Pennsylvania Certified Organic Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2016
Planning for Grazing Success page 2 Forest Botanicals Workshop page 4 Conservation Activity Plans: Funding for Farmers! page 5
Organically Speaking Left: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary, Hannah SmithBrubaker, with PCO Executive Director Leslie Zuck at Pennsylvania Farmers Union Annual Convention.
As we close out our 19th certification season and look forward to the start of PCO’s 20th anniversary year, we have so much to be grateful for. The seed that was sown by a few central Pennsylvania farmers in 1997 has grown and flourished into a sturdy, mature organization, remaining true to our original mission of ensuring organic integrity. Next year PCO expects to serve 1,000 certified operations in ten states! In 2010 our board wrote a vision statement, stating that we should strive to position ourselves to certify 1,000 members within the next five years. At the time, I think we all expressed doubts about having set ourselves such a lofty goal, but now, here we are! With growth comes change. As you work through this year’s certification cycle you may meet or talk to some of our newest office staff and inspectors. Please welcome them and wish them well as they integrate into the PCO team. In addition to new staff and inspectors, we also welcomed more than 200 newly certified members to our ever-expanding PCO family this year. As always, our volunteer board and committee members worked hard in their roles, guiding PCO towards success. I appreciate everyone’s efforts towards making 2015 such an amazing year, and am honored to be a small part of such a great team.
And speaking of change... After two decades of certifying organic products with PCO’s “sun and keystone” logo, we’ve decided it’s time to update. 2016 will see the unveiling of our brand new “leaf” logo (pictured below left), which utilizes “PCO” instead of the longer ver-
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
sion of our name. Keep an eye on your mailbox, as we will be sending a letter in January that details the logo change and what it may mean to your operation. As we continue to grow and expand logo updates like these ensure that we not only stay relevant in the marketplace, but represent the full scope of operations we certify. As always, the PCO staff is happy to answer any questions you may have about our new logo. We hope you are as excited about it as we are! Tis the season for conferences It has been a whirlwind conference season so far and we’ve had the pleasure to converse with PCO members at the following conferences: Pennsylvania Farmers Union Annual Convention, Pennsylvania Women in Agriculture Network Symposium, FarmLink’s Growing Pennsylvania’s Organic Farms Conference and Acres USA Conference. Look for us at the Keystone Farm Show, Pennsylvania Farm Show “Know Your Farmer” arena, and PASA’s Farming for the Future Conference. Planning ahead for Pennsylvania PCO was invited to participate in building a “Blueprint for Pennsylvania Agriculture: The Next Ten Years,” being conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). Several ses-
Sabine Carey, left, Materials Specialist, was recognized for 15 years of service to PCO. Marissa Pyle, right, Certification Program Manager, was named PCO Employee of the Year for 2015. Congratulations!
sions were held where people from all sectors of agriculture gathered to create a vision for the future of food and farming in Pennsylvania. It is our expectation that organic production will hold an increasingly larger place in that future, for the sake of better health and a cleaner environment in the Commonwealth. Ballots are out — due February 1 Don’t forget to vote in the current election for PCO Advisory and Managing Board Members. These special volunteers guide our organization’s future as they set strategic goals pursuant to our mission. Enjoy the quiet and beauty of our winter season and rest up for spring planting. It will be here before you know it!
leslie@paorganic.org, 814-404-6567
Happy New Year from the PCO Staff!
www.paorganic.org
Organic Matters Winter 2016
feature 2 Planning for Grazing Success Tips on cow nutrition, forage quality, ruminant digestion and animal health courtesy of Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines
columns
story 4 Forest Botanicals Workshop Focuses on PCO Forest Grown Verification Program
5 What is a Conservation Activity Plan? And how can it benefit organic farmers?
7
President’s Message
9
Recipe Corner
10 Organic Updates Certification Legislative Materials Standards & Policy Staff Updates 17 Calendar 19 New Members 21 Organic Marketplace 22 Employment Opportunities
High tunnels are one of many conservation practices with potential for NRCS funding through Conservation Activity Plans. Easy to build, maintain and move, high tunnels provide an energy-efficient way to extend the growing season and provide fresh food for local communities. Photo: NRCS by Michelle Banks.
A patch of ginseng grown by a landowner in western Pennsylvania. American ginseng is native to the East and Midwest. Photo: Eric Burkhart
Cover photo: Kendra Swartz, wife of Todd Swartz from PCO-certfied Broad Acres Enterprises.
OFFICERS PRESIDENT
David Johnson Provident Farms TREASURER
Mail: 106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875
Tony Marzolino Marz Farm SECRETARY
Phone: 814-422-0251 Fax: 814-422-0255
Chris Firestone DCNR, Bureau of Forestry
Email: pco@paorganic.org
MANAGING BOARD CHAIR
Web: paorganic.org
Jeff Mattocks The Fertrell Company
facebook.com/PAorganic ADVISORY BOARD
twitter.com/PAorganic
Mary Barbercheck Penn State University Tina Ellor Phillips Mushroom Farms
OUR MISSION: To ensure the integrity of organic products
and provide education, inspection, and certification services that meet the needs of our members. PCO provides services to operations based in Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
www.paorganic.org
24 PCO Membership/ Certification Order Form
Dave Hartman Penn State Extension Clifford Hawbaker Hamilton Heights Dairy Farm & Emerald Valley Farm
Ciro Lo Pinto Conservationist Brian Magaro Independent Organic Inspector Mathew Moore Ag Choice Farm Credit Cadie Pruss Ewe Win Farm Ken Rice Organic Unlimited Charlie White Penn State University
CERTIFICATION TEAM
EDUCATION & OUTREACH TEAM
Kyla Smith Certification Director
Amanda Birk Director of Education & Outreach
Marissa Pyle Certification Program Manager
Nicole Lawrence McNeil Membership & Development Specialist
Heather Donald Senior Certification Specialist Justine Cook Certification Specialist Stephen Hobaugh Certification Specialist
April Fix Public Relations Coordinator INSPECTIONS TEAM
Liz Amos Inspections Manager
Emily Newman Certification Specialist
MATERIALS TEAM
STAFF
Laura Nunziata Certification Specialist
Sabine Carey Materials Specialist
Leslie Zuck Executive Director
Colleen Scott Certification Specialist
QUALITY TEAM
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Tess Weigand Certification Specialist
Diana Underwood Director of Operations Elizabeth Leah Staff Accountant Lia Sandoval Administrative Assistant
Garrick McCullough IT Specialist
Reva Baylets Program Assistant Sandie Elder Program Assistant
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
1
Grazing dairy herds? [The Two Q’s of Forage] In a recent Grazers Conference, Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, Organic Valley Staff Veterinarian, examined the idea that good cows aren’t just what they eat — they are what they can digest. Nicole Lawrence McNeil, Membership and Development Specialist
On a chilly fall day in Mifflintown dozens of people gathered to learn about grazing. Covering a range of grazingrelated topics, from cow nutrition, to forage quality and quantity, ruminant digestion, and overall animal health, the Organic Valley-run conference provided a one-stop-shop in Grazing 101. Not all herds have the same needs. Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, a staff veterinarian with Organic Valley, declared that we essentially talk about two different animals when comparing the needs of beef cattle and dairy cattle. Considering the lifespan of the two types of cattle (roughly 24 months for beef versus 6–15 years for a dairy cow), it’s not hard to recognize that the two herds, calorically and nutritionally, have different requirements when grazing. Dairy cows producing roughly 15,000 pounds of milk per year demand higher caloric intake, around 30 Mcal/day. Beef steer require approximately 16 Mcal/day for peak nutrition. The chart below refers to the generalized relationship between the output of energy during milk production, and the amout of energy garnered through dairy feeds.
