JJFN@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
IN THIS ISSUE . . . . .
Florida Organic
Farming Newsletter 
 Florida
now has about 115 certified organic farmers, most of whom are certified
by Florida Organic Growers and Consumers based in Gainesville, FL.
Judging from what I see in Florida chain-store supermarkets and
the quarterly two-page spread in The Packer, a trade newspaper for
fruit and vegetable growers and distributors, California is the
major producer of organic produce. However, the growth of local,
national and international markets for organic produce and the pending
development of national organic standards suggests that Florida
growers have real opportunities to expand into these markets.
For the past
three years, I and other statewide extension faculty, county agents
and organic growers have organized organic farming/gardening and
small farm workshops. What has been lacking, however, has been an
accessible medium for those interested in organic farming in Florida
to discuss issues, problems and priorities for organic farmers.
Widespread use of the internet, email, and an organic farming listserve
as suggested in this newsletter could provide this medium. This
first on-line issue of the Florida Organic Farming Newsletter is
a step towards encouraging discussion and participation in what
has been described as the most rapidly growing sector of the produce
industry.
Please send
me your suggestions and contributions to improve this newsletter
and try the organic listserve described below for quick respond
and referrals for your questions.
What is the Organic Farming Listserve?
The Organic Farming Listserve is a way for Florida organic farmers
and others interested in organic farming to communicate with each
other, share information and send/receive announcements of general
interest. Essentially it is an email list in which all messages
to the listserve address are sent to everyone who has indicated
they wish to be added to the list. Anyone can add/delete themselves
to the list and any member of the list can post messages to the
list for everyone else to read.
Hopefully, this listserve can improve statewide communication about
organic farming questions, problems and resources. Give it a try!
How do I subscribe?
To subscribe to the listserve, you must have an email account and
access to electronic mail.
1) Log in to your email account and invoke mail.
2) To subscribe to the Organic Farming Listserve mailing list, send
an email message to: mailserv@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
3) Type the following message as the message text: sub organic
4) Send the mail message.
5) You will receive an email confirmation of your subscription to
the list like this:
The address: jjfn@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
has been added to the organic mailing list by Jim Ferguson
6) To send a message to the listserve, the address is organic @gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
7) To remove your email address name from the organic listserve,
send the following command:
"unsub organic" to mailserv@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
Agricultural
Marketing Service
Kathleen Merrigan
was recently named administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service,
the agency that will administer the Organic Standards Law and the
Organic Standards Board. She was senior analyst at the Henry A.
Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture and was a top agricultural
aide for Sen. Patrick Leahy (Democrat, Vermont) a major sponsor
of the Organic Farming Law. The Agricultural Marketing Service has
a staff of 3,500 and includes the Fruit and Vegetable Division,
the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, marketing orders, the
Pesticide Data Program, organic standards, market news and quality
standards. - The Packer
The Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) ) is the primary USDA agency responsible
for developing national organic standards. Information listed on
their "Whatís New" site include an agenda for the June 8-10, 1999
National Organic Standards Board Meeting (recommendations for wild
animals and honey; use of parasiticides in animal production; aquaculture
standards; manure use and vegetable production; production practices;
quarantine control standards; retailer standards).
Also included on this site:
Fruit and Vegetable Market News Users Guide
Farmers Market Directory and Information
Agenda for the July 21-23 National Organic Standards Board Meeting
(in development 6/18)
National Organic Program Proposed Rule
National Organic Program (10/98) Issue Paper Comments and a searchable
directory of 10,817 letters and form letters. View the USDA AMS
website for the National Organic Program at http:www.AMS.USDA.GOV/NOP/Index.htm
Quality Assurance
International
Quality Assurance International (QAI), an organic certifying agency,
reported sales growth of 454% from 1994 to 1998, increasing its
client base from 100 to over 500. Annual sales growth averaged 87%,
according to Griff McLellan, founder and president of the San Diego-based
company. QAI manages branch offices in Japan and Canada as well,
with international business representing about 35% of the companyís
sales. The company also contracts with 40 independent inspectors
worldwide, apparently not enough to keep up with demand.
