alberta

WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

SUMMER 2015 ISSUE 02 VOLUME 06

O R G A N I C

GENERAL

PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS

CONSUMERS

$1.2 MILLION FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KICKS OFF PRAIRIE WIDE ORGANIC PROGRAM

On May 29, 2015 the federal government announced their contribution of $1.2 million under the Western Diversification Program (WDP) to a $2.2 million, 4 year program targeted at achieving growth, resiliency and stability in the prairie organic sector. The initiative will focus on increasing both the quantity and quality of organic field crops while building stronger market relationships.

The Prairie Organic Grain Initiative (POGI is housed at Organic Alberta, however, it is a partnership across the entire prairie organic sector including the Provincial organic associations. Organic Alberta will be working closely with Sask Organics, Manitoba Organic Alliance, Certified Organic Association of BC, the Canadian Organic Trade Association, The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada and USC Canada through The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security as well as with producers, grain buyers, processors, certification bodies and major organic brands to develop and deliver programming.

POGI addresses the shortage of organic grain growers by initiating several programs

that will entice conventional growers to transition, as well as developing and transferring the knowledge producers need to produce competitive crop yields and build profitability. The project also contains measures to build the profile of the Prairie organic grain sector and brand it as the destination for quality organic grains.

Industry partners, including The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, Grain Millers, Natures Path, General Mills, Daves Killer Bread, Cliff Bar and others are contributing just under $1 million to

the project. At Grain Millers, within our vision of providing our customers with safe, nutritious food, while exceeding their expectations for quality, service and value, we are also committed to providing them with an organic choice. We recognize the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative as a vital strategic step in helping keep pace with ever-increasing consumer demand, and we are pleased to invest in a strong future for the Western Canadian organic sector. Rick L. Schwein, President, Grain Millers Canada Corp/Vice President, Grain Millers, Inc.

DEBBIE MILLER, EDITOR

ATTENDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT WERE BOB KAMP, USC CANADA, WARD MIDDLETON, ORGANIC ALBERTA PRESIDENT, BECKY LIPTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

MICHELLE REMPEL, WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MINISTER, DARREN MAHAFFY, NATURES PATH, RON MILIO, DAVES KILLER BREAD AND EARL DREESHEN, MP FOR RED DEER

PHOTO BY DEBBIE MILLER

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 02 | VOLUME 06

The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) recently contacted us looking for organic sector representatives to get involved in a co-existence plan for GE Alfalfa in Western Canada. From our perspective there is no debate, co-existence with organic production is not possible as contamination is inevitable.

BECKY LIPTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : ORGANIC ALBERTA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT

Organic Alber ta led the charge to bring the sector together to develop a strategy for how to prevent GE Alfalfa from being sold in Western Canada. With par ticipation from BC, Alber ta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and national groups, we have decided to par ticipate in the co-existence strategy development with the hope of influencing the end result to say co-existence is not possible. We have also decided to build on effor ts that occurred in the east and build a coalition of groups who are willing to work towards stopping GE Alfalfa.

If you would like to get involved, please contact us at 587-521-2400 or info@organicalber ta.org

ORGANIC ALBERTA SUPPORTERS Thank you to Michael Dorian, Robert Jensen, Shafer Commodities, Grain Millers, Prairie Point Holdings, Richardson Milling, AOPA, Best Cooking Pulses, Community Natural Foods, Simply Fish, Blush Lane, Sunrise Foods, Growers International, PHS Organics, FW Cobs, Sunnyside Natural Market, Lackwanna Products Corp, Green Earth Organics, Centre for Systems Integration, Canadian Organic Trade Association, Earths General Store, The Urban Homesteading Store, Progressive Foods, Signature Truck Lines, Fresh Direct Produce, James Bozarth, Natures Path, Associated Grocers, Pure Earth Organics, Rural Roots and Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (SPUD) for becoming corporate members.

Thank you to Homegrown Foods, Leah Koski, Peter & Levke Eggers, Elizabeth Chrapko, and John & Dorothy Marshall for making a donation.

Thank you to Morinville Seed Cleaners, Frontlink Inc, Charles Newell, Grain Millers, EcoCert, TCO Cert, OCIA International, AOPA, ProCert and Blush Lane for sponsoring our events.