cess. Dr. Silvia stressed the importance of forage testing; two forage samples harvested off the same field can have very different composition, so visual assessment of your pasture is not always the best way to determine forage quality. Forage quality is influenced by countless factors, from environmental conditions to cutting time, and any number of things in between. If you don’t know the nutritional value of your forage how can you be certain your cows are meeting all their dietary needs when grazing? The Concentration of Carbohydrates in Feed chart located on page 3 compares Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) to Starch and Sugar content in a variety of feed types. NDF, compared to starch and sugar, is difficult or even sometimes impossible cows to digest. The level of NDF in rations influences a cow’s intake The two Q’s of forage Beyond defining caloric needs based of dry matter and the time of rumination. on classification of cattle, forage quality According to UGA Extension offices, and quantity are integral to grazing suc- “NDF concentration is negatively corre-
2
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
Graphic: Organic Valley
lated with dry matter intake (i.e., as NDF in the forage increases, animals will consume less forage).” While quality is vital for successful grazing, forage quantity also plays a key role. Did you know that energy is typically the limiting factor for milk production in lactating cows? Carefully analyzing the quantity of forage can help you overcome the gap between how much a cow eats, and how much energy she puts out. Understanding this energy intake can help you determine when to cut, and when to graze. When thinking about extending your grazing season to increase overall intake quantity, remember: • Think ahead: know where the cows are going to be three weeks in advance, and plan accordingly! • The goal of a grass plant is to reproduce. It is the farmer’s job to stop grass growth at the ideal nutrient point for the cows.
www.paorganic.org
Consistency is key. Ruminant animals need a very steady flow of digestible materials to maintain their comfort, health, and energy levels. In fact, the biology inside the rumen affects, among other things, the amount of urea or high pH in the cow, which in turn affects cows overall comfort and health. During grazing season, when you know a cow will be exposed to a lot of available protein, farmers should manage their herd so cows do not go to the field on empty stomachs. Dr. Silvia recommends providing some digestible carbs pre-grazing to help cows process the protein they will soon ingest. During nongrazing season it is important to remember that cows crave consistency; consistency creates a stable rumen environment that leads to easy and steady digestion. The relationship between animal health and nutrition. Dr. Silvia asserted the connection between a healthy herd and good grazing practices. After talking about differing caloric needs forage quality and quantity, and consistency in digestion, she touched upon the idea that healthy animals benefit from good grazing because plants- to cows- are both food and medicine. Farmers job, she asserted, is to learn to balance what their animals are consuming to keep them in peak health. Dr. Silvia’s Grazers Conference talk was filled with quick tips and takeaways for farmers looking to incorporate best grazing practices into their rotation. At the end of the day, however, each farm needs to identify forages that maximize not only milk production, but also farm profit. Sources: UGA Extension, http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.fm?number=B1367 University of Florida Extension, http://articles. extension.org/ pages/25322/feeding-sugarto-ruminants
www.paorganic.org
Concentration of Carbohydrates in Feeds
Dr. Silvia utilized this chart to highlight how important it is to know the nutritional quality and digestibility of your feed. She advocated for whole beets with roots, as they contain a high proportion of sugar and fiber.
Think you’ve got a quantity of quality forage knowledge? Take our grazing quiz and see how you measure up! 1. The ideal dairy cow forage is: a. Very high in fiber, starch, and sugar b. Very low in fiber, but high in starch and sugar c. Very high in fiber and sugar, but low in starch d. Very high in fiber, but low in sugar and starch
4. At what grass height should you stop grazing? (How much cover would you want to have on the ground over winter?) a. at least 6 inches b. less than 2 inches c. 8–10 inches d. at least 4 inches
2. Cows prefer —, to create a —rumen environment. a. consistency; stable b. diversity; changeable c. protein; full d. only one type of feed; bland
5. Quality forage tastes — to the cow (and they will want to continue to eat and eat). a. salty b. sweet c. savory d. bitter
3. Do lactating cows have different forage needs than dry cows? a. Yes b. No
Answers Question 1–c; 2–a; 3–a; 4–d; 5–b
Remember, you can always make hay if your cows aren’t keeping up with pasture growth. • And… always take your cows off early enough in the fall to allow for pasture growth next year.
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
3
Forest Botanicals: Working Together to Build a New Supply Chain Workshops Focus on PCO’s Forest Grown Verification Porgram Experts in the field provide insights into ‘conservation through cultivation’ as a solution of sustainability, quality and ethics Joshua Bogart, Organic Inspector
The Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern USA and Canada have long been home to an active but somewhat disorganized industry focused around the collecting and marketing of forest botanicals. Ginseng is the most famous of these “wild” crops but blue cohosh, black cohosh, goldenseal, and many others are also widely collected. These products are mostly used in traditional herbal medicine, but are also increasingly used in modern medicine, and one- the ramp, is also part of the regional diet. These plants have traditionally been harvested from the wild, in many cases in an unsustainable manner leading to their elimination from many parts of their native range, and restrictive regulations controlling extraction and sale. As part of an effort to protect “at-risk” species in the wild as well as help the people who have traditionally depended on these botanicals for income PCO developed its Forest Grown Verification program in collaboration with Penn State, and with support from the United Plant Savers. A group of researchers, policy makers, and other stake holders have been organizing to develop the cultivation of these species and to work toward creating a sustainable supply chain that protects and rewards the producers who chose to work with forest grown botanicals in a sustainable manner. As part of this process United Plant Savers collaborated with PCO, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Mountain Rose Herbs to hold two meetings in Front Royal and Abingdon, Virginia on the 13th and 14th of November. Jeanine Davis from North Carolina State University gave an overview on the history of the marketing of forest botanicals in the Appalachian Mountains. During the talks she provided a perspective on
4
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
Susan Leopold, Eric Burkhart, Jeanine Davis, Leslie Zuck, Jennifer Gerrity, Joshua Bogart, Jacob Lauch, Tiffany Brown. Photo: United Plant Savers
past models of marketing ginseng and other botanicals, and talked about recent attempts at improving the profitability of forest farming by utilizing marketing and processing tools. Eric Burkhart, from Penn State University, discussed the economic situation of forest botanicals. Specifically, Burkhart discussed a newly formed program, one backed by support from the USDA New Farmers and Ranchers Grant, that will aid in organizing producers around both economically and ecologically sustainable production of forest botanicals grown within their native range. Burkart next introduced the PCO Forest Grown Verification Program, which had been developed in conjunction with research and resources at Penn State University. Launched in 2014, the Forest Grown Program certifies ecologically sustainable production of ginseng. Based off the ever-increasing interest in forest farming, this program is set to expand its verification services. In the near future PCO hopes to be able to verify ecologically sustainable production of: black cohosh, blue cohosh, goldenseal, ramps, and the like.