There are also approximately 70 organic certification agencies in
the U.S., according to other sources. - The Packer
Florida
Organic
Certifying Agencies
Organic Certifying Agents
The Florida
Department of Agriculture licenses agencies ($500.00/year) to act
as Organic Certifying Agents after review by the Organic Food Advisory
Council. This list is maintained by the Bureau of Compliance Monitoring
(Contact Van Madden; (850)487-3863; As of 11/8/99 only two agencies
were licensed, down from six in previous years.
The first
step in becoming a certified organic grower is to contact one of
the below listed agencies for information about certifying fees
and certification standards, which usually are sold as a manual.
While there may be some difference among the standards of different
organic certifying agencies, these standards are generally the same.
National Organic standards have been under discussion since the
passage of the Organic Farming and Food Bill in 1990, but no definite
date has been set for the completion of this process. If youíre
certified by one of the below agencies, you will probably also maintain
certification when the national standards are approved.
Florida Organic and Consumers, Inc.
POB 12311
Gainesville, Fl 32604
(352)377-6345
(FOG) has already certified approximately 115 growers in Florida
and several in Mexico and Costa Rico.
Organic Crop Improvement Association
1405 South Detroit Street
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
(513) 592-4983
As of 11/8/99, OCIA said it had no listing of growers it had certified
in Florida.
Florida Organic
Advisory Council
The nine members of the above council are appointed by the Commissioner
of Agriculture. This group formulates and recommends to the Commissioner
rules and policies governing organic food production. They also
review and make recommendations on each application for organic
certifying agents. The members and their terms are listed below.
Contact them if you wish to discuss issues related to organic farming.
Membership Roster
504.21 F.S.
September, 1998
| MEMBERS |
REPRESENTING |
Mr. Richard A. Bear (Secretary)
Route 3, Box 786
Havana, FL 32333
Phone: 850-539-4650, 850-539-1199
Fax: 850-539-0720
Term Expires: 10/01/01
|
Consumer
County Gadsden
|
Mr. Gilbert F. Bowen
500 Firetower Road
Haines City, FL 33844
Phone: 941-439-5617
Term Expires: 01/09/01
|
Handler/Broker
County Polk
|
Mr. Ernie Caldwell
PO Box 5609
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: 941-324-4988
Fax: 941-675-6851
Term Expires: 01/09/01
|
Consumer
County Hillsborough
|
Ms. Linda deStefano Donaldson
5001 Norriswood Drive
Mulberry, FL 33860-9668
Phone: 941-646-5419
Fax: 941-646-1180
Term Expires: 10/01/01
|
Producer
County Polk
|
Mr. Timothy D. Ford (Chairman)
5411 Saint Helena Road
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Phone: 941-439-3232
Fax: 941-439-5465
Term Expires: 10/01/01
|
Producer
County Polk
|
Ms. Mary Hartney
Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical
PO Box 9326
Winter Haven, FL 33883-9326
Phone: 941-294-8626
Term Expires: 10/01/01
|
Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical
County Polk
|
Mr. Richard Martinez
PO Box 261496
Tampa, FL 33685
Phone: 813-889-8218
Term Expires: 06/30/97
|
Retailer
County Hillsborough
|
Mr. Marty Mesh (Vice Chairman)
PO Box 12311
Gainesville, FL 32604
Phone: 352-377-6345
Fax: 352-377-8363
Term Expires: 10/01/01
|
Growers and Consumers
County Alachua
|
Ms. Barbara Startari
Albertís Organics
621 Snively Avenue
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: 941-291-6262
Fax: 941-291-4901
Term Expires: 10/06/01
|
Producers and Consumers
County Polk
|
Transitional Organics
Mothers
& Others for a Liveable Planet, a nonprofit organization, has
teamed with Albertís Organics, Inc., Bridgeport, N. Y. to introduce
a plan for Transitional Organics, a label specifically prohibited
by the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act. Produce with the transitional
organic label could come from farms which are not yet certified but
which are in the 3-year transition process from conventional to organic
production. Opponents of this move say it could create more confusion
among consumers about organically grown food while supporters say
transitional crops could be clearly labelled. Supporting information
could also explain the difference between transitional, certified
organic and conventionally grown crops, leaving the decision to the
consumer.
