The Organic Council of Ontario has been busy over the

summer as we continue to act as stewards for Ontario

Organics. We have been collecting data to encourage

better programming in the sector and have been

engaging directly with the provincial government. We

have been working to improve the marketing capacity of

the sector, have kicked off our extensive Ontario

Organic Roadshow, and we are in the midst of

producing several video projects designed to spread the

organic message. OCO continues to be a strong voice

for organic in media. This autumn we will be launching

our brand new website where we are looking forward

to a new level of engagement with members and

consumers.

Organic Council continues to address commitments

under our project agreements funded by OMAFRA. Our

data collection efforts were aided by the generous

support and cooperation of our Certifier

members. Canada Organic Trade Association has been contracted to provide statistics beyond the farm to

round out our ―baseline‖ information on the

sector. This data helps us advocate for program dollars

and policies. We‘ve also contracted Farm Fresh Ontario

to survey farm-gate sales, and Farmers Markets Ontario

to survey market managers about the volume of

certified organic and self-identified organic sold through

these channels.

Matt LeBeau met with Minister Carol Mitchell to discuss

our sector‘s issues ahead of the July meetings of the

Federal Provincial and Territorial Ministers in PEI.

Matt‘s brief focused on:

a) The need for stable funding for the Canada Organic

Office, OFC and the Standards Review and

Technical Committee work;

b) The need for a GM moratorium for new species,

especially Alfalfa;

c) Traceability dollars and support for the Organic

Sector; and

d) Business Risk Management Programs that recognize

the unique production parameters of the Organic

Sector.

Our Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group had a

strategic planning session in early June. Thanks to those

on the Working Group who made our day so

productive – Jennifer Pfenning (Pfennings Organics),

Carol Hutcheson (ONFC) , Katy Borgstrom (Organic

Meadow), Jennifer Grant (Harmony Whole Foods),

Mike Traynor (Yorkshire Valley Farms), Theresa

Schumilas (Garden Party), Matt Holmes (COTA- by

phone), and our WG Chair Maureen Kirkpatrick (The

Big Carrot). For more information please see page 2.

The Ontario Organics Roadshow is underway! Since the

last newsletter we have hired Treena Adhikari as our

Events Coordinator to oversee the OMIF and industry

funded project. We would like to acknowledge the

generosity of our initial sustaining sponsors for this

project for getting us half way to our fund-raising goal:

Yorkshire Valley Farms, Organic Meadow, Fieldgate

Organics, Neal Brothers, The Big Carrot, Filsinger‘s.

There is still time to come on board and support this 18

event tour promoting organics! (Please see ―Roadshow‖

on page 2).

OCO also began work on two separate video projects-

developing materials we can use ―on the road‖, through

social media, and for distribution to the membership

once they are complete. The first project is part of the

Ontario Organics Roadshow, comprising of 3

RSAs. RSAs are whiteboard art-supported audio

recordings that allow communication of complex ideas in a visual way. We have produced three short videos

that are available now on our website and on YouTube.

Our second video project is part of a province wide

local food effort with Sustain Ontario. Our video

discusses the importance of not just ―where‖ food is

produced but ―how‖ it is produced for achieving

sustainability.

OCO continued to prioritize protection of the integrity

of the organic brand. We will be meeting with Globe

and Mail reporter Jessica Leeder to explore a story on

the benefits of organic production. We also wrote a

letter to the editor of Ontario Farmer to address an Op

Ed piece citing the E. Coli outbreak in the EU as ―a day

of reckoning‖ for the organic sector.

We‘ve contracted Hypenotic, a Toronto-based media

and communications firm, to support our website

overhaul and our social media strategy. These are the

folks who‘ve successfully supported messaging on

―Local‖, and they are eager to support our work to

communicate the benefits of organics.

It has been a busy summer so far and we are looking

forward to an exciting fall, full of celebrations of the

harvest, conferences, more roadshow stops, and the

launch of our consumer membership drive that we are

calling our CO-Farmer program.

Jodi Koberinski,

OCO Executive Director

Organic Focus

Organic Council of Ontario Newsletter

In this issue:

Organic Council of

Ontario Activities 1

OCO Round-Up 2

Upcoming Events 3

Industry News 4/5

Members 6

Of Note... 7

OMAFRA Update 8

Regulatory Affairs

Update 9

Market & Consumer

Trends 10

Get Engaged! 11

Board of Directors 12

Volume 5, Issue 2

Organic Council of Ontario Activities

Summer 2011

Marketing Ontario Organics

Working Group Update

OCO‘s Marketing Ontario Organics (MOO) Working Group

has met twice this summer to discuss current marketing chal-

lenges and opportunities. Topics covered include: Canada Organic Brand Strategy Challenges in Marketing Ontario Organics Successes and Opportunities Presentation from Foodland Ontario about Opportunities OCO initiatives in Marketing Ontario Organics Messaging Direction Target Audience Development of Marketing Strategy Development of List of Materials Needed

We developed slogan ideas as ways to talk about all the great

local and organic foods in Ontario. Some possible options are: Organic & Local, Better Together. Ontario Organic, We‘re Worth It! Organic & Local, The Perfect Pair. Ontario Organics, Clean Food You Can Trust.

MOO is helping develop marketing and education materials: Organic point of purchase materials - Business Card size Information for retail employees Reworked ‗Your Guide to Local and Organic‘ Organic Factsheets Document of recommended usage of language Ontario Organic T-Shirts

Video Projects: 3 whiteboard explanations of organics (now on YouTube) GMO Alfalfa and Bee Video with CBAN Ontario‘s Good Food Ideas, with Sustain Ontario Green Hero‘s TV Show and Website

Let us know if you would like more information, have feedback or

would like to get involved in any of the MOO related projects.

Organic Focus Summer 2011 OCO Round-Up 2

The OCO Office has Moved!

Just down the hall... Our Updated Address is:

5420 Highway 6 N. Unit 232

Guelph, ON.

N1H 6J2

NOTE: The only change is our unit number: 232

OCO is excited to announce the launch of

the Ontario Organics Roadshow.

Organic Council of Ontario is launching an Ontario Organics Road-

show this summer. With matching support from the Ontario Market

Investment Fund and the sector, we are touring the province to pro-

mote the new national organic standard and the Foodland Organic

brand- together, these programs help Ontarians find both local AND

organic foods.

We are inviting regional organic businesses to join us in communities

throughout Ontario to promote their farms and products, educate the

public about organics, and distribute materials to help people under-

stand the value of organic foods and to locate Ontario organic food in

their communities. We are also attending three major consumer

shows during the winter and spring.

