Tom Manley his wife Isabelle, and son Yannick.

Gen-O: A different language, but the organic industry still thriving

How will the pioneers of the organic sector pass on their legacy, when the new generation of organic farmers – Gen-O – speaks a completely different language? After all, when the first Guelph Organic Conference started, inspired by a handful of eco-focused students at the University of Guelph in 1982, there was no such thing as organic certification in Canada. There were few organic seed companies or processors, and little research or financing available to support farmers who avoided the growing methods of the Green Revolution. There was no such thing as genetically modified seed, fish and livestock, and the idea of a Permitted Substances List was not even on the radar.

We’ve come a long way since kitchen table meetings were the preferred social media.

“There was a time when the organic sector was largely populated by economic and technological refugees – the pioneer back-to-the-landers,” says Tom Manley, owner of Homestead Organics, the largest organic feed mill in eastern Canada. He points out that there is still a wide range of technological perspectives.

“Some farmers would be flabbergasted to learn that we spent $90,000 last year on computers and software.” Others feel even Homestead’s newly automated telephone system is too impersonal.

“We’re still a small business, but these are the tools that we need to achieve a reasonable level of productivity.”

Before email, internet, podcasts and instant messaging guided everyday conversation though, organic farmers were already sharing their work, their experience and their dreams to lay the foundation for a thriving organic sector. Despite the sea change, there is still fertile ground on which to meet.

“The common thread is the sincere desire to care for the planet, for the people and for the animals,” insists Manley, “from the way we till the soils to the inputs we provide the crops to the distance we cover in transportation.”

At the 30th annual Guelph Organic Conference in January, he will take the stage with his father Murray and son Yannick to illuminate the similarities that connects three generations at Homestead Organics. They will also examine possibilities for the future of organics through the next generation.

2010 Guelph Organic Conference A Big Success

Guelph, February 17, 2010

January’s just-completed Guelph Conference drew another strong crowd approaching 1800 people. With 155 Expo booths, a wide array of farmers, traders & students foraged the show for organic samples. Meetings, food events, trainings & AGM’s spanned 5 days.

The activity whirlwind included close to 200 guests at the Organic Dinner; a large Keynote guest audience; an estimated 425 Expo booth participants; incredible volunteer efforts; a key Sunday a.m. Organic Trader meeting; several spontaneous organic farmer training & advocacy meetings.

Highlights for attendees included the Food Inc. showing in downtown Guelph hosted by organic yogurt giant, Stonyfield Farm’s Gary Hirshberg. Margaret Webb’s ‘Think Big Canada’ Keynote presentation packed the house.

Vermont success story, Pete Johnson and partner/co-presenter Meg Gardner of Pete’s Greens’ talk on organic market gardens was a sold out workshop of 100+ registrants. The University Centre was vibrant and lively on Saturday and Sunday with a vast array of organic trading companies & non-profits exhibiting at the Expo. The show drew a lot of inquisitive consumers this year, proving that the organic business is really drawing the attention of the mainstream. The trade show is ideal for consumers to meet organic suppliers in person.

One particularly exciting highlight of the day was the presentation of a $5000 cheque to Ann Clark and the University of Guelph’s Organic Agriculture Program by Organic Advocates/Feast of Fields, a non-profit organization of organic producers, environmentally concerned chefs, food professionals, and enlightened consumers.

By far, the most popular workshops in 2010 were the ‘Organic Market Managers’ & ‘New Farmer Panel’. Many attendees and organizers felt that the time allowed was only enough to graze the surface of the depth of the issues.

Referring to the Organic Farmers Market Networking room, a popular multi-booth display and demonstration room, Carrie Ann Watson stated “As a long-time organic market supporter and organizer, this Networking Room was a fabulous idea. I think its popularity was a remarkable example of the booming desire to strengthen the connection between our food, our environment and the people who grow it.”