"Conventional"
wisdom holds that organic crops can demand up to 20% higher prices
than conventionally grown food in the best markets and that organic
farmers deserve this premium because of higher labor costs and implied
better stewardship of the land than "conventional growers". Interesting
how words like "conventional" and "organic" have been stretched to
refer to these situations. Maybe we need new terms "non-organic" and
"organic" or some variation thereof that does not imply carbon-containing
compounds. Anyway, although transitional crops may involve the same
production and labor costs as certified organic crops, the farmer
can still sell transitional produce at prices competitive with conventionally
produced produce but probably not at the ideal 20% organic produce
premium. Furthermore, the USDA in-process-forever revision of national
organic standards may also include provision for such transitional
status.
Florida Bonded Dealers
See the Florida Dept. of Agriculture web site for a list
of bonded dealers and agricultural products except citrus, tobacco,
tropical foliage and sugar cane. During 1997-98, the Department issued
more than 3,700 licenses for those buying, receiving, soliciting,
handling or negotiation agricultural products from or for Florida
producers. This site also contains information on a wide range of
topics from hay directories to farmers markets.
Fresh-Cut Organic Produce
Demand
for fresh-cut organic fruits and vegetables may increase along with
the predicted increase in organic sales generally, according to the
Fresh-cut Produce Assocation. Product consistency and availability
will be the key to growth in foreign and domestic markets. Suppliers
can also benefit by having a diversified product line to offer to
buyers.
Ready
Pac Produce, Irwindale, California, has introduced four organic salad
mixes: Country Garden (iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and endive); Harvest
Crisp (iceberg lettuce and romaine leaves); Aspen (frisee and baby
re lettuce); Romaine Hearts. These organic salad blends are triple-ashed,
dried and sealed, then certified organic.
Fresh-cut
citrus may also soon enter this market. Florida researchers have developed
an method to remove citrus peel by infusing water into citrus peel
from the inside, making it easier remove the peel once its water-logged.
Automating the peeling process would lower preparation costs for fresh-cut
citrus and attract processors. Such products would have a 10 to 14
day shelf life - The Packer
Fresh Ideas
The
Fresh Ideas Group, Boulder Colo., a marketing and public relations
firm that focuses on natural products, sponsored a briefing on organics
industry news during the Natural Products Expo West show in March,
1999 in Anaheim, California. The "Top Ten Threats to Organic Integrity"
were discussed, including : 1) the "anemic level of research" on organics,
especially nutrition; 2) "consumer vertigo" caued by the hodgepodge
of organic labels; 3) "foot dragging "in Washington on the development
of organic standards; 4) "price gouging" by some retailers; 5) "misleading
packaging hype", including claims that organic produce is pesticide
free whereas it may not be possible to guarantee that soil is 100%
free of pesticides because of past use.
Food
safety was also discussed as an essential element in the future of
organics. Dan Puzo, Sonoma County wineries Association said that while
the organic industry can market food safety as a strong selling point,
the industry must also "adhere to exacting sanitation standards well
beyond what the government requires and sometimes ...do the testing
that the government cannot afford." - The Packer
Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables
Phytochemicals
are naturally occurring chemicals found predominantly in foods of
plant origin. According to information provided by Cyndi Thomson,
a nutritionist with the Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, evidence has
shown tht those who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables -
and thus phytochemicals - have a lower incidence of certain types
of cancer and/or coronary artery disease.