We have hired Treena Adhikari as our new Events Coordinator for

the OMIF project. Treena has extensive experience with trade show

and event planning, including international trade missions and trade

shows for the Canadian Manufacturing and Export sector. Treena will

be our point person for this project. She can be reached at

treena@oganiccouncil.ca or 519-827-1221. If you have any questions

about the roadshow please do not hesitate to contact us.

Roadshow Schedule: July 15-17 London Home County Folk Festival, London

July 22-24 Hillside Music Festival, Guelph

August 13-14 Conscious Food Festival, Toronto

August 27 Harvest Picnic, Dundas September 3 Taste of Huron, Goderich

September 11 Feast of Fields, King City

September 11 Feast of Fields, Ottawa

September 13-15 Canada‘s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock

September 24 Taste! Prince Edward County, Picton

September 25 Savour Stratford, Stratford

Sept 30 – Oct 2 Niagara Food Fest, Welland

October 2 Picnic at the Brickworks, Toronto

October 15 – 22 Organic Week, Festivities throughout Ontario

January 13 -15 London Food and Wine Show, London

March 17 - 18 Green Expo, Ottawa

April 20 - 22 Green Living Show, Toronto

Financial support for this project was provided by the

province through the Ontario Market Investment Fund and

the following industry partners:

Hugh Martin, Organic Lead with OMAFRA, Has Announced His Retirement

Hugh has worked for OMAFRA for 34 years, 10 of which as Organic Crop Production Program Lead. He has been a tireless organic advocate within the government and throughout the development of the organic system in Canada. Hugh has played a key role in educating producers and OMAFRA staff about the value of organic. He has also been an integral part of our board of directors since our inception. We would like to express deep gratitude to Hugh for all that he has done for organics in Ontario and Canada. We hope for the best for you in your future endeavours.

Volume 5 Issue 2 3

The McVean Farm Harvest Table, Brampton,

August 28 Sunday, 3pm - 8pm at the McVean Incubator Farm. Join Us! Chef Yasser Qahawish will once again bring together a group of

talented chefs to prepare a unique and delicious 4-course family-style feast

cooked over charcoal. The meal will feature the amazing diversity of fresh

produce from the McVean farm and local artisans. Paired with local sus-

tainable wines. Artisanale Cafe & Bistro post.

Direct Marketing Course - St. Mary’s/Lakeside

Sun, Aug 28th 9am -4pm Ann Slater's Fresh Organic Vegetables. Having a great product is different from selling a great product, and both

of these things are critical to operating a successful farm business. Join

Ann Slater, who has been growing and selling vegetables in the St. Mary's

area for over 30 years, on her farm to review all aspects of selling at a

farmers market, from promotion, packaging and displays to pricing. CSAs,

road side stands, pick-your-own operations and co-ops will be covered as

well, as will marketing directly to stores and restaurants. This is an amaz-

ing opportunity to see Ann's intensively planted 1.5 acre garden during the

growing season, and benefit from her direct-marketing expertise!

Cost $70. Discounts available for EFO members and CRAFT apprentices!

For more details and to register contact the EFAO office:

Tel:1-877 822-8606 or 519-822-8606; Email: info@efao.ca

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock,

September 13, 14, and 15 Canada‘s Outdoor Park is home annually to Canada‘s Outdoor Farm

Show each September ­ but people, equipment and animals are roving in

and out of the site all summer long. The 85 acre site in Woodstock, On-

tario is used by many companies and groups leading up to Canada‘s Out-

door Farm Show, being held this year from September 13th to 15th. Be-

ginning as early as April, the action makes a chilly start with research pro-

grams, dealer training sessions and educational events. This summer,

groups like Ontario Holsteins, Grober Nutrition and New Holland have taken advantage of the site with its long expanse of grass, buildings and

crop plots. www.outdoorfarmshow.com

Upcoming Events

Have an upcoming event? OCO can help promote your events and exhibitions in our Newsletter and our

online events page/calendar. It’s easy. Simply send the details to info@organiccouncil.ca

Good Food for All Festival

Sat, Sept17th 12-3pm. The STOP Community Food Centre, Toronto The Good Food for All Festival is back and bigger than ever! Join us on

September 17 for a fun-filled—and entirely free!— day of entertain-

ment, kids' activities, music and, of course, lots and lots of delicious

food. The day will feature a community cook-off (you be the judge); a

farmers' market; samples from The Stop kitchen; a bike-repair clinic;

and much more. Kids will enjoy live animals, food competitions and

more. Join us for what is always a wonderful day celebrating our

neighbourhood and healthy, delicious food. Event is free!

http://thestop.org/

Composting Course

Sunday, October 2nd 9am-4pm. Whole Circle Farm, Acton This composting course looks at basic composting biology and the dif-

ferent options for getting a great final product. Special composting top-

ics such as field application rates, vermiculture, compost teas, liquid

manure, green manures and biogas will be touched on. Maureen

Bostock, who has farmed for 20 years in northwest BC and eastern ON

will lead this comprehensive course at Whole Circle Farm, a biody-

namic mixed farm near Acton. Participants will see Whole Circle's

amazing composting system, and learn about biodynamic compost

preparations. Cost is $70 discounts for EFO members and CRAFT ap-

prentices!

Canada's Top Chefs Cook Out to Stop the Mega Quarry

Oct. 16th 12pm-3pm. Various Farms in Honeywood area. Join Chef Michael Stadtlander and 70 of the best chefs from across Can-

ada for an outdoor, pay-what-you can, public food event in support of

the movement to Stop The Mega Quarry. All funds raised will go to

fighting the mega quarry application that has been put forward by the

Highland Companies to create a limestone quarry over 2,300 acres in

size on prime, fertile agricultural land and digging into pristine aquifers.

Each chef will prepare one item, celebrating the local bounty and en-

couraging Ontarian's to stand up and have their voice heard by the gov-

ernment. Everyone is welcome! http://canadianchefscongress.com/

Bring Food Home is Ontario's bi-annual conference connecting food and farming leaders working towards a sustainable food system.

The 2011 conference theme is ―Preparing the Ground for a Sustainable Food System‖

At Trent University in Peterborough, October 27th, 28th and 29th.

The first day of the conference will be dedicated to Farmer Training.

We hope that you can join us and be a part of transforming the future of food!

www.bringfoodhome.com

The Canadian Organic Standards (COS) were voluntary until 2009. They

became mandatory when the Organic Products Regulations (OPR) were

implemented in June 2009. Many meetings of the CGSB Committee on

Organic Agriculture (TC) were held to revise the standards and make

them fully applicable.

