[compost_tea] NOP/ Congress

From: Jeff Lowenfels <jeff_at_gardener.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 18:49:43 -0800

Anyone know these guys?


Press Advisory
For Immediate Release
June 5, 2003

Contact:
Brise Tencer (831) 426-6606
Bob Scowcroft (831) 426-6606

OFRF Applauds Launch of Congressional Organic Agriculture Caucus

Santa Cruz, CA. - The newly formed Congressional Organic Agriculture Caucus=
 held its initial meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 10, 2003. The Caucu=
s was formed as a bipartisan association of United States Representatives w=
hose mission is to "enhance availability and understanding of information r=
elated to the production and processing of organic agricultural products."=
 

The formation of this coalition of sixteen Democrats, five Republicans, and=
 one Independent is truly groundbreaking for organic farmers nationwide. "O=
rganics is one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture," said Rep. Sa=
m Farr (D-CA 17th), who authored the nation's first comprehensive organic s=
tandards while he was a member of the California state legislature in 1990.=
 "With new organic standards now in effect, consumers are demanding greater=
 availability and farmers are seeking solutions to their organic production=
 problems. This Caucus will give us the chance to discuss ways of enhancing=
 the standard to make it workable for producers and consumers."

"The formation of this Caucus is a major step towards getting organic farme=
rs their fair share of federal agricultural resources," says Bob Scowcroft,=
 Executive Director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). "Org=
anic farmers and their supporters should call their representatives and ask=
 them to join the Caucus. When it comes to Capitol Hill, there is strength =
in numbers," he added

OFRF assisted in organizing the initial meeting that launched the Caucus by=
 briefing attendees on recent developments in organic agriculture. Speakers=
 presented trends in industry growth, research, and the successes and obsta=
cles that organic farmers are facing in the field. The speakers included Ca=
thy Greene of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Ser=
vice, Laurie Drinkwater of Cornell University, and Steve Ela, a Colorado or=
ganic farmer and the vice president of OFRF.

While most of the attendees were Congressional staffers, also present were =
members of the press, organic activists, USDA staff and Congressmen Sam Far=
r, Ron Kind (D-WI 3rd), and Peter DeFazio (D-OR 4th). Each of the Congressm=
en who attended spoke eloquently about the growing importance of organic ag=
riculture.

"The Organic Caucus will play a critical role in getting Congress actively =
engaged in this very important growing segment of the agricultural marketpl=
ace, and I fully expect that this Caucus will be instrumental in ensuring t=
hat Caucus members continue to effectively work together and receive timely=
 updates on organic issues," said Congressman Walsh, a Republican from New =
York who is one of six founding co-chairs of the Caucus and has been a stro=
ng supporter of organic agriculture.

Caucus members have already demonstrated interest in working together on is=
sues: a bipartisan group of 14 Caucus members recently signed a letter circ=
ulated by Congressman Kind endorsing specific 2004 funding levels for feder=
al programs of importance to organic farmers. Other members of Congress hav=
e joined the Caucus simply to better educate themselves on issues that are =
important to organic farmers in their district.

For more information on the Organic Agriculture Caucus, contact Troy Philli=
ps, Office of Congressman Farr, 202-225-2861; Ron Anderson, Office of Congr=
essman Walsh, 202-225-3701; or Darin Schroeder, Office of Congressman Kind,=
 202-225-5506. To view the current list of Caucus members or the letter on =
recommended funding levels for federal programs endorsed by 14 Caucus membe=
rs, visit OFRF's policy web page at: http://www.ofrf.org/policy/index.html






Received on Fri Jun 06 2003 - 00:59:39 EDT

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