OCO Activities 2011
2011 was an extremely busy year for the council. We traveled across the province on the Ontario Organics Roadshow, kicked off several research projects, helped launch the Foodland Ontario Organic logo, started the Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group, participated in several conferences, attended many meetings, launched our social media outreach, developed several key videos about organic, engaged an organizational sustainability study, and much more!
January
Presentation at Queens Park on organic sector priorities for Pre-budget Hearings
Meeting with Hans Feldmann, Minister’s policy aide
Meeting with Mike Schreiner, Leader of Green Party of Ontario
1st Annual Ontario Organic Awards
Guelph Organic Conference
Hosted Trade Symposium
Local and Organic Workshop featuring Denise Zaborowski of Foodland Ontario
Traders Breakfast
Canada Organic Office conference call
Canadian Organic Extension Network (COEN) and Ontario Organic Extension Network (OOEN) meetings
Meeting with Soy2020
Meeting with Local Food Plus
February
Agriculture Standing Committee Consultations (Ottawa)
Knowledge Transfer and Translation Conference (Guelph)
Establishment of the Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group
EcoFarm Day (Cornwall)
COG Toronto Conference
EnviroPig Panel Discussion at University of Guelph featuring Lucy Sharratt of CBAN
Data Collection discussions with SPINS
Canadian Organic Extension Network Meeting
Meeting with Egg Farmers of Ontario with presentation from CFIA
Meeting with Chicken Farmers of Ontario
Meeting with Ontario Livestock and Poultry Council
Meeting with Foodland re: Foodland Organic
Meeting with OFVGA
Media Coverage of GE Forum w/OCO interview: “Crop Threats Raised at U of G Forum” Guelph Mercury, Feb 7 ‘11
Media Coverage of GE Forum w/OCO interview: “Modified crops pose threat, forum hears” Front Page, Guelph Mercury, Feb 8, 2011
Media Coverage of Foodland Organic w/OCO interview and photo: “Organic Foodland Ontario Label Offers New Opportunity” Ontario Farmer, Feb 8 , 2011
Media Coverage of OCO Awards: “Industry Pioneers Honoured for Lifetime achievement” Ont Farmer, Feb 22 ‘11
Media Coverage of GE issue w/Full OCO interview: “Organic Growers seek Protection from GE contamination” Ontario Farmer, Feb 22, 2011 “… we’d like to see that there’s some policy in place that the polluter pays.” – Jodi Koberinski, OCO
March
Meeting with Deputy Minister Burke to discuss priorities, policy, competing claims and the value of organics.
Meeting with Gord Surgeoner
GE Panel with Guelph MP Frank Valeriote, Italian Canadian Club, Guelph, March 10th
Media Coverage of GE Conversation w/OCO interview: “MP Makes Progress Encouraging Organic-Biotech Dialogue” Ontario Farmer, March 8, 2011
OCO AGM
Initiate Data Collection project with Farmers Markets Ontario
Processor Survey Initiated
South-Western Ontario Farmer/ Buyer Networking event in London.
Participation in Bring Food Home Conference Programming Committee
Organic Meadow Symposium – outreach
Beechwood Ag Services Farmers Meeting presentation on value of OCO
COABC Conference to discuss sustainability of the Canada Organic Regime
OVCRT meetings in Winnipeg- Ted Zettel
Participation in Standards Interpretation Committee and Technical Review Committee
Approved for New Directions Grant “Information Systems Development for the Organic Sector” – Theresa Schumilas research lead
Approved for OMIF “Ontario Organic Roadshow”
Front Page article in Guelph Mercury
Action taken after request from member re: allegations of organics fraud
Food and Farming Strategies Workshop
Media Coverage of OCO GE Forum: “Anti-GMO Group petitions to bar U of G’s Enviropig” On Farmer, Mar 22 ‘11
OOEN Meeting
Meeting with Alliance of Ontario Food Processors @Conestoga College
April
Attended Premier’s Summit (Permanent Business Risk Management program announcement was the policy highlight of the event. Presentations from Marsan Foods, the Greenbelt Foundation, Metcalfe, an ethnic food processor and a functional food developer/ marketer underscored OMAFRA’s current focus on building processing infrastructure.)
Green Living Show (Toronto)
Attended Environmental Sustainability Research Forum
ON Trace Forum
Guelph Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
Sustain Ontario Advisory Meeting (Holland Marsh)
Meeting with COTA
COEN Meeting
Hired Part-time book keeper and Part-time Events Coordinator
May
Foodland Ontario Organic released
Queens Park Market Event (Toronto)
Media Coverage of Member business growth w/ OCO quote: “Over the top organics” Farmers Forum, May, 2011 “… we’d like to see that there’s some policy in place that the polluter pays.” – Jodi Koberinski, OCO ED.
