Going Organic, Alberta’s organic umbrella group, is ready to take a more active role in determining the future of organics in Alberta.
At its recent annual general meeting, the organization adopted an innovative restructuring that crafted it into an inclusive entity.
All certified organic farmers in Alberta are members, represented by region and by directors at large. Associate members include consumers, chefs, consultants, researchers and retailers.
The GO meeting was one eventin a week of organic events held March 9-13.
GO also hosted an organic transition workshop for producers interested in learning how to “go organic,” Canadian standards workshops to prepare producers, inspectors and certifiers for changes when the Canadian Organic Regime becomes mandatory and a value chain workshop for producers bringing new products to market.
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The centrepiece of the week was a conference that provided useful information and inspiration:
- Market strategist Richard Broadwith suggested analyzing trends and using non-traditional marketing. For instance, many people start to buy organic food when their children are young. He recommended an organic gift box for the arrival of each new baby.
- Michel Saumur with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shared details of the Organic Product Regulation that will come into force in June. All food imported into Canada or crossing provincial boundaries will have to bear the new organic logo or use the word organic.
Canada is negotiating equivalence with 21 countries that import organic food from Canada.
- Jack Reams, an experienced organic inspector, reminded producers to complete their paperwork diligently by reading the entire application, completing all the forms and balancing the numbers of acres in each field with the overall total.
- Wade Sirois, chef owner of Infuse Catering and Forage – Farm to Fork Food to Go, talked about “small little acts that change the world.” He advocates “food you know from people you know” and cherishes the local organic connection.
- Dwayne Logan, a diversified organic farmer from Nesbitt, Man., shared his production system for pigs, poultry, goats, sheep and cattle. His advice was to “try to make a problem into an opportunity” by focusing on goals, reducing expenses, selling retail and diversifying.
- Agriculture Canada researcher Karen Bailey brought news about Phoma, a biological control agent for dandelions, Canada thistle and mustard family weeds.
- Bernie Ehnes grows wheat, rye and peas on 4,800 acres near Etzikom, Alta. He uses tillage for weed control, including spring tillage with a rod weeder or a cultivator and rod weeder, post seeding rod weeding and sometimes either tine or rotary harrowing. He treats his seed with kelp to increase germination.
- Randy Gubersky grows cereals and alfalfa and raises cattle near St. Michaels, Alta. He also uses tillage, including up to four passes of a tine harrow, as well as heavy seeding rates to reduce weeds. Gubersky spoke of his belief that organic farming is ethical farming, and relies on integrity and passion.
- Steven Snider of New Norway, Alta., who grows grain, hay and green manure, talked about the value of green manure such as fababeans and sweet clover for soil building. He also spoke of the importance of exceptional customer service in his business.
All three organic farmer panelists emphasized the importance of soil fertility, weed control and strong ethical standards for organic production.
At the end of the day at a sumptuous organic meal, Av Singh, an organic and rural infrastructure specialist from Agrapoint, spoke of the importance of building rural community based on unique local strengths.
The quality of the conference, the diversity of speakers and the inspiration from people who are passionate about the quality and ethics of organic food bode well for GO’s success in Alberta.
Brenda Frick, senior research and extension associate for Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at the University of Saskatchewan, welcomes comments at 306-966-4975 or organic@usask.ca. OACC articles are archived at www.oacc.info.