Two representatives from PCO, Leslie Zuck, Executive Director, and Josh Bogart, PCO Inspector, were available at the meetings to explain the standards and the inspection process for forest grown verification. Jennifer Gerrity and Jacob Lauch, from Mountain Rose Herbs, talked about the process of buying herbs from the perspective of a large herbal supply company, including pricing and expectations of quality. Mountain Rose Herbs is already buying PCO-verified ginseng and is interested in other forest grown verified products. The more than 100 participants in the workshops included traditional harvesters, local herbalists, producers of forest grown botanicals, personnel from Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland state departments of agriculture in charge of ginseng harvest and export, as well as people interested in producing forest grown botanicals. Visit unitedplantsavers.org/forestbotanicals for more details on the event, including powerpoint presentations in PDF format.
www.paorganic.org
What is Conservation Activity Plan 138? And how can it benefit organic farmers? Rachel Myers, Organic Inspector
Protecting the natural environment is an integral part of organic farming. Finding better ways to conserve and enhance natural resources on their land is naturally of interest to organic farmers and those who want to farm organically. One source of help for farmers is the Conservation Activity Plan — CAP 138 — offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This program helps non-organic and transitional farms implement conservation practices that will help them to become certified organic. Farmers who already hold organic certification, but wish to transition additional acreage into certification or implement conservation practices to their current organic system plan, are also eligible. The CAP provides funding for a qualified Technical Service Provider (TSP) to conduct personal on-site consultation in assessing the farm’s individual circumstances, resources, and goals. With this information, your TSP will make conservation practice recommendations that have the potential to be partially funded through the NRCS. Each recommended conservation practice correlates to achieving full organic certification through the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). Possible conservation recommendations can include buffers, cover crops, strip cropping, mulch, conservation cover for wildlife habitat, grassed waterways, fencing, irrigation, compost facilities, seasonal high tunnels or microirrigation. How does the CAP program work? “Both established and beginning farmers can potentially benefit from participation in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or other USDA conservation programs” said John Whitney, District Conservationist in
www.paorganic.org
Grassed waterways, one of many conservation practices with potential for NRCS funding, are broad, shallow channels designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion. The vegetative cover in the waterway slows the water flow and protects the channel surface from rill and gully erosion. Photo: NRCS
the East Aurora, New York NRCS office. Whitney mentioned that producers can sign up at any time through their local NRCS offices. The application process most efficiently starts with a visit to the local NRCS field office. Whitney said it is possible to work through the application process remotely but, especially for new operations that may not already have records established with the USDA, it is much easier to make an appointment to have NRCS staff help with the application process. Once the farm receives approval for CAP funding, an approved TSP is contracted to complete the plan with the farm. The TSP visits the farm to determine current practices as well as obtain any type of samples and information regarding erosion potential required to complete the plan. He or she also interviews the farmer’s long term goals. With
this information the TSP is able to create a plan that fits the individual farm in order to facilitate future endeavors. Once the plan is submitted and approved by the NRCS, the applicant becomes eligible to receive funding to implement the conservation plans recommended through the CAP What are the Farmer’s saying? Falkimmer Farms Organic Growers were recipients of CAP 138 funding for their farm. Here is what they have to say about their experience. “As beginning farmers, to obtain our goal of creating high quality, nutrient rich produce, we had to make many decisions. With limited previous farming experience, not having the basis for some of these critical decisions made some choices seem almost random at times. We knew we wanted to continued on page 6
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
5
CAP 138 continued from page 5
grow organically, but it wasn’t exactly clear to us what mistakes would prolong the certification process. Working with the NRCS, we were able to work with an experienced guide, to help us with the Organic System Plan and help make some of the early decisions which were critical to our operation.” “The conservation plan introduced us to concepts we hadn’t previously considered. For instance, based on the erosion studies conducted by our TSP, we were able to see actual soil loss numbers related to our topography and row orientation. Using actual numbers to qualify this practice, we are assured of the correct choice. This, along with other recommended practices, will significantly reduce our topsoil loss. We still have a steep learning curve to overcome, but with the technical data accumulated from the conservation program, this has enabled us to make informed decisions. We still have many more choices to make, and mistakes to
learn from, but we are better prepared.” Arden Farm also participated in the CAP 138. Arden Farm is primarily a vegetable operation that markets it produce through a CSA and farmer’s markets. Daniel Roelof, owner and manager, appreciated how the opportunity allowed him to formulate long term goals regarding the sustainability of his operation. His TSP was able to help him focus on the most effective ways to increase crop health and soil fertility, such as a composting facility, cover crops, crop rotation, and mulching. He especially valued the way the plan integrated livestock into his vegetable production through practical implementation recommendations such as fencing, water lines, livestock walkways, and forage/pasture planting conservation practices. Information about USDA NRCS programs is available on the USDA-NRCS web page: nrcs.usda.gov. A new “Step-byStep” How to Get Assistance Youtube link may be of particular interest to newer operations, particularly those who haven’t traditionally worked with USDA pro-
grams (youtube.com). Our “Get Started with NRCS” link is also a great place to begin: nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. This link also includes an office locator option as well more detailed descriptions of programs and assistance options.