Thank you to Marc Blouin, Lisa Kennedy, Serben Free Range, Andrew Rosychuk, Harmonic Herbs, Rick Stam and Myles Bell for becoming Friends of Organic

Mission: To represent and support Albertas entire organic industry.

Vision: A strong, sustainable and united organic community in Alberta.

Editor/Submissions & AdvertisingEditor : Debbie Miller306-642-0216editor@organicalberta.org

Copy EditorBrenda Frick306-260-0663organic@usask.ca

Graphic Designer & PublisherCurio Studio780-451-2261www.curiostudio.ca

Executive DirectorBecky Lipton: 587-521-2400 | becky.lipton@organicalberta.org

Board MembersRepresentatives elected by region:(N) North (S) South (C) Central (M) Member at Large

President: Ward Middleton (C): 780-939-7459 | wmiddleton@interbaun.com

Vice President: Heather Kerschbaumer (N): 780-835-4508 | gaseeds@kerbagroup.com

Treasurer: Danny Turner (M): 780-469-1900 | danny@theorganicbox.ca

Secretary: Erin Paulson (M): 403-710-8117 | erin@blushlane.com

Lawrence Ashmead (M): 403-971-9682 | lawrence.ashmead@freshdirectproduce.com

Sam Godwin (C) 780-785-8023 | samhillent@hotmail.com

Jake Drozda (Ab rep at the Federal Level) 780-524-3254 | oscar123d16@hotmail.com

Trevor Aleman (S)

403-308-4003 | trevor@busybeasmarketgarden.com

Tim Hoven (S): 403-302-2748 | tim@hovenfarms.com

Janice Shelton (N): 780-623-7664 | tjshelton@mcsnet.ca

Summer 2015 submissions to be received by June 5, 2015. Please send comments, suggestions, questions, ads, and/or articles to editor@organicalberta.org

3GENERALWWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

DONATIONS Every certified business in Alberta receives a complimentary membership to Organic Alberta. Please consider showing your appreciation and support for the work we do on behalf of the organic community by making a donation today. Cheques payable to Organic Alberta can be sent to: #1, 10329 61st Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. T6H 1K9. OR contribute online at organicalberta.org/ join-us. Thank you!

QUINOA TABOULIBY ERIN PAULSON AND DANA MERONIUK, 2 CLEVER COOKS

A gluten-free (and healthier version) of a classic. You can also use millet instead of quinoa if you prefer. We make this salad in the deli at Blush

Lane Organic Market in Calgary, and its very popular.

1 CUP QUINOA

CUP WATER

2 MEDIUM TOMATOES, DICED

1 LARGE BUNCH FRESH PARSLEY, LEAVES ONLY, FINELY CHOPPED

2 TBS FRESH LEMON JUICE

1 TABLESPOON OLIVE OIL

1 CLOVE GARLIC, MINCED

1 TSP SALT

TSP PEPPER

DIRECTIONS:

Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Add the cooked quinoa and stir until combined. SERVES 4.

Organic Alberta board member Erin Paulson and her co-author Dana Meroniuk have turned a friendly competition

to see who could cook the tastiest gluten and allergy free dishes into a series of must-have cookbooks. The first

two are available at all Blush Lane and Sunworks locations, or online at 2clevercooks.com. Watch for the third scheduled

to be out in time for Christmas.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ORGANIC ALBERTA! April 28, 2015 marked 10 years since Organic Albertas official incorporation as a non-profit organization serving the Alberta organic community. A lot has changed in the last 10 years - we have gone from 1 part time staff person working from her basement to an office that holds 6 staff

people plus a summer student, managing multiple projects and priorities. However, a lot has stayed the same too. Our focus is still to represent and support Albertas entire organic industry as we work towards our common vision of a strong, sustainable and united organic community in Alberta.

PHOTO BY DEBBIE MILLER

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 02 | VOLUME 06

We clean cereals, oilseeds, and pulse crops.