But, transitioning from theory to practice is always challenging. Though

revised by talented people, standards can hardly cover all possible sce-

narios experienced in the real farming world. So, when the Canada Or-

ganic Office (COO), the CFIA agency responsible for the monitoring of

the OPR, started receiving specific questions about how to apply the

standards in given contexts, a decision was made to consult with a com-

mittee that would provide clarification on particular issues: the Canadian

Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC) held its first meeting in De-

cember 2009.

Composed of seven members from the TC elected by the Organic Fed-

eration of Canada, the SIC analyzes, comments and tries to come to a consensus on the meaning of the standard in a given background.

Farmers need to be practical; they adhere to organic principles, but then

need to apply or adapt the principles to their practices. And no one

wants to lose certification for not having done the right thing.

More than 50% of the questions received by the SIC are about permitted

substances. Some annotations defining the use of substances give

"grounds for interpretation". It is clear when the substance is prescribed

"only" for a specific use or should be derived only from a specific proc-

ess. But, sometimes the annotation is stated as a general comment that

does not seem to exclude some other use. Furthermore, some sub-

stances are repeated in the same table or in two different tables with

different annotations. Which annotation should be followed when using

this substance? Operators will surely choose the prescription that best

fits their needs. But what is the real intent of the standard?

The Canadian PSL is a list of permitted substances. But what if a sub-

stance is not included? Many questions were issued about "absent" sub-

stances. There are general directives about the use of substances not

registered on the PSL; they should comply with the general principles of

1.4.1. But operators want to be reassured about their practices. There is

also ambiguity with processes from which allowable substances are de-

rived; and though the availability on the market of some substances can

be a burden, the restrictions on acceptable processes of production must

be restated. Specific production requirements are also questioned; some

operators want to be confirmed that the general principles of the COS

also apply to specific crops, which are perceived as being "aside" the main

cropping systems.

Some questions are simple: the answer is Yes or No. But other questions

are more complex, some others cannot be clearly interpreted; they re-

veal a gap or a lack of clarity. The SIC has no authority to revise the

COS, and has to be very careful to avoid rewriting the standards; inter-

preting is reading what is stated and clarifying the original intent of the

authors, not going beyond what was written. If faced with a question that

highlights an instance of ambiguity or apparent contradiction in the word-

ing of the Standard, the SIC may propose a revision which would involve

the CGSB Technical Committee. This is the group legally responsible for

the maintenance of the Standard. Moreover, the PSL proposals being

currently subject to ballot or figuring on the work list of PSL working groups cannot be considered: they are not applicable to the work of SIC

until they are inserted in published standards amendments.

The SIC interprets questions and issues answers that are posted on the

COO website to undergo a 60 day comment period. This comment pe-

riod is a clear indication that the standards are really managed by the

whole sector. Should a comment challenge a proposed interpretation,

the SIC will bring the question back for further discussion, to consider

the comment and whether or not to revise the answer. The main pur-

pose of the SIC is to assure uniform application of the rules to all opera-

tors and CBs. The Questions and Answers are posted on the COO web-

site. Questions should be sent to the COO.

This article was written by Nicole Boudreau, Organic Federation of Canada, on

behalf of the OACC with funding provided by Canada's Organic Science Clus-

ter (a part of the Canadian Agri-Science Clusters Initiative of Agriculture and

Agri-Food Canada's Growing Forward Policy Framework). The Organic Science

Cluster is a collaborative effort led jointly by the OACC, the Organic Federation

of Canada and industry partners. OACC newspaper articles are archived at

www.oacc.info one month after publication. For more information : 902-893-

7256 or oacc@nsac.ca.

Organic Focus Summer 2011 Industry News 4

Foodland Ontario Organic is Here! A Foodland Ontario marketing survey conducted in 2011 indicated that more than one-

quarter of shoppers surveyed would buy organic more often if they knew it was from On-

tario.

To appeal to Ontario consumers who shop for organic products and help them to choose

Ontario organic foods first, Foodland Ontario has a new resource for producers and proc-

essors to identify their food as both certified organic and local.

Producers and processors who want to use the logo on their promotional and marketing

materials will need to verify that their products are certified to the Canadian Organic Stan-

dard as well as meet the Ontario food definitions found on the Foodland Ontario website:

http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/english/industry/ind-definitions.html

For more information on how to get the Foodland Ontario Organic logo, contact the Client Services Officer, Sandra Jones, at sandra.jones@ontario.ca or 519-826-3947 (toll free 1-888-466-2372 ext. 63947).

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again - Interpreting the Organic Standards

Volume 5 Issue 2 Industry News 5

New Projects from Canadian Organic Growers PWW With support from OCO, EFO and the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI)*, Canadian Organic Growers Perth-

Waterloo-Wellington (COG PWW) is creating new tools and programs to strengthen the organic farming sector.

Organic Produce Price Tracker Live July 18th Starting July 18th and continuing throughout the year, you will be able to visit www.organicpricetracker.ca to search for farmers‘ market and wholesale/

bulk prices for certified organic produce in your region. The project is still looking for farms to participate by providing their prices, particularly whole-

sale or bulk prices. Your farm will not be identified and your prices will be factored into a range displayed for your region, but you will be supporting a

project that benefits the organic farming community as a whole, especially new farmers. Please contact Tegan Renner at COG PWW if you would like

to get involved: outreach@cogwaterloo.ca or 226-251-3012.

Certified Organic Seed Database Set for November Release An online searchable database will feature certified organic seed varieties for produce and field crops, making the annual, labour-intensive task of sourc-

ing organic seed easier for farmers. COG PWW is seeking to form a bit of a farm advisory group to review this tool as it develops. If you are inter-

ested in participating, please contact Tegan Renner at COG PWW: outreach@cogwaterloo.ca or 226-251-3012.

Transition to Organic Advisor Program You‘ll be able to start referring people to this certification support service by the end of this month. COG PWW piloted this program in 2010 and is

not only continuing to offer the service free of charge for 2011-12, but also expanding the coverage area to all of Ontario. Learn more about the pro-

gram on their website.

