Florida Organic Growers (FOG)
Public Group
Description
Florida Organic Growers (FOG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1989. FOG operates two programs: Education & Outreach and Quality Certification Services. FOG’s Education & Outreach Program promotes organic and sustainable agriculture and healthy and just food systems, working diligently to educate producers, consumers, media, institutions and governments about the benefits of organic and sustainable agriculture. Quality Certification Services (QCS), a USDA ISO Guide 65 accredited program, offers USDA National Organic Program, Canadian, Japanese and European Union accredited certification options. QCS also offers Social Justice, Aquaculture and Vegan certification options. QCS certifies farming, wildcrafting, livestock, processing, packing and handling entities large and small in more than 30 states and 13 countries.
Website: http://www.foginfo.org
News
Florida Organic Growers is hosting several events in Sept. and Oct. For information about the below events call 352.377.6345, email fog@foginfo.org or visit http://www.foginfo.org.
FOG wants to hear what Gainesville residents feel should be done to increase access to fresh, local food during upcoming discussions Monday, Sept. 21 at the Downtown Library Headquarters and Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 4225 NW 34th St. The discussions will begin at 6 p.m. and refreshments will be available. FOG is hoping a diverse group of stakeholders, including Gainesville residents, businesses, churches, nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and university, county and city government, will enliven the conversation about the future of Gainesville’s food system, and how that future can support a thriving, self-sufficient local economy. A Local Food Action Plan will be written in spring 2009 following deliberation by several working groups who will be looking at results of a Community Food Assessment Survey currently underway and recommendations made in these public meetings, all of which are made possible by a USDA Community Food Planning Grant. The groups will also focus on recommendations in the Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan and recommendations by the Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies Commission on maximizing local food production and processing.
FOG’s GIFT Gardens (Gainesville Initiative for Tasty Gardens) project has provided nearly 300 free raised bed vegetable gardens to low income Alachua County residents and the institutions that serve them since summer 2008. GIFT Gardens would not be possible without the many volunteers who have given their time to help the community. Those who volunteer with FOG before Sept. 20 or have received a GIFT Garden are invited to a Volunteer Appreciation Event and Gardening Workshop Sunday, Sept. 20 at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Attendees will network with each other and learn fall planting tips during the workshop hosted by IFAS Master Gardeners.
FOG will hold an Organic Transition workshop Sept. 25 at Alachua County Extension to discuss benefits of organic farming, Farm Bill programs that support transition to organic production, National Organic Program regulations and organic marketing. Registration for the workshop is $15 and includes refreshments, lunch and a resource binder. An Oct. 21 farm tour of John Beville’s 100-acre organic farm in Brooker will give participants first-hand knowledge of diverse organic vegetable production, crop rotation, soil fertility and pest and disease control. Registration for the farm tour is free. Traditional farmers who are interested in adopting environmentally friendly organic production practices and those who want to access a growing organic market can apply to participate in the Organic Transition project and work for free with an experienced organic production crop advisor. Despite the weakening economy, U.S. sales of organic products grew 17.1 percent to $24.6 billion by the end of 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2009 Organic Industry Survey, and have shown double-digit growth for more than a decade.
