January 7, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dave Chapman, 802-299-7737 Dr. Linley Dixon, 970-317-0309 Thetford, VT Real Organic Project open for public comment Erosion of USDA organic standards demands new certification process for farmers The Real Organic Project (ROP) is calling for public input on its crop and livestock standards. The standards were created to...
Why is New Jersey called the Garden State? According to a few sources, including the NJ state government itself, most people attribute the origin of the nickname to Abraham Browning of Camden, who used the phrase in a speech at the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition in 1876. Other people suspect that Ben Franklin may have come...
Under the USDA, organic handlers and producers may be eligible for reimbursement for a portion of their organic certification costs. Applications are due to the NJDA by Nov. 16, 2018. For more information and application forms click here: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/organiccostshare.html
Carrageenan is a food emulsifier derived from seaweed that acts as a thickening agent. The organic industry is divided over its inclusion under the organic label. Carrageenan has been observed to cause intestinal stress of lab animals, while its natural emulsifying properties allow for a longer shelf life. Recently, the USDA decided to disregard the...
Consumers may notice a new label on the supermarket shelves this summer. Approximately 15 farmers met in Vermont last month to create the standards for an additional product label under the organic certification program. They plan to roll out the new label with a test pilot program of 20-60 farms. The move comes five months...
For any successful farming business, accurate records must be kept. There’s an app for that! VeggieTables can help organize your organic certification recordkeeping, making it easier to pass yearly inspection. It works offline and follows the crop from ordering seed to making a sale. Developed by Jess Isbrecht of Green Duchess Farm in Hillsborough, the...
Deadline for applying for USDA’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) administered by FSA is September 30, 2017! OCCSP provides organic producers and handlers with financial assistance to reduce the cost of certification. Certified operations may receive reimbursement for a portion of their total costs. Qualified certified producers and handlers may receive up to 75% off of yearly certification costs. Anyone...
Trends show growth in the number of Certified Organic Operations!