June
Marketing Ontario Organics Working Group Day-long Strategy Session
Canadian Nutrition, Society for Healthy Eating (June 2, U of G)
First Roadshow event at Ignatius Farm
Meeting with Roxanna Roshan – Skills Development and Training Needs project
Farmstart AGM
Discussions of funding for SIC
Participation in Aquaculture Standards Discussions
Continued discussions with EFO, Farm On, Farm Start re: Partnership Grant and OOEN
Powerline Video shoot begins
OCO office moves
July
Meeting with Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell to discuss our sector’s issues ahead of the July Meetings of the Federal/Provincial Ministers in PEI.
Website Strategy Session with Hypenotic
London Home County Folk Festival (London)
Hillside Music Festival (Guelph)
Letter to the On Farmer editor re: E. Coli outbreak connection to Organics (July 12, 2011, On Farmer)
August
Conscious Food Festival (Toronto)
Harvest Picnic (Dundas)
Development of Traceability Fund Initiative Grant
Meeting with Foodland Ontario Staff
Greenbelt Foundation Round-Table Discussion (Toronto)
Outreach to members for Roadshow opportunities
Meeting with Bryan Gilvesy re: organic messaging strategy and foundation possibilities
Soft Launch of our 3 ‘Why Organic’ Whiteboard Videos
September
REACH! Huron County
Feast of Fields Ottawa
Feast of Fields King City
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (Woodstock)
Taste! Prince Edward County (Picton)
Savour Stratford
Niagara Food Fest (Welland)
COG PWW’s Organic Vegetable Market Price Tracker (sponsored in part by OCO) Launched
Meetings with Members re Roadshow Opportunities
Foodland Ontario Marketing Meeting
CAP Meeting
Media Coverage of Hugh Martin’s retirement: “How Curiosity Shapes Career Direction” Ontario Farmer, September 27, 2011
October
Launch of New OCO Website (thanks Hypenotic!)
Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) Show (Toronto)
Workshop on Foodland Organic for retailers and processors
Organic Week
Organics on the Hill, lobbying event with COTA and COG in Ottawa
Retail Display Contest
Stop the Quarry with COTA (Roadshow Stop)
Healthy Foods and More (Roadshow Stop)
Organic Garage (Roadshow Stop)
Whiteboard Videos shown at Norfolk County Fair, (Simcoe)
Meeting with TFO
Meeting with Dr. Ralph Martin
CFIA EU Call
Foodland Ontario Marketing Meeting
Meeting with Ontario Independent Poultry Producers
OCO participated on the OVCRT Marketing Working Group to develop the Phase II activities for promoting the Canada Organic brand, including consulting on a survey for operators.
Participate in OFC, SIC and Technical Review Committee activities: Ted Zettel participated in OFC meetings. Addressed regulatory issues arising from critical variances with the US Organic program.
Low-level Presence Conversation (Toronto)
Made submissions regarding Growing Forward II priorities
Bring Food Home Conference. Including 2 workshops (One on Environmental Goods and Services with Bryan Gilvesy from ALUS, and Pat Learmonth on behalf of conservation partners in the Kawarthas. The 2nd was organized by EFO, FarmStart and OCO, as a follow up meeting amongst Ont. extension providers.)
Attended Sustain Ontario’s AGM
Media Coverage of Organic Sector w/OCO interview: “2011: A Tough Year for Organic Farmers ” Better Farming Magazine, October 2011 .
November
Meeting with Conservative MP Ben Lobb (Huron Bruce) re: Financial support for standards upkeep; low-level presence; and financial support for transitioning to organic.
Media Coverage of ‘Natural’ Claim Issue w/OCO interview: “Ottawa Opens Debate on Proposed ‘Natural’ Labeling ” Ontario Farmer, November 1, 2011
Royal Winter Fair (Toronto)
OCO Consumer Booth at RBC (Guelph)
Communicated to OMAFRA the importance of an Organic specific position within OMAFRA
Provided Organic 101 Training to staff at major retail outlet
Nominated representatives for Standards Interpretation Committee
‘Certified’ Label issue discussion with COTA, COO. Position statement issued.
OCO Hart House Fundraiser (Toronto)
Participated in Low Level Presence Consultations (Toronto)
Meeting with Chicken Farmers of Ontario
Media Coverage of BFHC: “Disconnect still exists between farmers and food system” Ontario Farmer, November 8, 2011
Media Coverage of BFHC’s Keynote speaker, Raj Patel. Ontario Farmer, November 15, 2011
December
Media Coverage of COG’s Price Tracker: “Tool Helps Peg Organic Produce Prices” Ont Farmer, Dec 13, 2011
Sector-Wide efforts to shift story on Organic Apples being found with small amounts of fungicides, including interviews with CTV. Worked with COTA, COG, and OFC to develop counter-story. Succeeded in shifting story to be about how we live in a polluted world and the best solution to minimize toxins is organic.
OCO Press Release: Organic Food Best way to Avoid Pesticides
Media Coverage of Organic Apple/Pesticides Story w/OCO quotes in Better Farming Magazine, Dec. 2011