Contact Glen Hartel at 403-578-3810 or coroseed@xplornet.com

5PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

ORGANIC MARKET PRICES

JULY 2015 -ORGANIC GRAIN PRICES (FROM MAFRD)

Demand and prices for organic wheat - both feed and food continue to be down. The dry weather in the Canadian Prairie and in the US mid-west is dampening expectations of a bumper crop. Its hard to predict how crops will do this early in the year, but if things continue as they are now, we can expect some good prices for organic pulses and oil seeds in the fall. Dry conditions in Alberta are also creating greater demand for organic feed grains such as barley. Alberta has been hit particularly hard, with some organic livestock producers downsizing herds in the face of hay shortages. Here in Manitoba, were seeing some decent organic crops although some producers are complaining that the weeds have overtaken the crops. Organic alfalfa producers hoping to capitalize on high hay prices should consider adding composted manure to compensate for the removal of phosphorous from the soil.

Organic Non OrganicOats - milling $6/bu (old and new crop

Western Canada)

Corn - feed grade $11.63/bu (USDA)

Wheat - feed grade $10.94/bu (USDA), $13.60/bu del to Eastern Ontario $9/bu (contract USDA)

conv. $3.50-$4.65/bu

Rye - food grade $11.20/bu (USDA) conv. $6/bu

Flax - brown $37/bu fob farm old crop, new crop $36/bu or $40/bu cleaned

conv. $10-13.75/bu

Barley - feed grade $7-8/bu west. Can, $10.88/bu del to e. ON

conv. $2.80-$5.50/bu

Hemp Seed cleaned $1.47/lb.

Peas - feed grade $17.60/bu del. to e. ON

Organic Premium this Month (based on highest organic and conventional prices)

Lentils - large green 217%

Flax - brown 302%

Peas - food 216%

Corn - feed 285%

Wheat - milling HRS 366%

Wheat - feed 338%

LAURA TELFORD,MANITOBA AGRICULTURE, FOOD

AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVESORGANIC MARKETOPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED ADS

Growers International is buying Organic Milling Wheat, Feed Grains, Spelt, Flax and Peas for NutraSun Foods and Growers International. 8 Delivery Locations across the Prairies. Call Mark at 306-652-4529 for prices.

Trade and Export Canada is buying all grades of organic grains. Call 1-877-339-1959.

F.W. Cobs is buying feed grains, including HRSW on both spot and new crop contracts. We buy FOB the farm, delivered to Loreburn, Sk or loaded rail. Call 888-531-4888 Ext. 7 or 8.

Are you looking for a consistent supply of Organic Soybean meal? Shafer Commodities can assist you with all of your organic needs, we are also buying HRS, durum, flax, barley & peas 403-328-5066.

Looking for certified organic seeds for sprouting alfalfa seed, smaller quantities of peas, lentils, oilseeds, wheat and grains. Interested in specialty seeds. Mail samples to Mumms Sprouting Seeds, Box 80 Parkside, SK. S0J 2A0

Organic producers of hempseed or flax, contracting for 2015 crop. Contact Bioriginal Crop Production Manager, Carl Lynn at Cell: 306-229-9976. Email: clynn@bioriginal.com

Roger Rivest Marketing Ltd/Nature Lane Farms is contracting growers for 2015 organic food grade yellow peas, red lentils, HRSW, durum wheat and chickpeas. Also supply a full line of liquid and granular organic fertilizers. Roger Rivest at 519-687-3522 rogerrivest@hotmail.com, www.rogerrivestmarketing.com.

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 02 | VOLUME 06

WARD MIDDLETON, PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR CENTRAL REGION REPRESENTATIVE

Ward and his wife Jo-Anne operate Midmore Farms, 750 acres just North of Morinville. After purchasing the family farm from Wards father in 1994, they became certified organic in 1999 as part of a business strategy to make agriculture the primary source of income for their family. Ward worked off the farm in oilfield and forestry until 2009. Regular crops at Midmore Farms include wheat, barley, rye, peas, canola, flax and sweet clover seed, with some less traditional crops such as borage, and milk thistle seed. Their farm also includes a 1/4 section custom grazing silvi-pasture, and an 80 acre managed woodlot.

HEATHER KERSCHBAUMER, VICE-PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR NORTHERN REGION REPRESENTATIVE

Heather is Mom to two sons and two daughters, and a Grandma to six. She and her husband, John, operate a family farm and grass/legume cleaning plant near Fairview, Ab with their oldest son and youngest daughter, making it a fourth generation farm. In 1982 they started their seed plant, Golden Acre Seeds. The plant has been certified organic since 2005 and their farm since 2010. They produce organic oats, wheat, barley, peas, alfalfa, and clovers. A few years ago they expanded the operation to include leafcutter bees to pollinate their alfalfa fields. Heather has 20 years of leadership experience with agricultural organizations, including serving as treasurer of the Peace Region Forage Seed Association and current President of Forage Seed Canada, a national forage seed producer board representing all forage seed producers in Canada.