*The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite of programs for Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

International protection provided to countries that label GM

foods as US ends opposition to GM labelling guidelines From The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network:

The United Nation's Codex guidelines on GM food labelling are now final-

ized after 20 years! It should be noted that the guidelines are voluntary and

so do not compel countries to label (so this will not result in labelling in

Canada for example). However the final agreement on GM food labelling

guidelines will provide important protection to nations that establish GM

food labelling laws: countries will not face trade challenges at the World

Trade Organization based on their labelling of GM foods. This is highly

significant for the global future of GM foods. Canada was an obstacle to the

labelling guidelines until public pressure changed our government's position

- you will remember the action you took with CBAN last year! Thank you

for your actions! This outcome took many years of work with groups

around the world. It is one of many hard-won, long-fought victories.

Thank you everyone for your continued action and support!

For more information visit: http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/Labeling

Organic Council of Ontario would like to thank CBAN for their hard work on these

and other GMO initiatives. We will continue to pursue this issue and would like to remind everyone that Organic is the only way to know your food has not made

using GMO’s – marketing materials

GMO Policy Paper

The Organic Trade Association was recently put under a microscope re-

garding their stance on labelling GMO‘s. In response the OTA has asked its

members to help write their policy paper (also known as a white paper)

regarding GMOs. OCO submitted feedback relating to the document and

we look forward to seeing the next draft of the document.

OCO would also like to encourage the Ontario Organic sector to begin

the steps of developing a resolution regarding GMOs that would help us at

the council ensure we are reflecting the views of the sector. There was

some talk at our AGM in March about getting rolling on our Ethics Work-

ing Group, which could help facilitate the process of creating our own

white paper. To get this working group off the ground we need to know if

there is sufficient interest, so if you would like to participate or chair the

group, please contact us at the office.

Animated Video on GM Alfalfa Coming Soon to YouTube!

This 3.5 minutes animated video is an emotional journey of discovery as the

innocent but wise bee finds out that genetically modified alfalfa is "coming

soon" and determines to stop it, with help from you! CBAN thinks bees

have real star quality. We want to help them to get their message out to

every consumer: Why is alfalfa

important in food and farming?

What is genetically modified

alfalfa? Why should we care?

How can we stop GM alfalfa

together? "Adopt" a cartoon

bee today! The film is being

produced by the Canadian Bio-

technology Action Network

(CBAN), in collaboration with

animator/organic farmer Nathan

Carey and Smiley Guy Studios.

Donate today to help put a bee on the Big Screen!

The film is sponsored by the following organizations and businesses that

provided matching financial support:

The Big Carrot Natural Market Toronto www.thebigcarrot.ca

De Dell Seeds Incorporated www.dedellseeds.com

Green Being Farm www.greenbeingfarm.ca

Nature‘s Path Foods www.naturespath.com

The Organic Council of Ontario www.organiccouncil.ca

Smiley Guy Studios www.smileyguy.com

Organic Agriculture Protection Fund of the Saskatchewan Organic

Directorate www.oapf.saskorganic.com

Genetically Modified Update

New Members/ Renewed Members New: Stoddart Family Farm, Mapleton‘s Organic, Michael Theodor Brokerage, Filsinger Organic Foods, Kiju Juice/Nothing but Nature, Southbrook

Vineyards, Savage Solutions.

Organic Focus Summer 2011 Member Profiles 6

Interested in having your business in our Member Profile section? Please send a description of you and your business that you wish to have published along with a

picture or two to: melissa@organiccouncil.ca

From the OCO Membership Desk:

Hello OCO Members!

I am happy to report our membership drive is off to a good start and we are

excited to welcome some very inspiring new members! Every voice counts as

OCO strives to further organic initiatives as well as educate the public around the

province. I would also like to put the spotlight on all the members that have

renewed over the past few months (listed below). Your continued support is

valued and appreciated!

As part of the membership drive I have been on the road to visit some potential

members as well as attend some events highlighting local and organic food! I was at

the Culture and Cuisine Cavalcade put on by Centennial College last month. This

event highlighted Chef‘s and their involvement in shaping our food industry. I saw a

great opportunity to reach out to the colleges who train Chefs as well as the

restaurant industry as they are on the front lines between food and consumers.

I was able to visit the Mapleton’s Organic farm to personally welcome them on

board and witness all the good things they are doing up there! From the Barnyard,

where you can visit some happy animals to the Crop Circle, which demonstrates

crop rotation, and most importantly the Ice Cream shop, Mapleton‘s is doing so

much to educate the public about organic practices. Martin and Arwa are both

dedicated individuals who are not only knowledgeable but passionate about the

organic industry. We look forward to working with them!

Other inspiring new members are:

Filsinger’s Organic Foods who have been doing organic since 1953!

Nothing but Nature/ Kiju Juice a local company whose mission is ―to bring

to market the finest organic beverage products that support the health and

wellness of our consumers, the economic well-being of our grower-partners and

the sustainability of our shared environment.‖ Love It!

Stoddart Family Farm ―Sustainable Agriculture since 1819! ―Sustainable‖ to us means farming in a way that provides for our family both in the current

generation and for the generations to come.‖ Keep up the good work Harry

and Silvia!

Savage Solutions help consumer packaged goods manufacturers and

distributors navigate the complex requirements of large retail banners. Sylvie

Savage is a dynamic and driven individual who has extensive experience with

organic products!

Remember – We always love to hear from you! Please contact me if you have any

questions, news or want to chat about Organics. I am here for you!

Member Profiles: Michael Theodor Brokerage, Inc. is the oldest

established natural Product broker in Canada. As the

main principal, Michael Theodor has an extensive

background in the natural foods industry, dating back

to the mid-sixties. MTB is a national brokerage with

offices across Canada. As Canada is a geographically

vast country, Michael works closely with an extensive

network of natural food and specialty distributors

across Canada, concentrating on close

communication with the distributors' sales and

marketing staff, as well as his own provincial sales

force in Eastern and Western Canada. Immediate

goals and marketing plans are set for US and

Canadian product lines after thorough discussions

with Principals. MTB lines also have direct

relationships with major chains.

www.mtbi.ca

With many organic products offered and so much experience

in the industry we are proud to welcome MTBI on board!

Southbrook Vineyards is the epitome and evolution of

Marilyn and Bill Redelmeier's love story with wine,

the land, and all things ―local.‖ The winery is situated

on a 150-acre vineyard in the heart of the Niagara

Peninsula wine region of Ontario, Canada. We

produce organic and biodynamic wines that earn

recognition, from critics and consumers alike, year

after year. From their purchase of the Niagara-on-

the-Lake vineyard in 2005, the Redelmeiers

committed their energies to sustainable viticulture.