This
is a list of some of the key phytochemicals found in produce under
study, their food sources and their potential roles in health. - The
Packer
Beta-carotene
Found in: green and yellow fruits and vegetables
Possible benefits: reduced risk of cataracts, coronary artery disease,
and lung and breast cancers; enhances immunity for the elderly
Capsaicin
Found in: chili peppers
Possible benefits: reduced risk for colon, gastric and rectal cancers;
inhibits tumor growth
Catechin
Found in: green and black tea, berries
Possible benefits: antioxidant; increased immune function; decreased
cholesterol production
Cynarin
Found in: artichokes
Possible benefits: Lowers cholesterol levels
Ellagic acid
Found in: wine, grapes, currants, pecans, raspberries, strawberries,
blackberries, seeds
Possible benefits: reduces cancer risk; inhibits carcinogen binding
to DNA; reduces LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol
Indoles
Found in: cabbage, broccoli brussels sprouts, spinach, cauliflower,
watercress, turnip, kohlrabi, kale, rutabaga, horseradish, mustard
greens
Possible benefits: reduced risk of hormone-related cancers; may "inactivate"
estrogen; inhibits growth of transformed cells
Isothiocyanates
Found in: cabbage, cauliflower
Possible benefits: reduced risk of tobacco-induced tumors
Lignins
Found in: high-fiber foods (especially seeds)
Possible benefits: reduced risk of colon cancer; reduced blood glucose
and cholesterol
Lycopene carotenoid
Found in: tomatoes and tomato products, grapefruit, guava, apricots,
watermelons
Possible benefits: antioxidant; reduces risk of prostate cancer; may
reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
Monterpene limonene
Found in: citrus peel and membrane, mint, caraway, thyme, coriander
Possible benefits: antioxidant; reduced risk of skin and breast cancer;
reduced cholesterol production; reduced premenstrual symptoms
Phenolic acid
Found in: cruciferous vegetables, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, celery,
parsley, soy, licorice root, flaxseed, citrus, whole grains, berries
Possible benefits: fights cancer through of nitrosamine formation
Polyacetylene
Found in: parsley, carrots, celery
Possible benefits: fights tobacco-induced tumors
Organosulfur compounds
Found in: garlic, onions, leeks, watercress, cruciferous vegetables
Possible benefits: reduced risk of gastric, colon and lung cancers,
inhibited tumor promotion; reduced cholesterol; lower blood pressure
Quercitin
Found in: pear and apple skins, peppers, kohlrabi, tomato leaves,
onions, wine, grape juice
Possible benefits: antioxidant, decreased platelet aggregation
Sulforaphane
Found in: broccoli sprouts, broccoli, radish, horseradish, mustard
greens
Possible benefits: Inhibit tobacco-related carcinogens from binding
DNA
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
The
following is an article written by Alan and Ruth Keitt, two
of the organizers of PlowShares, a successful CSA in Gainesville,
Florida.
We
first heard about Community Supported Agriculture at a celebration
of the 80th birthday of Father Thomas Berry. Tom Berry is a prophet,
an environmental philosopher and cultural historian whose writings
(The Voice of the Earth, The Universe Story and others ) remind us
that the earth, as our primary provider and educator, is also our
primary responsibility. We were intrigued with the concept of CSA
because it seemed to address so many of our concerns. And yet we could
not find a single one operating in our area of north Florida. We visited
Genesis Farm in northern New Jersey, founded by Tom Berry's student,
Sister Miriam Therese McGillis, a Dominican nun and educator. There
we saw a thriving CSA and were immediately hooked.
During
the next two years we visited more CSAs in Connecticut and Wisconsin
to find out how they got started. We also talked several times with
the late Robyn Van En, founder of the first CSA in this country and
godmother of the CSA movement, who, along with Sister Miriam gave
us advice and encouragement. We began to spread the idea locally by
giving talks (with a sign-up sheet at each one): at a University series
on sustainability, the Sierra Club, the Kanapaha Botanical Garden
Festival and our church. It was from those attendees who showed an
interest that we formed a core group and began to search for a location
and, most importantly a farmer. It took another year of meeting, searching,
forming and reforming until we had a name (Plowshares) and a stable
committed core group of 7 individuals.
Ruth
and I met our farmer, Rose Koenig, a local organic grower, at a workshop
sponsored by the Horticultural Sciences Department, University of
Florida. Rosie's Organic Farm had been in the business of raising
vegetables on 7 acres for wholesale and for local farmer's markets
for three years. She was interested in cutting back on wholesaling
and concentrating on local markets so she was interested in what we
had to say. After a brief courtship we formed a partnership and began
to plan for our first growing season.
