Organic Connections continues to grow as the Prairie’s largest organic conference and trade show.
This year it will be held Saskatoon Nov. 21-23.
New programs include Taste of Organic, aimed at giving consumers an opportunity to sample and learn, and Organic Kids, which introduces children to the importance of local organic food.
The goal is to reach out to consumers and urban residents who want to be exposed to organic production.
The multifaceted, free event will include interactive booths for children and adults to learn about local farming, identify grains, look at labels, test water and check for chemical residues.
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Maria Rodale, publisher ofOrganic Gardeningmagazine, will talk about her new book,Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe.
She is the granddaughter of J.I. Rodale, founder of the Rodale Institute, a major source of sustainability information.
Her talk will be followed by an organic cooking competition featuring three teams of chefs.
Competitors will be given two or three local organic ingredients and asked to prepare an appetizer in 30 minutes. They will be judged on taste, presentation, creativity and use of the featured ingredients.
Tasting is a big part of Taste of Organic. Booths will include local organic food such as popcorn, granola bars, potato skins, pancakes and elk tips.
The show will also feature a farmer’s market.
The new Organic Kids program offers in-class components and a field trip to the Organic Connections conference Nov. 22. Participating classrooms will have access to interactive learning stations, a do it yourself healthy lunch, a scavenger hunt through the trade show and an Organic Jeopardy game.
“We want to create education and awareness in these kids so they will take it home to the kitchen table” said event co-ordinator Lorraine Beaudette.
The Child Hunger and Education Program is participating to provide a healthy organic lunch, while Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds will provide students with a sprouting kit and sprouting seeds. The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council will help students produce a worm composter for their classrooms.
“We have something for everyone,” Beaudette said.
“Saskatoon area consumers on the Sunday, the farming community Monday and Tuesday, and now students on Tuesday as well.”
Organic Connections will continue to offer a full conference and trade show for those interested in organic farming, marketing and eating.
Dag Falk of Nature’s Path and Tom Cowell of Growers International Organic Sales Inc. will speak about the confusing market relationship between organic and natural, while Derek Lynch, Canada’s Organic Research Chair, will review the science behind environmental claims made for organic agriculture and argue that these benefits need to be recognized in policy.
Graham Strong from Arcadia Farm in Australia will talk about his experiences bringing nature and culture back to his farm.
Breakout sessions will focus on strategies to help farmers survive hard times, improve food quality and care for environment and culture.
Other sessions include record keeping, how to find quality organic food in Saskatchewan and research done under the new organic science cluster.
Brenda Frick, Ph. D., P. Ag. is an extension agrologist and researcher in organic agriculture. She welcomes your comments at 306-260-0663 or email
