives. This organization is working on building a local food system. The current focus of WSAWG is local food networks, networking in the West, and conservation. Jill has agreed to help the board evaluate and create strategy to affect change in these areas. She can reached by e-mail at rivercare@blackfoot.net. Slow Food Guide to San Francisco —from Slow Food Movement, www.slowfoodusa.org Discover the rich culinary landscape of San Francisco and northern California from a unique Slow Food perspective. The third in the series of fresh, alternative guides to North American cities, The Slow Food Guide to San Francisco profiles more than 500 restaurants, markets, specialty shops and artisan producers. Gourmet Magazine says “The Slow Food Guide’s…nuanced, subjective tone prizes quality, sincerity, and the emotional values of honest cooking over the weight of the plate and the number of truffles upon it.” For Slow Food members, the special price of $16.50 is being offered (regularly $20.00) only by telephone. Call 718.260.8000. In addition, a special deal for members: order all three Slow Food Guides–New York, Chicago, and San Francisco–for $50.00. Visit www.slowfoodusa.org. Partnering for Farms and Salmon —from American Farmland Trust, www.farmland.org American Farmland Trust (AFT) has partnered with Shared Strategy for Puget Sound to create a locally supported “Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan” that saves both farms and fish. The draft plan, under comment in February from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA), contains a section that specifically recognizes the environmental importance of preserving agriculture. The plan presents actions that can be taken to save salmon while also saving farms. When done properly, this can result in a “partnership for farms and salmon” in the Puget Sound, representing a huge step ahead for local farmers. The full plan can be found on Shared Strategy’s web site, www.sharedsalmonstrategy.org. For an in depth article about this, visit www.farmland.org. —from White Wave Foods, www.silksoymilk.com Both Silk and Horizon Organic offset 100 percent of the electricity used in manufacturing their products by buying wind energy Green Tags from Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Green Tags represent the real savings in carbon dioxide and other pollutants that occur when clean, renewable power replaces power produced from burning fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, in the national electric grid. With the Green Tags, both Silk and Horizon Organic match each kilowatt-hour of electricity used in production of their products with one new kilowatt-hour of wind energy. The combined result, almost 50,000 megawatt-hours of wind energy annually, is equivalent to the elimination of 35,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That benefit is the same as taking nearly 7,000 cars off the road or planting more than 9,000 acres of trees each year. In 2005, Silk and Horizon Organic won the EPA Green Power Leadership Award for their commitment to, and ongoing promotion of, renewable energy. In addition to purchasing wind energy credits, Silk and Horizon Organic promote the use of green power on product packaging and on-line. Wind power is an affordable and inexhaustible energy source that does not cause pollution, generate waste, or deplete natural resources. It also has the potential to supply as much as 20 percent of the nation’s electricity; it currently represents less than two percent. For more information on wind energy and purchasing Green Tags, visit www.silksoymilk.com or www.horizonorganic.com. The U.S. EPA released its latest list of the nation’s Top 25 green power purchasers in January. The full list is available at www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/top25.htm. Flower and Herb Buyers Directory —from Natural Food Network, www.naturalfoodnet.com Prairie Oak Publishing has a free opportunity for companies that purchase flowers or herbs for use in their products. The company publishes a yearly Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers, which connects buyers and sellers of ornamental, medicinal, culinary, and other botanicals grown or wildcrafted in North America. The directory provides contact information within each company along with what flower or herb the company needs. The directory will be available for $15.95 on March 31. For more information contact Jeffrey Goettemoeller, publisher, at 660.541.1040; jgoettemoeller@hotmail.com. —from Organic Farming Research Foundation, www.ofrf.org The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) formally announced the receipt of $220,000 from Newman’s Own Organics and Paul Newman Charitable Giving at the end of December. It is the largest single contribution OFRF has received in its 15-year history. Since 1990, the farmer-led OFRF Board of Directors has awarded more than 200 grants totaling over $1.5 million in support of organic farming research and education projects. The Foundation’s grantmaking emphasizes grower-researcher collaboration; studies conducted on working organic farms and certified organic research land; and the sharing of project results with other farmers and researchers to advance the state of the art of organic farming systems. In addition to grantmaking and policy initiatives, OFRF conducts original research about organic farming in the U.S. It also maintains a network of state and regional organic grower advocacy organizations, provides information and farmer-based perspectives to local, regional and national media, and is active in leading scientific societies. The results of OFRF-funded research projects and information on all of its other programs are available free online at www.ofrf.org. —from OTA Board President, Phil Margolis On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), I’m pleased to announce the hiring of Caren Wilcox as OTA’s next executive director. Caren has extensive experience in agriculture and public policy, and has served in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Attentive to the needs of consumers, Caren brings skills in a number of areas important to OTA including developing effective communications and public policy programs, association membership development, and strategic planning. Caren has handled food safety and quality issues, rural development matters, and environmental issues throughout her career. Caren will assume direction of a solid association with a strong foundation and an experienced dedicated professional staff established under Katherine DiMatteo’s leadership. During Katherine’s 16-year tenure as executive director, the association supported the passage of the U.S. Organic Foods Production Act and the establishment of the National Organic Standards Board in 1990. OTA was a major advocate for the U.S. National Organic Program, which was fully implemented in 2002. Under our new executive director, Caren Wilcox, OTA will continue to take the lead in promoting and protecting the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. Caren is looking forward to working closely with Katherine from March until the end of June, so OTA members can expect a smooth transition as the organization moves forward. Please join the board and staff in welcoming Caren to the association.
Provender Alliance
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