Our
core group adopted the following operating principle from the beginning.
The primary job of the farmer is to farm. The primary job of the core
group is to support the farmer; this includes recruiting members,
publicity, handling finances, and organizing volunteers and events
at the farm. In reality, while the responsibilities are clear, farmer
and members help each other out getting it all done. Although we do
not require members to work at the farm, Ruth and I help Rose with
farm work weekly along with several other regular volunteers. Our
growing season runs from September to late June, with our first pickup
in early November. While Genesis Farm and many other CSAs use intensive
organic raised bed production, the sandy soils and particular pests
of northern Florida make more traditional row cropping using drip
irrigation more practical here. We have 70 memberships ($400/membership/year)representing
88 families for the coming season and have set 100 as the optimal
number of memberships. Last year we grew 35 different crops. Our distribution
system uses two local farmers' markets as pickup sites. The influx
of our members on pickup days generates additional sales for the other
local vendors at these markets. We had our first intern, a returning
Peace Corps worker, for 3 months last spring,. We publish about 5
newsletters each year with farm information and educational materials
on food.
Wendell
Berry has written in an essay entitled Solving for Pattern, that a
good solution solves more than one problem without creating new ones.
CSAs address many of the problems that I listed above and thus meet
Berry's test. First it seeks out and supports local farmers. By paying
for the harvest in advance it reduces both the financial risk and
risk of a bad harvest which are shared by the community. The food
dollars are kept in the local economy. Next it provides consumers
with fresh organic vegetables which are unsurpassed as the basis for
a healthy diet. Another of Wendell Berry's criteria for a good solution
is human scale - most CSA's have between 30 and 200 members which
allows reasonable participation in food decisions by all members;
yet they are large enough to avoid the waste in an individual garden.
Environmental health - careful organic production as practiced by
our farmer is a sustainable land use which maintains soil fertility.
It avoids all potentially toxic chemicals and their run off which
is particularly important in the porous subsoil of western Alachua
County. It also reduces pollution by eliminating wasteful transportation
and packaging. Finally this bond between a farmer and a grateful community
heals a split( a synonym for making whole). It provides a spiritual
dimension to the choice of our food and educates us to the whole of
the complex process by which our food passes from field to table.
We
are aware of the great diversity in needs and motivations of both
farmers and consumers in the diverse enterprise called CSA. Plowshares
has encountered many of the same problems that I hear from others
on this path, However our experience has led us to an essential ingredient
for a CSA, not often mentioned on the list servers dialogues, or media
articles. That is - caring -, the mutual respect and open dialogue
between the farmer and the core group. Failure to nurture this bond
makes the whole endeavor ripe for burnout. We really work at it and
it takes time to develop. Finding the right core group or the right
farmer is as difficult as finding a mate. But I believe there is a
natural affinity out there waiting to be joined. So, even if he/she
already has a spouse, the farmer needs a wife, and everyone needs
a farmer.
Codex Alimentarius (International Food Code)
Back
when the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans first began selling
their produce at camel caravan stands, governing authorities, then
as always, began to codify rules to protect consumers from dishonest
practices in the sale of food. During the Middle Ages, European countries
passed laws on the quality and safety of sausages, cheese, beer and
wine.
Not
to be outdone, in 1961 the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) established
the Codex Alimentarius (code for food as it travels through the digestive
tract) to create international food standards. Initial food standards
on sanitary and phytosanitary measures in international food trade
have already been developed as part of the Codex and have become benchmark
standards.
The
Codex Alimentarius Commission meets every two years and include representatives
from all over the world. General standards and recommendations have
for food hygiene, labeling, additives, contaminants, pesticide residues,
methods of analysis and sampling, dietary uses and nutrition, residues
of veterinary drugs in foods and food import/export inspection and
certification systems. Commodity Committees develop standards for
specific classes of foods ranging from fats and oils, fresh fruits
and vegetables and soups and broths to natural mineral waters.