By 2008, they had created the first wine estate in

Canada to earn both organic and biodynamic

certification for its vineyard and winery. Southbrook

also takes a leadership role in the wine community by

mentoring, educating and sharing in an effort to

encourage a growing understanding of organic and

biodynamic methods.

www.southbrook.com

OCO is happy to welcome such a dedicated and pioneering team!

Renewed: Andrew Hammermeister, Harmony Whole Foods Market, UNFI, DeBoer Poultry Farm, Tomas

Nimmo, Deerfields Nursary, Elmer & Leona Martin, Earth Valley Organics, The Healthy Butcher, Mountain Path Inc., Pro-

Cert Organic Systems, ShaSha Bread Company, Health First Network, Tregunno Fruit Farms, Greenfields Organic Farm,

Lebeau Advance, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, Farm Start, Organic Garage, Fenwood Farms, Masterfeeds, Homestead

Organics, Zephyr Organics Inc.

Volume 5 Issue 2 Of Note…. 7

Opposition Grows to the Melancthon Quarry that Would Destroy Farmland

By now it is likely that you have heard about the Mega Quarry that has been proposed on some of Ontario‘s pristine farm land. A Boston hedge fund

has purchased a large portion of the potato farms in Melancthon Township in order to build North America‘s second largest open pit mine. OCO has

joined a growing movement of Ontarians who are speaking up in opposition to this quarry.

Background:

• The 2,400 acre open pit would be deeper than Niagara Falls and 200 feet below the water table, disrupting the natural flow of the aquifers that pro-

vide water to millions of Ontarians.

• This area is also home to some of southern Ontario’s most fertile farm land and the specialty silt loam in this area is renowned for its potatoes.

• Melancthon and Mulmur Townships, in the County of Dufferin, are situated on the headwaters of the Grand and Nottawasaga Rivers.

• Potatoes from this area supply 90% of Toronto’s demand—this is sustainable, local agriculture at its best.

• The mining operation would require the DAILY use of 600,000,000 litres of water. This is equivalent to 25% of daily water use in all of Ontario.

• The operation would see 7,200 plus trucks a day (3,600 in and 3,600 out) on the roads—most likely Highways 124 and 89.

• The plans call for rehabilitation of the mine back into agriculture. However, it is unclear what crops are able to grow in a 200 foot hole.

• There has been no analysis of the economic impact on the loss of farming jobs to the community, or to the impact of the loss of 2,400 acres of prime

agricultural land or its impact on food prices. Furthermore, no analysis has been done on the impact on tourism and existing business due to blasting,

noise, dust and traffic. Please visit http://www.citizensalliance.ca or http://www.ndact.com for more information.

Organic Council of Ontario has joined the movement demanding the Quarry be Stopped!

The Organic Council of Ontario answered the call from community organizers to write letters to government officials regarding the EPA for the

quarry. In the letter written to the Premiere, the Minister of Agriculture, and other relevant ministers, dated July 5th 2011, OCO urged the govern-

ment ensure the quarry project be ―subject to the more appropriate and comprehensive Environmental Assessment Act. As it stands, the mega quarry

proposal simply requires a zoning change under the Planning Act and a licence from the Ministry of Natural Resources under the Provincial Aggregate

Resources Act- an inadequate process for dealing with the huge impact this proposal will have on the region and Ontarians.‖ Our letter goes on to

state ―the potential risks of this project cited by experts and scientists prior to even conducting an EA suggest invoking the Precau-

tionary Principle and refuse permitting of this project.”

Executive director of OCO, Jodi Koberinski notes that the Ontario Organic sector, alongside the Canadian

Federation of Agriculture, feels that ―the ‗override‘ aggregate extraction enjoys from the EA process- render

farm communities powerless to prevent the stripping of the countryside.‖ This is reminiscent of major issues

that have arisen in Ontario‘s First Nations communities, where large corporations have engaged in resource

extraction on First Nations land regardless of opposition from those communities.

More action is needed to ensure the Mega Quarry does not destroy our ability to farm in Ontario or to drink

clean water. The Organic Council of Ontario is asking people to join 70 Canadian Chefs and 20,000 other

people at FOODSTOCK to taste the bounty of land threatened by the mega-Quarry. This will take place on

4 farms that refused to sell out in near Honeywood, Ontario, on Highway 124. Admission: Pay what you can

to support the cost of fighting the Quarry!

http://canadianchefscongressfoodstock.eventbrite.com/

By Jeffrey M. Smith, edited by Andrew Alford (University of Guelph)

When U.S. regulators approved Monsanto's genetically modified "Bt" corn,

they knew it would add a deadly poison into our food supply. That's what it

was designed to do. The corn's DNA is equipped with a gene from soil bacteria

called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) that produces the Bt-toxin. It's a pesticide; it

breaks open the stomach of certain insects and kills them. But Monsanto and

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claimed the Bt-toxin would be

completely destroyed in the human digestive system and not have any impact

on all of us trusting corn-eating consumers. On the contrary, doctors at Sher-

brooke University Hospital in Quebec found the corn's Bt-toxin in the blood

of pregnant women and their babies, as well as in non-pregnant women.

Links to allergies, auto-immune disease, and other disorders

There's already plenty of evidence that the Bt-toxin produced in GM corn and

cotton plants is toxic to humans and mammals and triggers immune system

responses. In government-sponsored research in Italy, mice fed Monsanto's Bt

corn showed a wide range of allergic and inflammatory responses such as:

asthma, arthritis and food allergies.

Natural Bt is dangerous?

Farmers have used Bt-toxin from soil bacteria as a natural pesticide for years.

But they spray it on plants, where it washes off and biodegrades in sunlight.

The GM version is built-in, the toxin doesn't wash off; it's consumed. The plant

-produced version of the poison is thousands of times more concentrated than

the spray, is designed to be even more toxic, and has properties of known

allergens—it actually fails the World Health Organization's allergen screening

tests. In one instance, 500 people in Washington state and Vancouver showed

allergic and flu-like symptoms when they were exposed to the spray when it

was used to kill gypsy moths.

Bt cotton linked to human allergies, animal deaths

Thousands of Indian farm labourers are suffering from the same allergic and flu

-like symptoms as those in the Pacific Northwest simply from handling geneti-

cally engineered cotton plants that produce Bt-toxin. According to reports and

records from doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, as well as numerous investi-

gative reports and case studies, workers are struggling with constant itching

and rashes; some take antihistamines every day in order to go to work.

Living pesticide factories inside us?

