September 1998
Canadian Organic Growers is a national association of organic producers, processors and consumers who promote the production and consumption of organic food. Working together, they develop sustainable agriculture through the direct contact between producers and consumers thus improving the quality and freshness of produce and finding a better economic balance in their transactions.
The Ottawa chapter of COG will hold its annual general meeting on Sunday, Oct 18th at the Waldorf School in Stittsville, from 12 noon to 5PM. The group will hold a potluck lunch, conduct regular business and hear from 3 guest speakers. New members and the general public are welcome. Call Tom Manley at 613-984-0480 for more information
The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario is a peer help group of farmers concerned with farming practices in harmony with their environment, their family and their community. The association promotes sustainable farming including organic methods, provides training courses on livestock, field crop and produce farming, hosts farm tours during the summer, and offers an extensive lending library.
The Eastern Ontario branch of EFAO will hold its annual seminar at the Community Christian Reformed Church in Dixon’s Corners on Saturday, November 21st from 9:30AM untill 3:30PM. Several guest speakers will host learning sessions on a variety of topics. Businesses in the organic trade will display information and products. The lunch break is an excellent opportunity to meet other ecological farmers and share lessons learned over the past year. New members and the general public are invited. For more information, call Mike Krol at 613-347-7561.
As the market for organic food continues to grow by 20% annually, their is a constant shortage of certified organic milk products. To date the Organic Meadow brand, produced by an organic farmers’ coop in south-western Ontario, is sold throughout Ontario, in Montreal and as far as Vancouver. Consumers appreciate the full body flavour of the milk, the naturally ripened cheese, the creamy texture of the yogourt, AND the certified organic production methods.
Organic dairy farmers in Eastern Ontario hope to join the organic milk market, but a critical mass is required to warrant the space in a production facility. More dairy farmers are needed to produce organic milk. Your land needs to be chemical free for at least 3 years: you may already be in that position or you can begin the transition now. For more information about a premium milk price and organic standards, call Pieter Biemond at 613-652-4118.
Farmers produce food to feed the world; then why are there hungry people in Eastern Ontario? "Harvesting for a Hungry Market" is a full-day conference that seeks to encourage community economic development that is sustainable through the fostering of local agriculture activities and market channels for rural and urban stakeholders in Eastern Ontario. The objective is to increase the local consumption of local products, increase the diversity of local products, develop local distribution channels, and improve the environmental sustainability of food production.
Join producers, small businesses, consumers and food clubs on November 19th, from 9AM until 4:30PM at Lakeside Gardens in Britannia Park in Ottawa. Attend workshops led by producers, consumer groups, and food services specialists. Visit the display booth of Eastern Ontario agri-food businesses, or mount your own display booth to develop your local market. For display space, call Anne Lenk at 613-233-2888, or for general information, call Steve Newall at 613-820-7449.
Eastern Ontario has witnessed significant movement in the organic market over the last year. In the area of field crops, the rough estimate is 100% growth from 1500 certified organic acres in 1997 to well over 3000 acres in 1998. The variety of crops is quite broad: soybeans, buckwheat, spring and winter wheat, spelt, rye, corn, barley, oats, hay, hemp. The market still seeks other grains and seeds in the future: oil radish, sunflowers, coloured beans, naked oats and many others. Such rapid growth can be attributed to the increased awareness of the organic market as reported by the various urban and rural media, word of mouth as successful farmers lead by example, and direct promotion through advertising and trade shows. A noticeable change this year is the significant arrival of several large established farms who joined the crowd of part-time organic farmers.
The sudden increase in organic grain production in both Canada and the US means that production has caught up with demand, at least for the moment, and prices have decreased. Feed grains (wheat, corn, barley) are down from $250-$300 to $180-$200 per tonne, but still a big step from the conventional prices of $100-$150. Buckwheat is slightly depressed because of an oversupply from China and Eastern Europe: $380-$400 versus the conventional price of $280-$300. Soybeans are still tagged with an inflated price because of overseas demand: $770-$800 per tonne versus $260 for conventional soybeans.
The Eastern Ontario market in other areas has moved swiftly also. Organic livestock production has about doubled over 1997, at least based on the volume of organic feed sales at Homestead Organics. Producers are still selling out quickly and prices are stable: $2.50-$3.00/dozen for organic eggs and $2.50-$3.50/pound for organic chicken and turkey.
The organic certification agencies remind us that now is the time to request your certification for next year. You can call or visit the undersigned at Homestead Organics to obtain an application form for certification. The basic requirement is at least a field without chemicals for 3 years; the rest of the farm can be in transition for certification over the next three years. You should be practising organic methods: an established crop rotation, good production records, fertility improvement plan, etc.
A contribution by Tom Manley
President of Homestead Organics