DANNY TURNER, TREASURER AND DIRECTOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

Danny and his wife Miranda own and operate The Organic Box in Edmonton, a local organic food home delivery service. Danny has had a long-time passion for real food and is delighted that so many

families in the Capital Region have decided to make a long term commitment to eating sustainable, local organic food. He is passionate about changing our food economy one family at a time. Danny was born and raised in Calgary, and earned his BSc at the University of Calgary. He spent 10 years living and working in Ontario, California and the United Kingdom. He has a business degree from the University of Oxford and firmly believes in grassroots-level business development for the Alberta organics industry. Organic Alberta is a key part of promoting and developing this market. His early success with The Organic Box has proven that the sky is the limit for Alberta organic products!

ERIN PAULSON, SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR MEMBER AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

Erin Paulson is the mother of three beautiful little boys and has been involved in the organic industry since she was 10, raising Organic poultry and other livestock with her parents, Ron and Sheila Hamilton, on their farm near Camrose. She grew up selling at local farmers markets and building relationships with the consumer. At 17 Erin and her future husband started a 3 acre organic strawberry farm. This experience provided the foundation on which their retail operation, Blush Lane is built. From 2010 2011, Erin ran her own business, Blush Food for Fitness which involved making nutritionally balanced meals using as many locally sourced organic ingredients possible. Erin also wrote and published, in collaboration with a friend, a series of allergy free cookbooks. (Check out page 3 for a sample recipe!) Erin believes that eating clean whole food is an important component of being healthy. She is an organic consumer with a direct line into the retail world who dreams of farming again someday.

JANICE SHELTON, DIRECTOR NORTHERN REGION REPRESENTATIVE

Janice and Ty Shelton own Sand Springs Ranch, which uses a blend of Certified Organic, Biodynamic, and Holistic farm practices in the management of 5000+ acres. They run a Certified Organic Market Garden, a Grass-fed Cow/ Calf

MEET THE ORGANIC ALBERTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ward Middleton President and Director, Central Region Representative

Heather Kerschbaumer Vice-President and Director Northern Region Representative

Danny Turner Treasurer and Director, Member-At-Large Representative

Erin Paulson Secretary and Director, Member at Large Representative

Janice Shelton Director Northern Region Representative

7PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

Beef operation, and a Free-Range Chicken and Pork operation; all of which incorporate their own grain and vegetable seed production. They are currently implementing a CSA Farm Share Program and are involved in two Food Hubs. They also attend the local Farmers Market. There are four generations involved in various aspects of their farm.

TREVOR ALEMAN, DIRECTOR SOUTHERN ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVE

Trevor has been farming organically since 1989 when he worked on his dads market garden near Coaldale, Alberta. His moms name is Bea so they called the business Busy Beas Market Garden. In 1999 Trevor took over the business a and continues to farm near Fort Macleod. He mainly grows potatoes, onions and garlic on 10 acres for wholesale markets in Calgary, and has recently returned to the Exhibition Park Farmers Market Saturday mornings with a variety of vegetables. He and his wife Cindy have six children aged 7-19. Trevors real job is teaching full time at a Calvin Christian School

LAWRENCE ASHMEAD, DIRECTOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

Lawrence started his career with food at the age of 13 working in the produce department of the local market in his hometown of Drayton Valley. His career path has come full circle. For the last 15 years Lawrence has been working in wholesale produce distribution in both food service and retail produce sectors in Calgary. His career has seen him involved in all aspects of distribution working from procurement, logistics, quality control, sales and marketing and organic program development. Lawrences vision is to create a positive distribution network for smaller producers.

JAKE DROZDA, DIRECTOR ALBERTA REPRESENTATIVE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL (ORGANIC FEDERATION OF CANADA)

Jake has farmed all his life near Valleyview, AB. He and his family produce mostly cattle but do grow some grain for feed and some grass seed. Jake has a BA in History and Political Science and a Masters degree in Economics, both from the U of A.