In the human study, some of the subjects were found to have Roundup Ready

gut bacteria! This means that sometime in the past, from eating one or more

meals of GM soybeans, the gene that had been discovered in the chemical

waste dump and forced into the soy, had transferred into the DNA of bacteria

living inside their intestines—and continued to function. That means that long

after we stop eating GMOs, we may still have dangerous GM proteins pro-

duced continuously inside of us.

There is growing concern that as Bt genes colonize the bacteria living in the

digestive tract of North Americans, we might see an increase in gastrointesti-

nal problems, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and childhood learning

disorders. Some doctors report seeing such an increase. The discovery of Bt-

toxin in our blood does not confirm this speculation, but it does provide food

for thought.

Join us at:

Stop the Mega Quarry!

Dangerous Toxins from Genetically Modified Plants Found in Women and Fetuses

Organic Focus Summer 2011 OMAFRA Update 8

Highlights from OMAFRA’s ON Organic Newsletter

Full newsletters are posted on the OMAFRA website at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/organic/news/news-organic.html

New Risk Management Programs for Ontario Farmers

Risk management programs help Ontario farmers deal with risks that are beyond their control.

The provincial government is providing risk management programs for the cattle, grains and oilseeds, hog, sheep and veal sectors. The

Province is also providing a self-directed risk management program for the edible horticulture sector.

Commodity organizations developed their own proposals – proposals that are supported by their members because they meet the needs of

their members.

Ontario will fund the risk management programs at the full amount of its traditional 40 per cent share. These programs join Production

Insurance and AgriStability as one more component of an effective risk management package.

Agricorp will administer the programs on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

More>> http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/rmpindex.html

Precautionary Labelling Encouraged for Cereal Products

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is now urging manufacturers and importers of any grain-based products to inform consumers of the

possible presence of low wheat levels in their products to avoid reactions among people with extreme wheat allergies. Since cereal grains

are often grown close to other types of grain and are sometimes harvested using the same equipment it‘s extremely difficult to exclude all

traces of wheat from other cereal grains – which could potentially pose a hazard to some consumers. Learn more at http://

www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/20110520inde.shtml

‘Ontario Food Cluster’ Eyes International Growth and Investment

The newly created Ontario Food Cluster is eager to help expand Ontario‘s agri-food sector internationally and attract more foreign invest-

ment. Last month, the City of Guelph and the University of Guelph formally joined other Ontario Food Cluster partners in the Greater

Toronto Area and Waterloo Region to work collaboratively to increase foreign investment and international trade opportunities, while

promoting the competitive advantages of joining Ontario‘s agri-food sector. Learn more at http://www.ontariofoodcluster.com/

A Tool to Attract Investors and Make Connections

A new publication, called the Agri-Food Asset Map, contains key highlights of Ontario's competitive advantages, its strengths and success sto-

ries. It outlines opportunities in the food sector and provides an overview of Ontario‘s food processing research and development excel-

lence, as well as research contacts. Jointly created by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ontario Ministry

of Research and Innovation, the Asset Map is a publication that can help you ‗make the case‘ and get the contacts needed for future growth. A limited number of print copies are available from Shirley Newell , while both the Executive Summary at http://ww.omafra.gov.on.ca/

english/research/ktt/agrifoodassetmap.pdf and the full document at http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/publications/documents/

Agrifood_Summary_Nov2010_ENG_AODA.pdf are also available online.

Important Update for Importers and Brokers

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is implementing phased changes to import notification requirements at http://inspection.gc.ca/

english/fssa/invenq/20110505e.shtml to improve the availability of information it uses to identify and track food products whenever food

safety issues occur. Phase 5 came into effect last month and includes select commodities, which can be found in Annex 1 at http://

inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/invenq/20110505e.shtml#oncor Those commodities have also been added to the CFIA‘s Harmonized Commod-

ity Description and Coding System (HS Codes) at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/eservices/ogd-amg/hs-sheng.html

Importers and brokers are expected to notify the CFIA using the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to ensure products coming into Canada

are released. If you don‘t have an EDI profile, you need to get one. The Automated Import System (AIS) Participant's Information Docu-

ment provides more information on the EDI. To get a copy of this document, contact the EDI coordinator at EDICoordina-

tion@inspection.gc.ca or call 613-773-5322.

If you have questions about any notification requirements for products in the non-federally registered sector, contact

CFIA's Ontario-area import coordinator Latika Mogla at Latika.Mogla@inspection.gc.ca or 416-667-4674.

New Resources from AAFC’s Food Regulatory Issues Division

The Food Regulatory Issues Division (FRID) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is committed to providing the Canadian food and bever-

age industry with up-to-date information on domestic regulatory issues that have an impact on investment, innovation and competitiveness,

particularly in relation to health claims, novel foods and ingredients. To this end, FRID has introduced a revamped website at http://

www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1171305709916%26lang=eng, and a Canadian Food Health Claim Roadmap at http://

cc.on24.com/event/28/70/38/rt/1/images/player_docanchr_1/aafc_canadian_food_health_claim_roadmap_march_8.pdf to help with health

and nutrient-related decisions. There are also webcasts at http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFCAAC/display-afficher.do?id=1281029138003%

26lang=eng with up-to-date information on food policy and regulations, the latest news on the proposed redefinition for dietary fibre and

novel food regulations at http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1300301017128%26lang=eng, plus a Summary Report at

http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/agr/A72-97-2010-eng.pdf that includes marketplace and consumer trends and scientific

evidence on food-health connections.

Volume 5 Issue 2 Regulatory Affairs Update 9

Policy & Regulatory News:

Canada’s Organic Rules in Full Force OTTAWA, Canada (June 30, 2011) -- Canada‘s Organic Products Regulations will be fully enforced after June 30, two years after the

regulations became law in 2009. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has followed a two-year Stream of Commerce and En-forcement Policy, allowing operators time to become fully compliant with the regulations. During this ―phase-in‖ period, the CFIA man-

aged minor non-compliances through notification and education, requiring correction within reasonable timelines.

―Full compliance with all provisions of the Organic Products Regulations is now mandatory. The Stream of Commerce policy was a great

help for organic operators working to bring their documentation and labeling into compliance,‖ said Matthew Holmes, Executive Direc-

tor of the Canada Organic Trade Association. ―Now products labeled as ‗organic‘ in Canada and subject to the regulations must be certi-

fied by a CFIA-accredited certification body, and all organic product labels must carry the name of the certifier.‖

The CFIA consulted with the organic sector to build upon the pre-existing industry self-regulated standards. The 2009 regulations made

Canada's organic standards mandatory for both domestic and imported products, and launched the now familiar ―Biologique Canada

Organic‖ logo, which allows consumers to identify products that meet Canada's organic requirements. The CFIA oversees and enforces

the organic certification system, as well as organic claims in the marketplace. Now in full effect, the Organic Products Regulations have

leveled the playing field and given both domestic and foreign consumers confidence in the organic label.

