Big news! New website and branding refresh coming this fall
The voice of British Columbia’s organic sector will soon have a stronger digital presence and a refreshed look! We received funding from the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to be put towards the enhancement of online tools as well as the modernization and review of the BC Certified Organic Program (BCCOP) checkmark logo.
We can't wait to increase our capacity to better support members, operators and consumers, and align an organic BC. Stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, read the full release and see what both the provincial and federal Agriculture Ministers had to say about this exciting project!
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Organic Week 2020
Organic Week is just around the corner! From Sept 7 - 13, join us in the largest celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country.
Check out organicweek.ca for contests, webinars and other interactive events, and keep an eye on our social media as we share our own organic celebrations!
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Changes to internal mailing lists and COABC listserve
In addition to our website build and brand refresh, we've changed our email server, which has impacted our mailing lists.
Internal lists: Since the server switch, some emails have been ending up in users' spam folders. We've sent emails to all of the lists —please check all of your folders and either re-add the emails to your "safe" list, or let us know if you didn't receive any emails at all.
COABC listserve: The COABC listserve has a new address: coabc_list@lists.certifiedorganic.bc.ca. All listserve members have been moved over to the new list, so there is no need to re-subscribe. As usual, simply email this address to reach all listserve members.
If you haven't been receiving emails from the listserve, please check your spam folder! If you're still having difficulties sending or receiving messages, please get in touch with us.
Wondering what the COABC listserve is all about? It's forum for organic farmers and like-minded folk to post questions, answers and exchange ideas and share information in regards to organic production, marketing issues, current issues, events and more. It is primarily oriented towards practical issues related to organic agriculture in BC; however, we welcome participation from organic farmers and like-minded folks throughout the world. |
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The countdown is on!
The 2020 Canadian Organic Standards will be published this fall, after the growing season!
What does that mean for organic operators? You’ll have a full year, as of the publication date, to adjust your practices to reflect the new requirements. The Organic Federation of Canada is preparing some webinars to help ease the transition, and is also sending out weekly teasers explaining the revised text in the Standards.
Learn more and sign up for the OFC newsletter at: organicfederation.ca.
And if you'd like to learn more about the Standards review process, check out these great articles from the BC Organic Grower:
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How can we create a more resilient Canada? A group of Canadian farmers has a list of ideas ready to go! BC organic farmer Arzeena Hamir of Farmers For Climate Solutions spoke to CBC Radio. Have a listen!
Give your progressive food business a leg up with Feeding Growth’s Scale Your Progressive Food Business workshops! This five-part series provides practical tips to environmentally progressive, organic, ethical, and socially responsible packaged goods companies at critical stages of expansion. Get all the details at: bit.ly/2ZpKnVP
Are you a farmer? Know someone who is? FarmFolk CityFolk is working on an initiative to engage and connect farmers around climate solutions in agriculture. Fill out this short form to join the conversation!
Want to know more about new genetic engineering techniques being explored in agriculture and the risks and potential consequences that can arise from them? The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) has created a report on genome editing in food and farming. Check it out here.
A new study shows that switching to an organic diet rapidly and dramatically reduces exposure to pesticides. And the benefits are not only for human health – research shows that "a shift away from pesticide-intensive agriculture leads to significant improvements for biodiversity and other environmental benchmarks while also yielding enough to ensure a well-fed planet." Read more.
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The Right to Eat: Tackling Racism and Inequality in the Food System
When: Sept. 3, 2020
Where: Online
Join a panel of presenters for a discussion on the racial inequalities that exist in our food system, and the systemic changes required to ensure just, sovereign, and reliable food access for all. More details.
Young Agrarians Land Social
When: Sept. 10, 2020
Where: Yarrow Ecovillage
Join Young Agrarians for a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Yarrow Ecovillage in Chilliwack, BC. Tour the farm, enjoy a catered snack, and take a dive into the steps to building a successful farm on leased land. More details.
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Dismantling and Rebuilding the Food System After COVID-19
When: Sept. 18, 2020
Where: Online
The last in the Future of Food webinar series. Join a panel of presenters in discussing redistributive policy tools towards the “5D of Redistribution”: Decolonization, Decarbonization, Diversification, Democratization, and Decommodification. More details.
Scale Your Progressive Food Business
When: Sept. 24 - Nov. 19, 2020
Where: Online
This five-part workshop series provides practical tips to environmentally progressive, organic, ethical, and socially responsible packaged goods companies at critical stages of expansion. More details.
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COR operators are fortunate to be able to use the Canada Organic label AND the BC Checkmark side by side.
The logo of the BC Certified Organic program is a key tool to identify certified organic products in BC. It is important that the symbol is used correctly; here is a quick reminder, especially for websites and the exclusion zone (white space).
The Program Symbol is enclosed by a black border. The border ensures that the appropriate white space or exclusion zone is provided around the composite mark. The Program Symbol must be enclosed by the border if the Symbol is applied against colored or complex backgrounds. However, if the background is white or off-white, it may be desirable to omit the border while ensuring the appropriate exclusion zone.
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Complaints Submissions
For information on complaints regarding the COABC, a Certification Body, or an operator certified under an accredited Certification Body, click here.
If you've discovered a person or company who is falsely marketing their products as organic in British Columbia, click here for information.
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Planning a Move?
If you change your address or contact information, send it to your CB office as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on receiving the BC Organic Grower and other materials.
Organic Price List
View the Organic Price List, updated weekly, here.
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This month's feature photo is from Close to Home Organics, a small-scale family farm operating out of Glen Valley Organic Farm in Abbotsford. Check out their website, and connect with them on Instagram and Facebook.
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