TIM HOVEN, DIRECTOR SOUTHERN REGION REP

Tim Hoven is a fourth generation Alberta Farmer who raises some of the best organic beef around. From the Hoven Farm, near Eckville, Tim, Lori and their 8 children grow certified organic beef. They sell it directly to consumers through their little butcher shop at the Kingsland Farmers Market.

SAM GODWIN, DIRECTOR CENTRAL REGION REPRESENTATIVE

Sam has been farming since 1979, and became certified organic in 1997. He is Past President of the Alberta Organic Producers Association (AOPA) and has been on the AOPA board for several years. Sam has also served on the Organic Alberta board for many years and is currently the chair of the oat committee and the beef committee.

KERI SHARPE, ORGANIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY

Keri has worked in organic agriculture for 12 amazing years. She worked and farmed in Alberta prior to spending 5 years in Great Britain where she worked on Rural Diversification and studied Foot and Mouth Disease. Its here that she was introduced to organics. When she moved back to Canada she looked for organic food for her young family and was happy to be able to combine that with work in agriculture. Keri has a degree in Agriculture Business and a MSc in Rural Sociology from the University of Alberta. Keri lives in Didsbury and works out of the Olds office. She and her two boys are involved with the Ag Society and the Community Gardens along with Scouts and 4H.

MEET THE ORGANIC ALBERTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jake Drozda

Director Alberta Representative at the National Level (Organic Federation of Canada)

Tim Hoven Director Southern Region Rep

Sam Godwin Director Central Region Representative

Keri Sharpe Organic Business Development Specialist,

Agriculture and Forestry

Trevor Aleman Director Southern Alberta representative

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 02 | VOLUME 06

rganicroducersssociation

Certication with TCO Cert

MELISA ZAPISOCKY,ORGANIC LIVESTOCK PROGRAM MANAGER,

ORGANIC ALBERTA

Canadas first dedicated organic poultry facility officially opened mid-May, on Sunworks Farm, near Armena.

This is a massive, massive, project, says Ron Hamilton, who operates Sunworks Farm alongside his wife Sheila. The new facility will complement their existing shop in Camrose where they process red meat, and make chicken sausages.

Planning for this new build has been extensive; the vision has taken many years to unfold. Ron visited twenty poultry facilities across North America. He used this information to create a design. It then took a few more years to turn these plans into a building.

November 2013 we first started moving dirt and March 2014 we started construction. The facility is designed to harvest 800 birds per hour. Given the steep learning curve, the team is moving closer to 500 birds an hour.

Three main areas, each filled with equal amounts of impressive stainless steel equipment, are involved in the harvesting, chilling, and packing of the birds. New staff are quickly learning how to work the various stations for deboning, mechanical separating, shrink wrapping, and heat-sealed vacuum packing (with a machine called a Multivac Roll Stock).

ORGANIC POULTRY FACILITY OPENS NEAR ARMENA A PROMISING DEVELOPMENT FOR ALBERTAS ORGANIC INDUSTRY.

Right now we are operating four days a week with a thousand birds a day. Our goal is to run three days a week, with fifteen hundred birds a day, says Hamilton.

The building itself is spacious and no corners have been cut. The modern facility has male and female locker rooms, a spacious staff kitchen, a board room, private washroom and office for a provincial inspector (who is on site each harvest day), a 600 square foot cooler, large freezer, and shipping docks.

Its a big step for sure, says Hamilton. We now have about 75 staff, with 20 to 25 working in the new processing facility.

More quota has been leased to keep in stride with the expansion. At present, the new facility will only process poultry supplied through Sunworks Farm.

The goal right now is just getting our feet under our legs, to get operational and start moving production up. We need to increase efficiency and make sure we are making money.

PHOTO BY MELISA ZAPISOCKY

PHOTO BY MELISA ZAPISOCKY

9PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

BY DANA PENRICE, MARKETING PROGRAM COORDINATOR

In recent years, the term social license has been crossing the lips of leaders in food company boardrooms, directors of agricultural associations, speakers at conferences and ag-vocates on social media.

But what is a social license? Which government office do you have to go to get one? And how much does it cost for a farmer to renew every year?