For more information on Canada‘s Organic Product Regulations, please visit the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/orgbioe.shtml

Reorganization of CFIA

A major internal reorganization is underway at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that will impact the Canada Organic Office

(COO). COO will now move from the AgriFood Division, responsible for all food and food safety programs, to the Consumer Protec-

tion Branch of CFIA. The Consumer Protection Branch has broad power in the realm of product review and enforcement. This move

aligns well with the end of the ―stream of commerce‖ on June 30, and COO‘s move to stricter enforcement of the Organic Products

Regulations.

Canadian Organic Sector Celebrates Trade Deal with Europe

Canada and the European Union have reached an historic agreement to recognize each other's organic

standards and laws, after nearly four years of formal negotiation. This is the world's second such agree-

ment. In June 2009, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the United States Department of Agricul-

ture signed the very first "organic equivalency arrangement," which opened the significant U.S. organic

market to Canadian exports.

The global organic trade is now estimated at over $55 billion per year, with 96% of this represented by the U.S. and EU markets. Canada

is now the only country in the world able to deal directly with these two key markets through its domestic standards.

"This is an absolute game-changer for Canadian farmers and food manufacturers," said Matthew Holmes, Executive Director of

the Canada Organic Trade Association, and an organic sector advisor to the Government of Canada on international trade and market

access. "With full access to European markets, suppliers, and ingredients, Canada's organic sector now has a strategic edge. This agree-

ment will increase trade and boost Canada's organic sector, from the farm to the consumer."

COTA calculates the Canadian organic market has grown from $2 billion in 2008 to over $2.6 billion in 2010. Canadian companies annu-

ally export over $390 million worth of organic commodities, ingredients and products to the U.S., EU and other parts of the world. Since

2008, COTA has coordinated a Long-Term International Strategy for the organic sector, with roughly $500,000 in cumulative match-

ing funds contributed through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada‘s AgriMarketing Program to support Canadian companies branding

and marketing their organic products around the world.

"This recognition of Canada's organic standards by both the EU and U.S. shows that Canada's organic standards are among the best in

the world," said Holmes. "This agreement also means consumers at home will know that strong organic standards have been followed in

order to enter our country, while eliminating the burdensome costs of multiple organic certifications now carried by farmers, processors

and traders."

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2011/05/c9166.html

- From The Canada Organic Trade Association

EU Organic Logo

Organic Focus Summer 2011 Market & Consumer Trends 10

Consumer trends are showing continued positive signs. The forthcoming

2011 Ontario Organics Consumer Usage and Attitudes Study (funded by

the Ontario Government) found 55% of shoppers indicate buying organic

food frequently or occasionally in 2011, up 6 points from 2009 (49%). As

with many other studies, this study reports the most significant barriers to

purchasing organic food continues to be perception that organic is more

expensive / too expensive.

In a recent Thompson‘s Reuters survey (2011) about consumer choice

concerning food, 58% of the respondents said that given a choice, they

prefer to eat organic food.

Certification Is Still Very Important

Certification is a factor that may improve the value for money proposi-

tion for organic, as it remains an important requirement for consumers to

purchase organic. Currently, there is low awareness of the Canadian Or-

ganic Certification symbol – 24% report having seen it before, but it ap-

pears to be highly valued by shoppers. Fully 88% feel it is important to have

a Federal organic certification symbol – including 45% who feel it is ―very‖

important.

USDA Labeled Foods Get Higher Premiums

New research published in the Journal of Food Quality and Preference,

shows that on average consumers are willing to pay $1.20 /lb extra for

product with a general organic label and up to $3.50/lb extra for product

labeled USDA Organic. The study looked at consumers‘ willingness to pay

for general/USDA Organic labels on chicken breasts and found that occa-

sional buyers of organic were willing to pay a 35.7% and 97.3% premium

while habitual buyers were willing to spend a premium of 146.6% for gen-

eral and 244.3% for USDA certified organic labeled chicken breast. The

study concludes that ―for all buyer types, USDA organic certification was

valued more than the general organic label implying that consumers trust

the USDA organic products more than a general organic label.‖

A separate study done by researchers at Ohio State University suggests

that consumers are willing to pay premium prices for organic foods, even

those with less than 100% organic ingredients. Researchers found a high

consumer willingness to pay for multi-ingredient, processed organic food

products. The research also showed significant differences in willingness

depending on consumer groups, suggesting that targeted marketing may be

effective for organic merchandisers.

Organic Consumers Choose Based on Values

―New‖ organic food consumers had different purchasing habits and val-

ues than ―dedicated‖ organic food consumers. The decision to buy organic

food was driven by apprehension about conventionally produced foods and

a desire to find alternative, high-quality food products that provided peace

of mind (ie, fewer pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics).

5 Underlying Values and Beliefs of Canadian Organic Food Consumers:

1. Eating safe and healthy food

2. Ethical and altruistic considerations

3. Trust in the food supply

4. Being empowered

5. Importance of community and culture. The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

The Difference Organic Makes: Health

7 in 10 shoppers indicate seeing organic food at their grocery store, at

least occasionally according to the Consumer Usage and Attitudes Study.

The public is aware of the organic food category and believe the major

differences between organic and non-organic food are the non-use of pesti-

cides, hormones and antibiotics in organic food production.

Belief that organically produced food is healthier than non-organic has

increased 10% over the past two years (up from 61% in 2009 to 71% in

2011) and it is possible that this has contributed to an increase in organic

food purchasing.

Sales and Growth Increasing

Organic sectors in Ontario, US, Canada and globally continue to be

fertile ground for farmers and businesses. According to Organic Monitor

estimates, global organic sales reached $54.9 billion in 2009, up from, $50.9

billion in 2008. At the same time organic acreage increased by 2 million

acres. The countries with the largest markets are the United States, Ger-

many, and France. The highest per capita consumption is in Denmark, Swit-

zerland, and Austria which represents a great opportunity given the recent

EU-Canada equivalency agreement .

There are positive signs in the US organic sector with economic growth

and job creation in 2010. In the current marketplace where ―flat is the new

growth,‖ the organic sector continues to outpace other areas of the econ-

omy. According to OTA‘s 2011 Organic Industry Survey the pace of

growth for the organic industry increased nearly eight percent overall in

2010 to reach over $28.6 billion, with some segments enjoying annual growth of well over 30 percent.