Producers interested in applying must submit applications through their local USDA Service Center, which can be located online at offices.usda.gov. Additional information is available online at pa.nrcs.usda.gov or by contacting the area NRCS offices: • Harrisburg .................. 717-237-2218 • Bloomsburg ................ 570-784-4401 x 6 • Clarion ........................ 814-226-8160 x 4 • Lebanon ...................... 717-274-2597 x 5 • Somerset .................... 814-445-8979 x 6
PCO’s partnership with the Gluten Fee Certification Organization (GFCO) provides you with a streamlined inspection process that… • Simplifies the inspection process — PCO and GFCO will coordinate the scheduling of a simultaneous inspection for both gluten-free and organic certifications. • Saves time —one inspector conducts a combined inspection of both gluten-free and organic products. • Saves money —the amount of inspection fees and travel expenses incurred is reduced by having a combined inspection. Contact PCO about becoming certified gluten-free under the dual-inspection process. 814-422-0251 • pco@paorganic.org
6
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dave Johnson, PCO Advisory Board President
After experiencing our first taste of winter the weekend of Oct 16–17, the snow squalls were a reminder it’s getting time to put the land to bed for the winter. As a crop farmer in the northern tier, I am realizing that providing that soil cover with cover crops is an important but challenging task. Harvest is often well into October and November (sometimes even later) for corn, soybeans and sunflowers, and the colder, cloudy days and nights provide little incentive for even hardy cereal rye to grow. In our row crops, we have tried to seed cover crops at last cultivation so there is some green soil armor going into the fall. Crops like soybeans provide little residue, so selecting a shorter season variety, while sacrificing some yield, is often the better choice to provide that window we need to do a light pass with the disk and seed rye.
www.paorganic.org
Besides the cover crop advantages of weed control and disease suppression that organic vegetable farmers know so well, some very farmer friendly research from our advocates like Charlie White at Penn State is revealing the important role cover crops play in capturing, releasing, and supplying nitrogen for the next season. It’s the kind of university research that can even get a reluctant-to-pay-their-taxesfarmer like me excited. Read about some of the interesting things they are learning about the uses and mixes of cover crops to help make the soil biology on your farm really sing. It is also encouraging to see some chemical row crop farmers are discovering the value of diversity and cover crops. When it comes to green manure and cover crops, I must confess that it is hard to get the 18 years as a grass farmer mentality out of me. It almost seems criminal to leave a 15” stand of red clover alone when the weather for making some pretty fine hay comes around that first week of October. My son Caleb keeps reminding me that we now need to feed our livestock
below the ground more than cash in on that last cutting of hay. For you grass farmers out there, may I encourage you to give those plants and soil the same fall rest and not just graze every last blade. I confess succumbing to the temptation to harvest everything as late as possible with the hooves, but I also learned that falling into that temptation can set you behind on feed the next year. Honor the need for all of creation to rest and go to sleep for a season, including that lush green sward. They need to accumulate sugars and store up energy reserves for next years sprint. These shorter days sure trigger my hibernation instincts! PCO is continuing rapid growth in farms seeking organic certificates, and sometimes the growing pains hurt. The hard working staff is doing their best to answer your questions on materials, and completing your farm plan reviews and inspections. Just offering a friendly encouragement to be patient if you don’t get your answer instantly. A recent trip out through Ohio, Indicontinued on page 23
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
7
8
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
RECIPE CORNER Debra Deis, Product Manager & Organic Program Coordinator at Seedway, LLC
Halushki Fried cabbage and noodles… how can something so “white on white” taste so good? Butter combined with bacon fat answers that question! While I don’t generally like to mess with traditional recipes, this variation does add a bit of color and crunch. Halushki can be very fast to make.
Ingredients 12 strips of bacon (I used PCO member Conklin Farms delicious uncured bacon) Olive oil (Optional, see note) 1 onion, coarsely chopped 1 small 2–3 lb cabbage — Use a head that isn’t packed tight, you‘ll get a bit more green to the outer leaves. 1 red pepper, diced 4 handfuls of flat, medium wide egg noodles Salt and pepper 1⁄4
cup butter
1 cup crumbled feta cheese, or, for a milder flavor, large curd cottage cheese Smoked paprika Parsley
Directions • Put a pot of salted water on to boil for the noodles. • In a large, deep pan, cook the bacon carefully over low heat until crisp. Remove and reserve bacon. • Meanwhile, quarter and core the cabbage. Slice across the head into strips 3⁄4-inch wide. • Add noodles to boiling water. • If the bacon wasn’t fatty, add some olive oil to the pan and raise the heat to medium-high. Add the onion, stir a minute, and then stir in the cabbage and red pepper. Salt lightly and pepper generously. Half cover the pan. Stir as needed. Cook just a minute past the point where the cabbage has wilted, then turn off the heat. • Drain the noodles and stir together with the cabbage in whichever pot is the largest. Stir in butter, cheese and parsley. Transfer to a serving bowl, top with crumbled bacon and the smoked paprika, and serve.
www.paorganic.org
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
9
Organic Updates Certification Update Kyla Smith, Certification Director The Certification Team is hard at work wrapping up the 2015 certification and inspection cycle and preparing for the 2016 cycle to begin. Our goal is always to complete one annual cycle prior to the start of a new one, which typically corresponds with the calendar year. However, due to a record number of new applicants this year (PCO saw a 46% increase in new applicants so far this year compared to last year) and some staff vacancies, the Certification Team is a little behind schedule in completing the inspection report review and generating certification reports to send to our certified operations. Our new target is to complete all certification reports by the end of the first quarter of 2016. We are also gearing up for next year and we plan to send annual update packets in early January. We acknowledge that not receiving your certification report for the previous cycle may impact the completion of your 2016 annual update paperwork and are committed to working with you to ensure a timely and complete submission of your paperwork despite not having yet received your 2015 certification report. Please do not hesitate to contact your Certification Specialist with any questions you feel may need to be addressed from your previous inspection prior to completing your 2016 annual update paperwork. Additionally, it is always a best practice to notify your Certification Specialist if you are in need of an early inspection in 2016 for:
10
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
• adding new land; • adding a scope to your certification (e.g. certified for crops in 2015 but adding livestock in 2016); • adding new products where the process is different from what you’ve previously been inspected and certified for (e.g. certified for cookies and adding ice cream); or • any other changes that significantly affect your organic system plan or are needed for your business to conduct organic transactions. Our PCO community continues to grow. We are hiring new staff in order to keep up with and then be able to stay ahead of the growth trend, which has exponentially increased over the past 2 years. We appreciate your patience during this transition.
Legislative Update New food safety rule is published Kyla Smith, Certification Director The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published final rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). After the original publication of these regulations the FDA sought additional stakeholder feedback. The Produce Safety Rule was of particular interest to the organic industry. It is evident that the FDA listened to the feedback from organic producers and handlers and revised the regulations to meet the unique requirements of the organic system. The following sections have been revised.
www.paorganic.org
n Manure and compost — The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule eliminates the waiting time for properly produced compost and defers the proposed 9-month minimum interval requirement for untreated manure. The FDA intends to conduct research into determining an appropriate science-based application interval. In the meantime, organic operations should continue to follow the established National Organic Program (NOP) regulations for application of raw manure with 90- and 120-day application intervals. n Water testing requirements — The water quality regulation adopts a more general and risk-based approach, which has less potential to impose economic hardship on organic farmers, while still supporting safe food standards. n Packing and distributing provisions — The final regulation supports a collaborative approach to local and regional agriculture and reduces unwarranted burdens for operations that pack and distribute produce on their own farms as will as produce from neighboring farms. n Biodiversity and the use of domesticated and wild animals — The FDA incorporated new language that explicitly states that carrying out the new regulations will not require farmers to exclude animals from outdoor growing areas, destroy animal habitat or clear borders around growing or drainage areas. This change in language is more in line with the organic regulations requirement to maintain and improve the natural
www.paorganic.org
resources and biodiversity of their farms. The new rules affect growers of produce intended to be consumed raw. Growers who produce less than $25,000 a year are exempt. Compliance dates depend on the size of the farm with the largest farms required to comply in two years and smallest in four years. For more information regarding these regulations visit the FDA’s FSMA webpage at www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm334114.htm or contact Kyla Smith, PCO Certification Director at kyla@paorganic.org or 814-422-0251.