A social license in agriculture is an agreement between consumers and the people who produce their food. Unlike a drivers license, where an agreement is made between a driver and the government that they will obey the rules of the road, social license in agriculture is much harder to pin down.

While it may not be top of mind with everything else that holds a farmers thoughts in a day, social

A FARMERS GUIDE TO SOCIAL LICENSElicense is something to pause and think about. Whether you know it or not, you are part of an agreement with consumers about how their food is being produced.

Every time a consumer purchases something they are saying, I am sufficiently satisfied with the way this was produced and I trust in it enough to take it home to feed myself and my family. As a farmer, you are also a consumer. Put yourself in the shoes of average consumers working through this for all the different products they buy in a week. It is overwhelming.

The majority of food producers hold an unwritten social license agreement with the consumer. With increasing chatter in boardrooms and agricultural meetings on the topic, there seems to be concern about how to maintain and strengthen social license.

When it comes to social license, certified organic producers have the unique opportunity of putting pen to paper. Through certification,

ORGANIC

organic producers make their farming practices fully transparent by following standards that guarantee consumers they are purchasing products grown with organic practices.

Consumers can quickly check for the Canadian Organic logo and know that they are signing on to a social license they can feel good about for themselves, their family, the community and the environment.

While organic farming may be attractive because of emerging markets and increasing demand, it should also be attractive because maintaining and strengthening social license is already built in to the system. With the thorough annual inspection demanded by the organic regulation, farmers and consumers can feel good about their agreement with each other.

With all thats on a farmers mind, its good to know that its one less thing you need to worry about and you can go on producing the good food you produce for another day.

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 02 | VOLUME 06

KAREN SNETHUN, AGRICULTURE OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Long before Karen experienced her professional success in agriculture, she was a farm girl. At the age of 10 she had her first job, helping her dad load cattle on the farm. Like many children of rural Alberta, she was involved in 4-H and public speaking. Karen won many award trips and scholarships, which inspired her to obtain a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Alberta. Karen has spent time working in various roles in agriculture: Alberta Program and Policy Manager with Western Canadian Wheat Growers, Member Relations with United Grain Growers, and Marketing and Trade Officer with Agriculture Canada. Karen and her husband also operated a grain farm and 3600-head hog finishing operation in eastern Alberta for a number of years. For the past seven years, Karen has been working with Parks and Recreation in various capacities. Karen is very excited to not only re-enter agriculture but enter into a role where she can add value to a sector that is feeding and fuelling the world. Karen and her husband, Glen, live in Edmonton and have two children, Carter and Georgia.

WHAT IS KAREN WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Karen manages the New Grower Transition Stream of the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative. This four-year program is focused on increasing the quantity and quality of organic grains, and developing relationships across organic market value chains. Karens work involves promoting organic field crop production in the Prairies with the aim of helping to transition new growers into organics. This included organizing our recent Transition Workshops and Field Days.

BECKY LIPTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Becky has worked with the organic industry in Alberta since 2008. Originally brought on to coordinate the Alberta Organic Harmonization Project, she is now the Executive Director of Organic Alberta. Becky brings her experience in organizing, strategic planning, facilitation, and program coordination to the position. She also brings her expertise from past work including from her Masters degree (women and agriculture), her work with the New Rural Economy research group, and her experience on farms, with farmers markets, and agriculture education. Becky is a high energy person who is full of determination and passion for a form of agriculture that she believes has the potential to transform and cultivate a healthy food system a system that is sustainable for our farmers, our eaters, and everyone in between.

DEBBIE MILLER, EXECUTIVE OFFICE MANAGER

Debbie joined Organic Alberta in January 2015, bringing with her many years of organic involvement at the Prairie, National and International levels. Her experience spans everything from working in organic certification at the local, national and international levels, to the development of the Canadian organic standard and regulation, past board member of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) and many other boards and committees. She is a founding member and Past President of Organic Connections, and also serves on the IOAS (International Organic Accreditation Services) accreditation

committee. Debbie and her late husband, Ian, converted their farm in the rolling hills of southern Saskatchewan to organic production in 1990, and never looked back. Although Debbie has served as editor of the Organic Alberta magazine for several years, she is very excited to be in Edmonton working full time with the amazing team at Organic Alberta.