Job Gains Accompany Organic Sector Growth

This economic growth may explain how the organic sector has been

able to buck the trend of widespread economic sluggishness, as the organic

industry created jobs in 2010. 40% of responding companies reported add-

ing full time positions in 2010, while only 12% of companies reported a

decrease in full-time employment. 29% of companies reported adding part-

time positions, while only 8% reported eliminating part time employees.

46% of responding companies anticipate adding employees in 2011, while

only 5% of respondents expect to decrease employment.

Increasing Organic Acreage in Ontario

Ontario is following the world trend and has seen increases in organic

production. A forthcoming OCO funded survey, ‗Certified Organic Produc-

tion in Ontario for 2010‘ shows a 6.7% increase in organic acreage in On-

tario over 2009 numbers.

Where Consumers Like to Buy

When it comes to buying produce, 43 percent of people would like to

get their fruits and veggies at a farmers market. Supermarkets come in sec-

ond at 32 percent. And home gardens are third at 20 percent.

Impediments to Growth in Organics

Barriers to growth continue to prevent the organic sector from reaching

its full potential. Some barriers expressed by organic growers and sellers

are highlighted in the Organic Federation of Canada‘s survey, ―Organic

Products Regulations – How Do They Impact Your Activities‖. One of the

major issues expressed was the lack of government support to educate the

public of the organic industry. Increasing government support is an impor-

tant step to ensure the organic industry is viable and well understood by

the public.

To that end, the Organic Council of Ontario has been working with the

Ontario Government and Foodland Ontario to produce a Foodland On-

tario Organic logo. This symbol will help clarify for consumers that the

produce being sold has the qualities of being organic and local – a great

combination!

This article was written by Jacob Pries (Organic Council of Ontario)

and Andrew Alford (University of Guelph). If you would like more information please contact the OCO office at 519-827-1221.

Getting More Organic & Local Food on Our Forks!

Volume 5 Issue 2 Get Engaged with Ontario Organics! & Classifieds 11

Organic Awards 2011

Organic Council of Ontario is hosting the

2nd Annual Ontario Organic Awards

at the Guelph Organic Conference January 2012

Nomination forms will be available shortly

If you would like to be part of the

nominations committee or the plan-

ning committee, please contact our

office.

.

OCO MEMBERS

ADVERTISE FREE! Send us your event, classifieds,

help wanted or other promotional

information and we will be sure to

add it to the newsletter and to our

website.

Send to: Jacob@organiccouncil.ca

~ Classifieds ~

October 15-22, 2011

Canada‘s second annual celebration of Organic Week will promote the organic market across the country. This year‘s program will

include an integrated social media campaign to highlight events at retail, farmers‘ market, restaurants and the community level. COTA

is currently accepting applications for official sponsors, which includes a full recognition program, including the Organic Week

website, marketing opportunities, input into the national campaign, recognition on the Organic Week official poster and invitations to

COTA‘s popular Parliament Day Conference and government reception. You can visit our webpage to find out more on how to get

involved in this year‘s Organic Week.

Published in conjunction with Organic Week 2011, COTA will again partner with The Globe and Mail national newspaper to offer a

special feature section aimed at consumers and trumpeting the benefits of choosing organic. The Globe and Mail reaches over 1.3

million readers and opinion leaders. Take advantage of this opportunity to get your marketing message seen during Organic Week:

more information is available here.

Get involved: you can follow Organic Week on Twitter and ‗like‘ Organic Week on Facebook!

Hart House Fundraiser

In 2010 we held an incredible fundraising

event for the Organic Council.

We are doing it again this fall!

Organic Dinner and Jazz Night At Hart House, University of Toronto

November 25th 2011.

Make this your family, friend

or business holiday party.

Group Rates available.

In OCO’s Office We want YOU to be involved!

OCO Working Groups are:

Marketing Ontario Organics,

Regulatory Affairs,

Policy Development/Ethics,

Food Safety Issues.

OCO is offering internships:

We are looking for individuals

interested in aiding in our research,

outreach, and communications

activities. Must be able to provide

own transportation.

Southbrook Vineyards is

offering for sale Pro-cert and

Demeter certified hay - 3000

bales at 20 kg (44.5 lbs.) each and

100 round bales at 160 kg (350

lbs.) each. Please contact Ann

Sperling at (905) 380-

9095 (ann@southbrook.com)

for availability and pricing.

La Siembra

Immediate needs include apple,

pear and grape juice or puree.

Future needs could include dried

fruits, nuts, wild rice, grains,

etc. The sky is the limit!

Please contact Jennifer Williams

directly if you can advise:

Jennifer@lasiembra.com

For details visit organiccouncil.ca or email our office.

The Organic Council of Ontario gratefully acknowledges financial support provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The Organic Council of

On t ar io and i t s

members represent

Ontar io ‘ s organ ic

farmers, producers,

processors, marketers,

d i s t r i b u t o r s ,

retailers, restaurants,

certifiers and others,

providing leadership and

suppor t for the

continued growth of the

organic sector.

OCO is a strong voice

for the sector with

media, government,

national bodies, and

represents Ontario on

the Organic Federation

of Canada.

5420 Highway 6 North

Guelph, ON N1H 6J2

Phone: 519.827.1221

E-mail: info@organiccouncil.ca

web: www.organiccouncil.ca

Board of Directors 2011

Staff 2011

Jodi Koberinski

Executive Director

Jacob Pries

Communications

Melissa Miller

Membership

Treena Adhikari

Events

Tara Scott

Accounting

Matt LeBeau

Chair

LeBeau Advance

Marketing Representative

Ted Soudant

Vice Chair

Field Gate Organics

Processing Representative

Ted Zettel

Director, Regulatory Affairs

Organic Meadow Cooperative

Member at Large

David Konrad

Director

Quality Assurance International

Certifier Representative

Michelle Jory

Director

Ecological Farmers of Ontario

Association Representative

Bernd Licht

Treasurer

Puresource Inc.

Distributor Representative

Maureen Kirkpatrick

Secretary

Big Carrot

Direct to Consumer (Retail &

Restaurants) Representative

Gavin Dandy

Director

Everdale Organic Farm &

Environmental Learning Centre

Producer Representative

Hugh Martin

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,

Food & Rural Affairs

Ex-officio

Gilbert Arnold

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Ex-Officio

Announcing the Canadian Organic Science Conference!

oacc.info/cosc