Everyone involved – the many volunteers, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and an extremely dedicated staff, deserve high praise for contributing to a very successful event. Conference Manager, Tomas Nimmo in his humble fashion commented, “Every year this show attracts such an exciting crowd that you know you’re at Organic Central. Guelph 2010 met all my goals.”

A sincere thanks to all the non-profit organizers of the 29th Guelph Conference:

• Canadian Health Food Association
• Canadian Organic Growers
• CSI – Centre For Systems Integration
• Ecocert Canada
• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
• International Organic Inspectors Association
• National Farmers Union
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs
• OCIA-International
• Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
• Organic Council of Ontario
• Organic Trade Association In Canada
• ProCert Organic Systems
• Quality Assurance International
• Resource Efficient Agricultural Production
• Society For Biodynamic Farming & Gardening In Ontario
• University of Guelph Organic Agriculture Program

For a copy of the Conference Proceedings including a summary of the 35-workshops and a “guide to organic marketers” trader list, please mail a cheque payable to ‘Organic Conference’. Organic Conference, Box 116, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 3Z4. $10 postpaid to Canada or $15 to the U.S.

Watch for news of the 30th Annual Conference, late January, 2011 at the Guelph University Centre.

Receiving a welcome $5000 donation.

Photo Caption: Receiving a welcome $5000 donation. Posing for the photo: students of the Organic Agricultural Program; holding the cheque from left to right Feast of Fields chair Daniel Gilbert, Professor Ann Clark, Conference Manager Tomas Nimmo.

Photo credit: © 2010 Heather Osborn, Crave Images.

Organic values & ethics vs. goals of a competitive market-place

Guelph, January 11, 2010

Are there actually any ‘inherent organic values’ or is it just an early-stage business structure, ripe for the picking? When companies go public, are they vulnerable in terms of keeping their prime values vs. just satisfying the shareholders’ need for a profitable quarter? Has ‘organic’ gone off the rails as it got bigger and more corporate?

At 7pm on January 29th, a riveting panel of discerning experts will take the stage and argue these issues at the Guelph Organic Conference Public Forum – Organic values & ethics vs. goals of a competitive market-place. For years, the Forum has helped develop actions that people in every part of the organic sector can use, to build pragmatic goals into the future.

The Public Forum is a free-wheeling, lively discussion, taking place on the Friday evening of the 2010 Conference at the University of Guelph. The theme this year is ‘Our Canadian Organic Identity’ aims to raise awareness of the newly adapted Canadian Organic Standard.

Hear from the activists, then question these important issues at our open mic. Questions the panel will be addressing include “Does the organic business have unique ethical issues as its foundation?”, ”The profit motive keeps most business afloat. Is ‘organic’ immune?”, and “Twenty-five years ago ‘organic’ was called a fad. What is it called today?”.

The forum always proves to be a hot and exciting exposé of ideas and opinions and this year will be no exception. The colourful posse of panelists include outspoken award winning Author Margaret Webb. Recently honoured with a silver at the 2009 Cuisine Canada Culinary Book Awards, for Apples To Oysters – A food lover’s tour of Canadian farms. Webb also wrote the Toronto Star series “Crisis on the Farm. Also on the hot seat will be someone who’s no stranger to the organic processing industry, BC’s Dag Falck, program manager with Richmond-based Nature’s Path Foods. From New Hampshire, the panel will be joined by another well known figure representing the corporate sector, international speaker Gary Hirshberg, CEO for organic dairy giant, Stonyfield Farm. Rounding out the panel is local Farmer Maureen Giffen. Giffen owns and operates Edencrest, a certified organic Farm and CSA near Minesing, Ontario. Giffen is also scheduled to deliver a workshop at the conference on the Saturday, entitled ‘The next best thing in CSA marketing – profitability’.

When asked “As a certified grower, what ethics and goals do you have, and what does this public forum mean to you?” Giffen responded “As a certified grower, we have an ethical and moral obligation to our farm customers to provide them with the same great quality of food that we expect for ourselves. It’s the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Same goes for food. Anytime there is an opportunity to have a two way conversation, an exchange of ideas or a debate on a subject – all parties benefit from the experience. From that experience, there will be lessons learned and common ground formed from understanding each other.”.