DAVID HOBSON, PRAIRIE GRAINS AND SEEDS PROGRAM MANAGER

David has worked extensively on organic and conventional farms across Canada, New Zealand and Italy. He spent three years at the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC), where he coordinated research trials at organic farms throughout the Maritimes, as well as earning a Masters of Science in Agriculture from Dalhousie University. An active member in the local, organic food movement, David is very excited to call Edmonton his home and be a part of building seed security in the Prairies.

WHAT IS DAVID WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Prairie Organic Grain Initiative (POGI) Optimization. He is working closely with key stakeholders to define priority areas and identify potential activities. The first activity is an Environmental Scan of research related to organic field crop production on the Prairies. This will be a valuable tool for farmers who are looking to quickly find information on organic field crop production. The next project will be to build a manual on green manure management for Prairie organic field crop producers using the latest scientific and farmer knowledge.

MEET THE ORGANIC ALBERTA STAFF

Becky Lipton Executive director : Organic Alberta

Debbie Miller Executive office manager

David Hobson Prairie Grains and Seeds Program Manager

Karen Snethun Agriculture Outreach Coordinator

11PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

MELISA ZAPISOCKY, ORGANIC LIVESTOCK PROGRAM MANAGER

Melisa has always been interested in and passionate about the local food movement. She has worked in a variety of positions in Alberta, Yukon, Montana, and Washington State that have covered a wide spectrum of learning and living... from experiencing and contributing hard labour in fields and greenhouses, to building collaborative initiatives for farm direct businesses and market managers. She received a masters degree in Sustainable Food and Agriculture Development in 2010 from the University of Montana and she continues to immerse herself in the study and promotion of the local food movement.

WHAT IS MELISA WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Melisa is working on initiatives for the organic livestock program. This includes coordinating the development of four consumer focused beef videos that feature Organic Alberta producers, assisting with two events (an Organic Transition Workshop and Soils Health Field Day), connecting mentors with new and transitioning producers and arranging a distribution and productivity improvement program that pairs a producer with a business coach. She has also been spending time getting to know Albertas organic livestock producers and learning more about the industry from their perspective. She has been fortunate to visit a few organic beef farms and has had many informative phone calls with our existing members and new people looking to learn more about organics.

DANA PENRICE, MARKETING PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Dana strives to support inspired thinking and action in agriculture and rural communities. By thinking broadly and deeply about the systems upon which our society depends, Dana sees us better positioning the industry and our communities for the future. Danas work with the University of Albertas Theres a Heifer in Your Tank and with Leadership Edmonton has been foundational in developing her passion for creating resourceful, resilient, responsible and adaptive people. Danas formal education was in Animal Science, earning a B. Sc. from the U of A but her much-valued informal learning came from hanging out in chicken barns, working with horses and teaching kids (and teachers, parents, etc.) about agriculture. She and her partner also run C & E Meats at Lacombe, Alberta. They believe that grazing livestock and poultry can heal our planet.

WHAT IS DANA WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Dana manages the Alberta Organic Food campaign which promotes Albertas amazing products and producers throughout the province. This involves working with retailers to plan in-store promotional events like sampling sessions to help create awareness and educate consumers on the Alberta Organic industry. This campaign also involves the development of promotional videos and an online map directory of where to buy organic products.

MEET THE ORGANIC ALBERTA STAFF

Melisa Zapisocky Organic Livestock Program Manager

Dana Penrice Marketing Program Coordinator

Lindon Carter Food Outreach Coordinator (Summer Student)

Brenda Frick Contractor

LINDON CARTER, FOOD OUTREACH COORDINATOR (SUMMER STUDENT)

Lindon is currently a Music Composition student at MacEwan University in Edmonton He is originally from Victoria, BC, where he was first introduced to the importance of local and sustainable farming practices. Although Lindons main focus has been music and the arts, environmental initiatives and agriculture have always been of importance to him. He has been a volunteer at both Pacific Mobile Depot soft plastic recycling and Madrona Farm in Victoria.

WHAT IS LINDON WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

While Lindon has proved to be extremely versatile, filling in wherever we need an extra pair of hands, his main focus is to work with Dana on the Alberta Organic Food initiative Summer Tasting Sessions. This project gives our producers the opportunity to have their products featured in various retail locations and have the public sample some delicious organic food.