Materials Update Kyla Smith, Certification Director
Electrolyzed Water The NOP recently published a policy memo (PM 15-4), which updates the status of electrolyzed water under the USDA organic regulations at 7 CFR Part 205. The memorandum clarifies that electrolyzed water is a type of chlorine material that is allowed in organic production and handling. This memo replaces PM 14-3 that had prohibited this material. You may access this memo in the NOP Program Handbook at ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/handbook/ or by calling the PCO office for a paper copy. The 2016 Annual PCO Approved Materials List will be continued on page 12
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
11
continued from page 11
published and sent to members along with annual updates in early January. Please reference this upcoming publication for any status changes made to materials as a result of this memo. You may also contact PCO at anytime to check a status on a particular material. Attention Manufacturers! Manufacturers that would like to advertise products as approved for use in organic production are encouraged to register products with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) (www.omri.org, 1-541-343-7600). Suppliers of livestock and processing products can use the PCO Discount Code APP410346 to receive both a free OMRI Application Kit and a 15% discount on their first product application fee. (Crop materials are not eligible for this pro
n PETITIONS TO ADD OR CHANGE NATIONAL LIST ITEMS: NOSB discussed and voted on 5 petitions for changes to the National List: PASSED — will be FINALIZED following NOP approval and rulemaking • OTA petition to REMOVE Lignin Sulfonate from the National List as a post-harvest flotation aid in organic production • OTA petition to REVISE the annotation on Natural Flavors to require organic when available FAILED — will continue to be PROHIBITED in organic production and handling • Petition to ADD Sulfuric Acid to the National List for use in organic crop production • Petition to ADD Brown Seaweed Extract to the National List for use in organic crop production
Standards & Policy Update Fall 2015 National Organic Standards Board meeting summary Meeting Highlights n PUBLIC COMMENTS: Over the course of the four-day meeting, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) heard comments from approximately 110 members of the public on a number of issues. Including the public comment webinars held prior to the in-person meeting, there were 145 total commenters and 14 hours of oral comments. NOSB discussed these and other testimony from 2,955 pages of written comments. n MAINTAINING THE NATIONAL LIST: Keeping in line with a no-growth trend to the National List since 2008, the net result from this meeting was the removal of 11 inputs from the National List, the DENIAL of 2 petitions to add synthetic crop inputs to the National List, and the approval of one petition to further restrict the use of natural flavors in organic processed products. n 2017 SUNSET REVIEW: The final decision was to REMOVE 1 crop input, 1 livestock input and 9 processing inputs (see OTA’s FINAL NOSB DECISIONS for the complete list of Sunset votes): • Lignin Sulfonate as a post-harvest flotation aid in organic crop production • Furosemide used to treat pulmonary edema and hypercalcemia in livestock • Non-organic ingredients allowed in organic processing: –Synthetic: Magnesium Carbonate –Agricultural: Whey Protein Concentrate, Chipotle Chili Peppers, lnulin, Dillweed oil, Chia Seed, Frozen Galangal, Frozen Lemongrass, and Turkish Bay Leaves.
12
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
TABLED — Back to Subcommittee for further review (revisit at spring 2016 meeting) • Petition to add Sodium Lactate and Potassium Lactate to the National List for use as microbial agents only in organic meat processing n EPA LIST 4 INERTS: NOSB voted 10-4 in favor of modernizing how inerts used in organic pesticide products are evaluated and approved. The change will eliminate an outdated allowance for inerts classified by EPA to be of minimal concern (EPA List 4), and, instead, indicate three mechanisms by which inert ingredients can be allowed in organic pesticide products: inclusion on EPA’s 25(b) inert ingredient list, review and approval by EPA’s Safer Choice Program, and individual petition and NOSB review to include on the National List. The Safer Choice Program is EPA’s current mechanism for reviewing substances to strict environmental and human health criteria. n ETHYLENE GAS (for regulation of pineapple flowering): NOSB voted 9-3 (2 abstain) in favor of renewing ethylene for continued use to regulate pineapple flowering. Organic pineapple growers, producer coops, and exporters from Costa Rica gave compelling testimony to NOSB on how necessary limited and judicious use of ethylene gas is for them to supply pineapples to foreign markets. n PARASITICIDES FOR LIVESTOCK: NOSB weighed the continued need for three synthetic parasiticides (ivermectin, moxidectin, and fenbendazole), which are allowed for emergency use only in dairy livestock. A number of commenters indicated that ivermectin was no longer necessary because moxidectin and fenbendazole provide adequate control of parasites, and raised concerns about the toxicity of ivermectin to soil biology. Compounding the issue, however, is that both moxidectin and fenbendazole carry strict additional annotations that may undermine a producer’s ability to treat their animals quickly enough if ivermectin was no longer allowed. NOSB decided to
www.paorganic.org
renew all three substances at this Sunset Review with the indication that a recommendation would come forth at the spring meeting to remove ivermectin and modify the annotations of moxidectin and fenbendazole, to better accommodate the realities organic livestock producers face with emergency health situations. n PREVENTION STRATEGY FOR GMO CONTAMINATION: NOSB voted 13-0 (1 abstain) in favor of passing a recommendation for NOP to develop guidance on precautions that organic producers and handlers should take to prevent and minimize contact with GMOs in organic production and processing. Certified operators are already extensively carrying out such practices, but organic stakeholders and NOSB members felt it would be a stronger point in future prevention strategies and policy efforts if it were spelled out in formal guidance from USDA’s National Organic Program. This recommendation is one of many critical actions NOSB is taking to keep the inadvertent introduction of GMOs out of organic livestock feed, crops and food. The Materials Subcommittee will now turn its attention back to the ongoing discussion of establishing a seed purity standard and the data needed to explore the feasibility of setting an appropriate threshold level. n FRIENDLY FARMER PROTEST: As with any meeting that is open to the public, there are many unscripted and unexpected moments to every NOSB meeting. This year a handful
www.paorganic.org
of tractors driven by organic farmers and about 50 protestors converged at the meeting site to protest against crops grown without soil in hydroponic greenhouses being allowed to carry the organic label. These farmers were speaking out for their beliefs and making their views heard. NOSB has established a task force to study hydroponic growing methods and report back to the Board in a year. NOSB Officer Elections and Outgoing Board Members Officer elections were held at the end of the four-day meeting. Tracy Favre (Resource Conservation Seat) was elected to serve as the new Chair, Tom Chapman (Handler Seat) was elected to serve as the new Vice-Chair, and Lisa de Lima (Retailer Seat) was elected to serve as the new Secretary. OTA thanks Jean Richardson for her excellent leadership as Chair of the last three NOSB meetings, and we extend our thanks to outgoing Board members Mac Stone (Certifier Seat), Colehour Bondera (Producer Seat), Calvin Rueben Walker (Consumer Interest Seat) and Jennifer Taylor (Consumer Interest Seat) for their five years of service and dedication to the or Plan to attend the Spring 2016 NOSB meeting! The next NOSB meeting will take place April 25–27, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned, with more information Reprinted with permission from OTA continued on page 15
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
13
14
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
Staff Updates and New Staff
with NOFA-NJ to provide technical assistance to organic farmers and, in conjunction with the USDA-NRCS, to support natural resource conservation on certified organic farms. She joined the PCO certification team in January 2016.