Keeping the forum electrified and moving along will be the job of the moderator for the evening, U of Toronto Professor Stephen Sharper, who is well known for his writing on ethical issues.

The Public Forum takes place on Friday, January 29. Doors open at 6:45 pm. Forum starts at 7 pm sharp. Mic opens to the audience at 8:15 pm and runs until 9:30 pm (or later), at Thornbrough Auditorium, next to University Centre, University of Guelph. It proves to be one of, if not “the” best public forum ever in the conference’s 29 years. The Guelph Organic Public Forum… don’t miss it!

Visit www.guelphorganicconf.ca.

With 30+ informative introductory and advanced workshops, 150+ trade show exhibitors and tasting fair on Saturday & Sunday, locally-sourced organic food, an inspirational keynote speaker and an interactive public forum, the GOC is considered one of the foremost educational and networking events in the organic community.

From its humble beginnings with a handful of attendees as an afternoon seminar in 1982, the most recent 2009 event attracted an estimated 1750+ farmers, distributors, retailers, advocates and students.

Organic Food Conferences Canada – 2010 Guelph Organic Conference

Our Canadian Organic Identity

29th Annual Conference, Expo & Tasting Fair January 28-31, 2010

For media passes and accreditation, contact Mike Driscoll at : 519-763-8825 or guelphmedia@gmail.com or leave a message on the Conference General Response Line at 519-824-4120, extension 56205.

For trade & sponsorship inquiries : 705-444-0923 or organix (at) georgian.net

Agriculture’s brightest minds share best farming practices to protect the environment
Guelph, Ontario December 22, 2009

We all have a shared goal of protecting the common environment. This includes the biodiversity of landscapes, climate, habitats, air and water.  To this goal, in late January, hundreds of eco-minded individuals will flock to Guelph to tap the knowledge of agriculture’s best minds.

The 29th Annual Guelph Organic Conference has lined up dozens of speakers over four consecutive days. Topics of discussion cross the spectrum of our food system – farming as a career, the new Canadian Organic Standards, urban agriculture, genetic engineering and food policy. Introductory and advanced levels of eco-agriculture – soils, crops, weed and insect control, livestock management and direct marketing round out the programming.

Anne Freeman, Manager of the Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market and representative for the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network, will facilitate ‘The Farmers’ Market Forum: Challenges, Opportunities & Connections For Producers & Communities’. When asked why she believes this to be a timely and important offering at the 2010 conference, Freeman replied “Farmers’ markets play a key role in connecting urban and rural communities and contributing momentum to support of sustainable food choices. Through the forum we aim to discuss key features needed to make the markets engage a broader public and really work for producers.”

The speakers include successful farmers and educators who are on the cutting edge of progress in harmony with nature. Together, they represent hundreds of years of experiencing the very challenges you might be facing. Whether you farm 80 acres or grow a small garden in your backyard, you’ll find the Organic Conference to be a great value for your money and well worth your time.

Visit www.guelphorganicconf.ca.
With 30+ informative introductory and advanced workshops, 150+ trade show exhibitors and tasting fair on Saturday & Sunday, locally-sourced organic food, an inspirational keynote speaker and an interactive public forum, the GOC is considered one of the foremost educational and networking events in the organic community.

From its humble beginnings with a handful of attendees as an afternoon seminar in 1982, the most recent 2009 event attracted an estimated 1750+ farmers, distributors, retailers, advocates and students.
Organic Food Conferences Canada – 2010 Guelph Organic Conference
Our Canadian Organic Identity
29th Annual Conference, Expo & Tasting Fair January 28-31, 2010
www.guelphorganicconf.ca

For media passes and accreditation, contact Mike Driscoll at : 519-763-8825 or guelphmedia (at) gmail.com or leave a message on the Conference General Response Line at 519-824-4120, extension 56205.
For trade & sponsorship inquiries : 705-444-0923 or organix (at) georgian.net