Organic markets, certification workshop set

By Ag Weekly

Nov 10, 2008

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - A workshop for farmers on organic markets and certification — featuring sessions on organic potato, hay, grains and specialty crop markets — will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 in Idaho Falls.

The workshop is aimed at Idaho farmers wanting to transition some of their ground to organic or diversify their organic crop rotation.

The workshop is hosted by Potato Growers of Idaho, the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and Potandon Produce, Inc.

Organic acres are expanding in Idaho. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture reported preliminary 2008 figures at more than 150,000 acres, 43,000 more acres than in 2007.

“Organic food and beverage sales continue to be a growing sector,” said Jennifer Miller, agricultural program coordinator for NCAP. “While the growth rate of organic has slowed from an average 20 percent growth rate annually, farmers can still take advantage of new markets. It is an important time for farmers to speak directly with organic buyers.”

In the last two years, NCAP and PGI have been holding field days and workshops on organic potato production and markets to help growers successfully transition to organic. Idaho is building its reputation as a source of organic potatoes. According to ISDA, organic potato acres have tripled in the past few years to 1,100 acres in 2008.

The workshop will feature long-time organic potato farmers Fred Brossy of Shoshone and Mike Heath of Buhl, speaking about their organic rotation of hay, potatoes, wheat, beans, and other crops.

Jeff Bragg, product development manager with Potandon Produce, Inc., will talk about his experience working with Idaho farmers to meet the growing demand for organic potatoes. Jennifer Weekes, quality and research manager for Idaho Pacific Holdings, will discuss the opportunities and challenges in processing organic potatoes and Tony Sorenson from USDA Ag Marketing Service will direct growers to market information.

“An organic rotation is built upon a diversity of crops,” Miller said. “This means growers need to develop new relationships to market these crops.”

The workshop also features buyers of organic hay, grain, and specialty crops, including Lowell Rheinheimer, farm resources manager with Organic Valley’s CROPP Cooperative. Rheinheimer will discuss the cooperative’s three-year guaranteed price contracts for organic grains, beans, oilseeds, and hay. Interested growers can enroll any portion of their acres to gain market assurance for their rotation crops. Jim Barngrover, organic broker from Missoula, Montana, and David Oien, organic farmer and CEO of Timeless Food from Conrad, Montana, will share opportunities for selling organic grains, edible seeds, pulse crops, and oil seeds.

Registration costs $5 and includes lunch. Interested persons should RSVP by Nov. 14 with Jen Miller at (208) 850-6504, jmiller@pesticide.org.

The workshop will be held at the Willard Arts Colonial Theater, 498 A Street, Idaho Falls.

From I-80, take exit #118 and travel east on Broadway. Turn north on Shoup Ave. Turn west on A Street and travel two blocks.

Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Center for Risk Management Education, the USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, American Farmland Trust/EPA, and Idaho GEMStars. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/CSREES.

agweekly.com