Amanda Birk, Director Education and Outreach
Laura Nunziata, Certification Specialist
Amanda isn’t a stranger to PCO or the greater organic community. She worked as a PCO Staff Inspector for four years, and as an independent inspector since 2010, and now serves as PCO’s Director of Education and Outreach. Lee Rinehart previously held the position and is now refocusing his professional efforts toward agricultural production consulting. He’ll be working with farmers and organizations in Pennsylvania and the region in the capacity of providing technical assistance and education in organic and sustainable agriculture. Amanda operated a PCO certified organic farm with her husband, Chris Lent, for 7 years. Together, they raised vegetables, grass-fed beef and pastured poultry for a 50-member CSA. Amanda has served on various committees and agricultural groups including the Boards of Directors for the International Organic Inspectors Association, and ShickshinnyForward, a local community development group, and has also participated in PCO’s Education and Outreach Committee, and the Central Susquehanna Organic Crop Growers Network. Amanda lives with her husband and baby boy just outside the small river town of Shickshinny. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys building community with family and friends, and working on her solar-powered straw bale house.
Laura joined the PCO team in January, 2016, as a Certification Specialist. After studying Landscape Development and Ornamental horticulture at a small college in Vermont she left the Northeast to bounce around the country. She has worked in many organic vegetable fields, greenhouses, and nurseries, orchards, sugarhouses, and barns. Most recently, she was the Processing and Handling Certification Specialist for Vermont Organic Farmers, an organic certifier in Northern Vermont. Laura lives and plays in Vermont enjoying the woods, a good potluck, studying traditional nutrition, supporting sustainable agriculture, and exploring with her family.
continued from page 13
Staff Updates
Emily Newman, Certification Specialist Emily, who is from Abbottstown, PA, joined the Certification Team in January of 2016. She will graduate from Penn State University with an Environmental Resource Management degree in May 2016, focusing in soil science. During her time at Penn State, she enjoyed working with a local farmer who started growing in 2013 and donates all his produce to the State College area food banks. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, reading and cooking.
Marissa Pyle, Certification Program Manager Marissa Pyle joined the PCO team in June of 2009, as a Certification Specialist and eventually took on the position of Compliance Manger as well. She now has serves as PCO’s Certification Program Manager. Born and raised in Karns City, PA some of Marissa’s earliest memories are making trips to the barn to visit her family’s small herd of Hereford cattle. Although she didn’t do much more than sit on the wheel well of the tractor beside her dad while he was baling hay, she found agriculture to be exciting and ended up finding her way to Penn State, where she graduated in 2009 with a degree in Agroecology and a minor in Agronomy… Although these days Marissa and her husband Zach along with their feisty black Labradors Scarlett and India live in Springboro, she loves getting back to the farm whenever possible.
Justine Cook, Certification Specialist Justine is a New Jersey native who loves farming practices that build vibrant soil environments. She has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Stockton University and a M.S. in Agronomy from Penn State, where she studied soil nutrient cycling and cover crops. After spending three years exploring soil ecology and organic matter dynamics, she moved to New Mexico to experience the practical application of sustainable farming techniques at the Seeds of Change organic research farm. For the past five years, Justine has been working
www.paorganic.org
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
15
16
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
Calendar January
February
Keystone Farm Show January 5-7 York, PA Keystonefarmshow.com 800-218-5586
PASA’s Farming for the Future Conference February 3-6 State College, PA Conference.pasafarming.org 814-349-9840
Pennsylvania Farm Show January 9–16 Harrisburg, PA Farmshow.state.pa.us 717-787-5373 Future Harvest CASA’s Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed Conference January 14–16 Hyattsville, MD Futureharvestcasa.org 410-549-7878 Organic Valley Open Meeting January 20 Loganton, PA 888-809-9297
www.paorganic.org
PASA Webinar — Agricultural Marketing 101 February 10, 11am–1pm pasafarming.org 814-349-9856 x17 Organic Valley Open Meeting February 9, 9:30am–3:00pm Springs, PA 888-809-9297 Using QuickBooks to Manage Your Farm Business Webinar Series Feb. 22, 29 & Mar. 7, 14, 21 Extension.psu.edu/events
Lancaster Ag Real Health Conference February 13 8am–3pm Ronks, PA lancasterag.com 717-687-9222
March
PASA Webinar — Finding New Markets: Wholesale, Cooperatives & Beyond February 17 11am–1pm pasafarming.org 814-349-9856 x17
PASA Webinar — Using the Internet to Drive Farm Sales March 2, 11am–1pm pasafarming.org 814-349-9856 x17
PASA Webinar — Direct Sales Marketing: Expanding the Current & Finding the New Feburary 24 11am–1pm pasafarming.org 814-349-9856 x17
PCO Inspector’s Meeting March 4 PCO Office Spring Mills, PA paorganic.org
Transition to Organic Field Crop Production Study Circle March 10, 10am–2pm Shady Maple Banquets and Conference Center East Earl, PA lmh17@psu.edu 610-378-1327
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
17
Box 361, 119 Hamilton Place Penn Yan, NY 14527 315-531-1038 Certified Organic Feed, Seed & Livestock Products from Northeast organic farmers for Northeast organic farmers â?– www.lakevieworganicgrain.com
18
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