The
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene recently held a meeting in Washington
D.C. to establish guidelines for agricultural best management practices
for production, harvesting and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Standards are also being developed for pre-cut, raw vegetable products,
currently a big seller in supermarkets in the U.S.
At
a late June meeting in Rome, the Codex adopted new or revised Codex
standards, guidelines and related texts including Guidelines on the
Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically-Produced
Foods. These guidelines included regulations already in force in several
countries and standards applied by producer organizations. FAO/WHO
estimates of 1997 organic food markets in the European Community reached
US$.4.5 billion and in the United States, US$4.2 billion, with an
anticipated annual growth rate between 20 and 25%.
Other
topics included maximum residue limits for Bovine Somatotropine (BST)
- the cow hormone, food additives, quality and safety of foods derived
from biotechnology and interaction the Codex Commission with ngos.
Check out the Codex Alimentarius home page by typing "Codex Alimentarius"
as a search topic.
Florida Agricultural
Museum
The
Florida Agricultural Museum, a non-profit corporation led by a board
of thirty-five trustees in cooperation with the Florida Department
of Agriculture, has established a new 300 acre site in north Flagler
county near the intersection of Highway 1 and Interstate 95, 17 miles
south of St. Augustine. The chairman of the Board of Trustees is Robin
Lauriault, a University of Florida graduate (Ph.D., History) and a
Putnam county citrus grower. The Director of the museum is Bruce Piatek.
The
museum will house and display artifacts collected from Florida, including
19th century farm machinery, forestry tools, wagons, will
house a reference library and archives, and maintain herds of cracker
cattle and horses. Outdoor exhibits will include 1) The First Farmers,
Native Timucuans, pre-European cultures, 2) Spanish Colonial Agriculture,
early 18th century, 3) Plantations and Early Pioneers,
18th and 19th century, 4) Agricultural Towns
at the turn of the century 4) turn of the century Agricultural Towns
5) Agri-business in the 1940's.
Become
part of this exciting, outdoor, educational project by making a tax-deductible
contribution to become a "farmhand" member, receive the museumís almanac
newsletter, invitations to museum events and discounted admission
to special events. Most importantly, you will be building great museum
that will tell the story of Florida Agriculture.
For
more information contact The Florida Agriculture Museum; 1850 Princess
Place Road; Palm Coast, Florida 32137; (904) 446-7630 (email:famuseum@pcfl.net).
Mark Your Calendar
January
8, 2000. Suwannee Valley Field and Greenhouse Grower's Short Course
and Trade Show. 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Suwannee County Coliseum, Live
Oak, FL. Contact Person: Bob Hochmuth, Multi-County Extension Agent,
Suwannee Valley Research and Education Center, 7580 County Road 136,
Live Oak, FL 32060-7434, Phone: (904) 362-1725 or Suncom: 821-3050,
Fax: (904) 362-3067. This short course will provide information on
vegetable crops and other horticultural crops (herbs, fruits, cut
flowers, and other specialty crops). Field and greenhouse culture
and highlighted at this meeting. Plasticulture technologies covered
include: plastic mulch culture, drip irrigation, row covers, environmental
controls in a greenhouse, and hydroponics. The day long event includes
an industry trade show and a tour of research and demonstration projects
at the Suwannee Valley Research and Education Center. This is an excellent
program for small farmers seeking information about alternative crops
and production technologies including hydroponics.
January
21- 23, 2000. Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SAWG)
- the Jekyll Island, Georgia Convention Center.
March
8-15, 2000. Independent Organic Inspectors Association Meeting, Annual
Meeting, Florida Organic Growers and Consumers - Future Farmers of
America (FFA) Leadership Training Center near Haines City.
April
1, 2000. Small Farm Conference and Trade Show - Volusia County Fair
Grounds, Deland, Fl - Discussions and demonstrations on beekeeping,
organic certification, cut foliage and flowers, plant tissue culture
labs, fruit crops for small farms, small scale timber lots, electric
and solar fencing, rabbit production and marketing, tropical fish
farming, livestock marketing, pasture management and trade shows.
|