BRENDA FRICK, CONTRACTOR

Brenda is a freelance organic specialist, an organic inspector, an avid community gardener, a K-12 substitute teacher, a Western Producer columnist and a partner in Resilient Solutions Consulting. She has a PhD in weed ecology and teaches an online organic weed management course. Brenda has worked with the organic community for 25 years, acting as a liaison between scientists and farmers. She copy edits every issue of our magazine, and is always on call if we need assistance with other projects, both large and small.

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 03 | VOLUME 06

Agriculture for Life (Ag for Life) is a not-for-profit organization committed to building a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture and its fundamental connection to life.

It is our mission to help Albertans understand the incredible depth and opportunity that agriculture affords. Bringing together some of Albertas

strongest corporations from various sectors along with farmers, ranchers, government and community leaders, Ag for Life is dedicated to delivering educational programming that will serve to improve rural and farm safety and build a genuine understanding and appreciation of the importance agriculture has to lives.

MEET ONE OF OUR PARTNERS

OATS

COATED GRAINS& CLUSTERS

Through close collaboration with stakeholders, Ag for Life develops, expands and offers hands-on educational programming to children, youth and adults across the province. We do this by providing committed funding and support that enables the delivery of great programs, removing financial pressure and allowing

13CONSUMERSWWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

Simply FishS O I L A M E N D M E N T

sales@simplyfish.ca simplyfish.ca

APPROVED FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION

CLASSIFIED ADSOrganic meat needed for retail. Frozen or fresh.

Contact Blush Lane erin@blushlane.com.

full concentration on delivery and successful outcomes, comments Ag for Life CEO Luree Williamson. Together we can increase the reach of these programs and enhance their long term sustainability, adds Williamson.

This past year Ag for Life committed over 1.2 million dollars to the expansion and development of educational programming. The goal is to continue to invest and to reach 100,000 rural and urban Albertans in the next two years through school curriculum and community events. Ag for Life supported programs include: the Classroom Agriculture Program, Little Green Thumbs, Alberta Open Farm Days, City Slickers On-Farm Education, Growing Minds (Neubauer Farms), Alberta Womens Institute

Food and Farmers Project, Rural and Farm Safety Days, Progressive Agriculture Foundation, the Rollover Simulator Project and the Barnyard and Boots Program.

Ag for Life is made possible through the funding and commitment of companies that employ almost 20,000 people in more than 350 Alberta communities. Founding Members include Agrium Inc., ATB Financial, ATCO Group, Penn West, Rocky Mountain Equipment, TransCanada Corporation and UFA Co-operative Limited. Contributing Members include AdFarm and Glacier FarmMedia with the Support of Bayer CropScience and The Co-operators Group.

LEARN MORE AT agricultureforlife.ca facebook.com/agricultureforlife twitter.com/4AgForLife

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 03 | VOLUME 06

15CONSUMERSWWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG

Prairie Heritage Seeds

WWW.PHSORGANICS.COM | 1.306.869.2926

Proud supporter of organic agriculture. Wishing all organic growers a productive 2015 crop year.

Currently contracting Kamut and other grains.

About CSIThe Centre for Systems Integration, a division of the Canadian Seed Institute, is a proven service provider of quality assurance programs in the agriculture sector.

Minimize and Simplify Your Paperwork

Connections to Local and Global Markets:

Canadian Organic Regime

JAS Organic Equivalency

USDA NOP Equivalency

EU Organic Equivalency

Bio Suisse Verification

More than 15 Years of Experience in Delivering a CFIA Quality Assurance Program

organic certification?timely & efficient

Seeking

Contact us:Toll-free: (800) 516-3300 Phone: (613) 236-6451 www.csi-ics.com

#1, 10329-61 AVE NWEDMONTON, AB

T6H 1K9

FIRST NAME LAST NAMECOMPANY NAME

ADDRESSCITY, PROVINCEPOSTAL CODE

Organic Grain Marketing

Jake, Kelly, Tom or Glen@ 306-931-4576sales@sunrisefoods.ca

Contact:

Sunrise Foods International Inc. - Saskatoon, SKLicensed and Bonded by the Canadian Grain Commission

Feed GrainsFood GradeOilseedsPulsesScreenings