PCO Welcomes 4th Quarter New Members! Leroy Cubbage
John Z. Smoker
Henry Esh
Millville, PA
Rebersburg, PA
Jason Burket
Silver Creek Farm Stanley, VA
Two Acre Farm Latrobe, PA
Christian S. Beiler
Aaron K. Fisher
Willard Showalter
Montgomery, PA
Canajoharie, NY
Ed Evans
Merlin Martin Loyesville, PA
Millersburg, OH
Smicksburg Community Cheese Durall Valley, PA
Mike and Barb Dietrich
Merlin Sensenig
Oley Valley Organics Oley, PA
Sensenig Turkey Farm Lititz, PA
SUPPORTING MEMBERS
Dayton, VA
Anthony Oberholtzer Bethel, PA
Jerald Gingerich
NEW APPLICANT Benuel Lapp House of Bricks Dornsife, PA
Brownstone Mushrooms Farm Avondale, PA
Tim Streightiff Jeff Foust
Jodi & Tony Forrester
Milton, PA
Chambersburg, PA
Peter Siwik
Alexis Konownitzine
Solomon Zook
Siwik Produce Farm Felton, PA
La Pasta, Inc. Silver Springs, MD
McClure, PA
To-Jo Mushrooms Avondale, PA
David M. Lapp
Ephraim Zook
Harlan Martin
Richard Rorher
Keuka Valley Construction Penn Yan, NY
Paradise, PA
Shamokin, PA
Hideaway Farm Hinton, VA
Walnut Springs LLC Three Springs, PA
NEWLY CERTIFIED
Brad Helm John McVey
Millerstown, PA
Kevin Delaney
Joseph M. Stoltzfus Loganton, PA
Glen Koogler Singers Glen, VA
SafePac Philadelphia, PA
Stephen Magan
Farideh Soltani
Century Grass Farm LLC Pittsburgh, PA
Fscone McLean, VA
Jeff Stoltzfus
Andrew Zook
Lancaster Vegetable Coop Leola, PA
John Anstine Ag Source LLC Mifflintown, PA
Mark Glick Bridgewater, VA
Myersdale, PA
Gideon S. Esh Loretta Briede The Briede Family Vineyards, LLC Winchester, VA
Esh-Lea Farm Elizabethville, PA
Nelson R. Martin Action Pak Inc. Bristol, PA
Matthew B. Stoltzfus Millwood Farm Gap, PA
Cluncker Flatts McAlisterville, PA
John T. Petersheim Manheim, PA
Benjamin Helsel Matthew Sensenig
Three Springs, PA
Penn Yan, NY
Mike Shank Harold R. Kreider Harold Kreider Dairy Thompsontown, PA
Carlisle, PA
Stevie Fisher Lykens, PA
Joseph DeCarle Jr. Sweet Origins New York, NY
Frank Reed
Ivan Peachey
Cindy Diveglia
K.V. Farm Belleville, PA
Winterspring Farm East Berlin, PA
www.paorganic.org
Manheim, PA
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
19
20
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
Organic Marketplace
WANTED Organic Raw Milk ACF Organics, LLC, d/b/a Amish Country Farms located in Totowa, NJ is looking to procure certified organic raw milk from farmers in PA. Ken Tensen: 800-990-3447 x202.
JOBS Extension Educator (Sustainable Agriculture Educator) The College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an individual to specialize in sustainable and organic vegetable and berry production training as part of the Penn State Extension Horticulture Team. He or she will work with commercial growers, organic growers and beginning growers. This individual must have a background in horticulture including vegetable, berry or tree fruit production. Experience supporting new grower education and Spanish language proficiency preferred. This individual will work as part of the State-wide Horticulture Team serving vegetable, berry, tree fruit and wine grape growers in Northampton, Lehigh Counties and collaborating with colleagues to serve Southeastern PA. Visit http://apptrkr.com/680104 for details and to apply.
SERVICES
REAL ESTATE FARM FOR SALE — 69-acre certified organic grass fed beef farm. Owners are looking for someone to pick up the soul of this farm and improve on it as only a younger person/s can do. Lots of potential here. Included is a 23.5 KW Solar system, a full line of farm machinery, and a closed herd (for 20 years) of 55 beef cattle that have been acclimated, bred, and thrive on this farm. Third party certifications on this farm are PCO, AWA and AGA. A 5bedroom brick/frame house, barn and out buildings are situated on this Central Pennsylvania Conservancy preserved farm. Owner financing as well as mentoring can be negotiated, so that this farm can continue to provide nourishing food to a growing group of loyal customers. Owners make hay on some 80 acres of certified organic hay fields nearby for winter forage. Contact: jstoltz@pa.net or 717-536-3618. Perry County. Historic 1847 brick home in rural Juniata Co. sits on 14 PA Certified Organic acres! Features wood floors, 4 bedrooms, 6 fireplaces, front & rear stairways, open foyer. Potential for large family or a B&B! $235,000. MLS#10253973 http://3857rt35s.c21.com/ Ask for Kristen 717.994.6627. Juniata County.
TO ADVERTISE Contact the PCO Office for information on advertising in the Marketplace. Call 814-422-0251 or email pco@paorganic.org.
Manure management plans, Ag erosion and settlement plans, and manure brokering. Government certified. Contact Ned Fogleman 717-994-4630. Ag plastic recycling — I can use black and white bunker covers, bale wrap, plastic twine, clear stretch film, greenhouse covers, flats, and pots. For details: 717-658-9660. Franklin County, PA.
FOR SALE CROPS Organic alfalfa/ grass round bale baleage, 4’x4’, pre-cut, some very good quality. Forage tested. near Milton, Pa. Bucky- 570-4123094. Montour County. Dairy quality Organic baleage, corn & Organic soybeans. OEFFA Certified. Forage test results available, we can do local deliveries. We custom dry and store Organic grain. Call 570-412-1392. Union County. PCO Certified Organic baleage. Individually wrapped. 4x4 mixed hay. $40 dollars a bale for 1st and 2nd cutting. Jim Hepp: 570-7461651. Bradford County. Organic Baleage for sale. Individually wrapped round bales. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cutting. Alfalfa and mixed hay. 717-471-9438. 1 Mile of I78 in northern Berks County. Organic roasted soy beans, $1000 per ton in totes. Delivery available contact Ned Fogleman- 717-994-4630. Central Pa. Juniata County. Organic Dry Hay, Baleage and Straw in 4x4 wrapped round bales. High energy and digestibility, Priced based on forage test results. Trucking available. Organic grains and seed also available, call for availability. Provident Farms, Dave Johnson 570-324-2285. Tioga County.
