Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Tag Archives: Organic

GMO Testing Pilot Project to ensure compliance with National Organic Program

By Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Jenny Lester Moffitt, Deputy Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture It has been said that “California is the capital of organic.” The strength of that statement is a … Continue reading

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From CCOF: Farm Aid, CCOF and Community Alliance with Family Farmers Offer Drought Assistance

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has announced the availability of special hardship funds for certified organic producers who are having a hard time making ends meet this spring due to damage caused by drought. Thanks to a special grant from … Continue reading

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Department of Justice: Former President of Organic Fertilizer Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Synthetic Fertilizer to Organic Farms

http://www.justice.gov/usao/can/news/2012/2012_11_08_townsley.sentenced.press.html (Released 10-8-12) SAN FRANCISCO – Peter Townsley was sentenced yesterday to serve 364 days in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $125,000 for a scheme to defraud his customers in the organic farming industry, United States Attorney … Continue reading

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California leads the way as organic agriculture spreads its wings from coast-to-coast

  The USDA has released its first-ever survey of organic farmers to determine that organic sales across the country in 2011 totaled more than $3.5 billion, with nearly 40 percent of that –almost $1.4 billion–coming from California.  The development is discussed further … Continue reading

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Sacramento Bee – Two organic certifying agencies plan merger to become nation’s largest

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/29/4521806/two-organic-certifying-agencies.html California Certified Organic Farmers and Oregon Tilth, two of the nation’s largest third-party organic certification agencies, are joining forces in hopes of raising the visibility and consolidating the clout of West Coast organic farming. A merger was approved by … Continue reading

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