www.paorganic.org
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
21
Employment Opportunities
Come join the PCO Team! Want to work with people committed to ensuring the integrity of organic products? For a full description of duties and qualifications, visit paorganic.org/jobs. n Certification Specialist The ideal candidate will have education and / or experience in the following areas: familiarity with regulatory compliance and organic certification, knowledge of organic standards and food science/processing. We are looking for a well-organized and self-motivated person to join our team-oriented environment in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania. Remote consideration will be given to applicants with previous certification experience. This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $38,000 to $48,000, depending on experience. Benefits: health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; Simple IRA, generous holiday, vacation and paid time off. n Quality Systems and Information Technology Manager The ideal candidate will have education and experience in quality systems, information or business management, including but not limited to: auditing, document control, and quality and IT systems. We are looking for a well-organized and self-motivated person to join our team-oriented environment in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania. This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $45,000 to $55,000, depending on experience. Benefits: health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; Simple IRA, generous holiday, vacation and paid time off. n Materials Program Manager This position will oversee PCO’s material review program, including the publication of PCO Materials Lists, developing policies relevant to material review under the organic regulations, and will actively perform material review. The ideal candidate will have education and experience in the following areas: knowledge of materials used in organic production and processing, familiarity with regulatory compli-
22
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
ance and organic certification, knowledge of organic standards. We are looking for a well-organized and self-motivated person to join our team-oriented environment in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania; telecommuting will be considered. This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary range: $45,000–55,000, depending on experience. Benefits: health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; Simple IRA, generous holiday, vacation and paid time off. All above positions will remain open until filled. Full job descriptions are available at paorganic.org. How to apply for these positions: Please submit a resume and cover letter to (electronic submissions preferred): Lia Sandoval lia@paorganic.org • 814-422-0251 n FarmFest Coordinator Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) is seeking a FarmFest Coordinator to serve in coordination with our Education and Outreach Team. The part time contracted position will be responsible for planning and management, with guidance from the PCO, of the Pennsylvania Organic Farm-
Fest, held July 29-30, 2016 at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA. FarmFest is a community-building event that fosters knowledge of organic agriculture and sustainable living through educational opportunities, local foods, lively entertainment, and interactive family activities. The successful contractor will possess strong organizational and time management skills with demonstrated work experience in event and volunteer management. We seek a highly competent individual with proficiency in soliciting/ securing sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors. Successful candidate will also exhibit aptitude with databases, computer networks, volunteerism, and social media. Contract Compensation and Schedule: This contracted position is offered at $8000 plus a percentage of sponsorship sales. Regular communication during agreed-upon scheduled work hours is required. We expect the contracted position to fill approximately 10 hours per week, and all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and half a day Sunday during the week of the event. Additionally, some post event communications and evaluation is required. The planned start date for this position is February 1, 2016. continued on page 23
www.paorganic.org
Employment Opportunities continued from page 22
To apply, please complete our Request for Proposals from, which can be found by visiting our website, paorganic.org/jobs. n Interested in volunteering? PCO relies on its outstanding volunteers to help with organic outreach and education. Volunteers have assisted by participating in one of PCO’s committees: Finance, Standards, staffing an exhibit, FarmFest; and much more. Support Pennsylvania Certified Organic by volunteering to contribute to our organization’s mission; email: pco@paorganic.org or call 814-422-0251 for more information.
President’s Message continued from page 7
ana, Illinois and Missouri during fall harvest time brought to light just how big the Midwest corn and bean machine really is. From rail cars to fertilizer mountains, to convoys of trucks to dust clouds from combines, thousands of acres with every inch of tillable ground between the cities and suburbs revolves around these two commodities. At first it made me think I am just dreaming, playing around farming 350 acres with 25-year-old worn out machinery. But when I regained consciousness, I realized that the superior quality foods that each of us produce in our tiny corner of the world makes such a grand difference. The diverse agriculture represented by PCO members makes way more sense than the big commodity machine I saw in the Midwest, which, if a piece of that fragile machine fails, those poor folks will have nothing to eat but field corn and soybeans. PCO folks, we have it so good.
Advertise in Organic Matters Organic Matters is the quarterly newsletter of Pennsylvania Certified Organic, a non-profit organization serving growers, processors and handlers of organic products. Issues contain articles on the latest news and research in the organic industry, often highlighting our certified members. Approximately 1,500 copies of each publication are distributed directly to members and those requesting information about organic agriculture, and made available to the public at conferences, exhibits and educational programs in the Mid‐Atlantic region.
www.paorganic.org
PRICING
Ad size Back cover (in color)
Single
4 Issue Sub.*
$572
na
Dimensions (in) 8.5 µ 9
Full Page
$362.50
$1,232
Half Page
$242.50
$824
7 µ 4.5 (horizontal) 3.25 µ 8.75 (vertical)
Quarter Page
$152.50
$518
3.25 µ 4.5 (vertical)
$112.50
$382
3.25 µ 2.25 (horizontal)
Eighth Page
8 µ 10
*Includes a complimentary full color calendar ad. The above rates refer to a single-issue ad placement and a subscription for ad placement in four consecutive issues. A 15% discount is granted for the purchase of the 4-issue subscription. For more information, please contact newsletter@paorganic.org or call the PCO Office at 814-422-0251.
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
23
Membership/Certification Order Form Contact Information Name
Address
City
Phone
Use postal mail for:
Billing
Applications
Organic Matters
Certification
State
Use my email for:
Billing
ZIP
Applications
Organic Matters
Membership
Transitioning Farmer ......................................... $100
Advocate Member ............................................... $40
Receive the same benefits as Sustainer Membership plus: One free farm visit per year by a PCO staff member to answer questions and discuss certification and organic production, phone access to certification specialist to answer questions, access to farmer mentors, and receives quarterly transitions newsletter.
Receives Organic Matters newsletter, workshop notices, discounts on PCO materials, invitations to meetings, and one free 30-word classified in Organic Matters per issue.
New Applicant ................................................... $75* New applicants will receive the following: PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, and OMRI Materials List. *$75 new applicant fee plus $695 basic certification fee due prior to processing Please send me applications for the following categories (free): PCO 100% Grassfed Certification
Crops/Produce Dairy/Livestock
PCO Forest Grown Verification
Poultry Mushrooms
Sustainer Member ............................................... $75 Same benefits as the Advocate Member, plus you may request a free copy of the PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, OMRI Materials List, and Record Keeping Systems. In addition, you may vote on PCO standards and policies. If you decide to apply for certification during your membership year, the $75 New Applicant Fee is waived.
Business Member .............................................. $150 Receives the same benefits as a Sustainer Member, plus a 10% discount on ads in Organic Matters.
Checks: Payable to PCO Pay Online: www.paorganic.org /orderform Pay via Phone: (814)-422-0251
Gluten Free
Maple Products
Kosher
Card No.
On-Farm Processing/ Handling
Other
CVV Code
Processor/Handler
.....................................
Exp. Date
Billing ZIP Code
Cardholder Name
Broker/Handler Signature
2017 PCO Calendar Photo Contest! PCO would like to showcase your organic farm, and photography skills, in our 2017 calendar.
We are looking for pictures of your family and farm workers on your organic farm or handling operation, at work or at rest, throughout the seasons. We’ll display all submitted photos at FarmFest for in person voting and prizes. We will accept highresolution photos via submission on our website, by email, or on a CD. Please submit your entries for the photo contest by July 15 to: Pennsylvania Certified Organic 2017 Calendar Coordinator 106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills, PA 16875 calendar@paorganic.org • www.paorganic.org
24
Organic Matters
•
Winter 2016
www.paorganic.org
Non-Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID CENTRE HALL, PA PERMIT NO. 33
106 School Street, Suite 201 Spring Mills, PA 16875