ABOUT: The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) was organized in 1992 as a non-profit organization. We work to create more public awareness about the nature of industrialized food supply and its environmental and social hazards. We teach 'eaters' to value and to choose organically grown food produced in their own locales. MOFFA is a force for generating public awareness about the need for more decentralized food systems that allow for greater participation and choice on the part of all citizens.
Breaking News:
Michigan Organic Cost Share Application!
The Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA) is will manage the 2010 organic cost share progra, allowing our state’s organic farmers to be partially reimburseed forf their organic certification costs. Download the necessary forms here. You will need a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat to view this file. Cost share applications must be received by MOFFA no later than September 15, 2010.
The Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA) is will manage the 2010 organic cost share progra, allowing our state’s organic farmers to be partially reimburseed forf their organic certification costs. Download the necessary forms here. You will need a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat to view this file. Cost share applications must be received by MOFFA no later than September 15, 2010.
With the organically grown, downy reddish peach close to her nose, Shelby Township resident Nancy Rich draws in the intoxicatingly fresh scent during her shopping trip to Whole Foods in Rochester Hills.
“I have Crohn’s disease and I’ve found when I don’t have all those chemicals in my body (from conventionally grown foods) I feel much better. The food tastes much better, too,” Rich said. “It’s a little more expensive to shop organic, but your life is important.”
The organic food market continues holding a strong presence with consumers, as 75 percent claim to use organic foods, according to a national survey published in 2010 by The Hartman Group, a predominant consumer-culture consultancy and market research firm.
BUILDING HEALTH FROM THE GROUND UP
Many organic farmers are looking for ways to build soil quality that would provide better
yields. Morgan Composting Inc is teaming with Michigan State University to present a
program like no other. This two day event, August 18th and 19th will be taking place to
give farms answers to many soil, pest, and production questions.
Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance to Facilitate
Organic Cost Share Program in Michigan
The 2008 Farm Bill included a cost- share program for certified organic farmers. For 2009, this program was offered to organic producers in Michigan through the Michigan Department of Agriculture. This year, due to budget constraints, the MDA is not able to offer this program, even though the funds are from the USDA. They have, however, entered into an agreement that will allow Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA) to manage the program, allowing our state’s organic farmers to again get the cost share to reimburse part of their organic certification costs.
This week, Governor Granholm signed a package of bills into law that will allow certain homemade products (such as baked goods, jam, honey, vinegar, and maple syrup, granola, and popcorn) to be sold directly to Michigan consumers without the legal requirement that they be prepared in commercial kitchens. The intent of the law is to support farmers’ markets by allowing certain value-added products to be sold without the expense and trouble of preparing them in a licensed commercial kitchen. Only direct sales to consumers are permitted; no mail order sales or sales to grocery stores are allowed. The law takes effect immediately.
If you are considering enrolling in the USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in 2010, be sure to submit the basic 3-page application to your local NRCS officeno later than Friday, June 25, 2010. This deadline was extended from the original deadline of June 11.
Come to beautiful west Michigan this summer to hear the latest advances in blueberry breeding, blueberry production, and blueberry crop protection. A two day program full of talks and posters is planned in downtown Kalamazoo. There is something for everyone, including sessions on the state-of-the-science of organic blueberry production and blueberry genomics, with talks by the leaders in these fields. The tentative program is available on line.
A bill was introduced 05/19/2010 to kill the USDA NOP organic cost share program. This program has been an important factor in helping many farmers choose to go organic by supporting them in the difficult "transition" years. Liana Hoodes of the National Organic Campaign is asking for anecdotal stories of how important cost share is to farmers. How that little amount of money made a big difference. This information will be used in support of the certification cost share program. Please forward to Liana at Liana@NationalOrganicCoalition.or
Download thsi NOP document to learn more about the the cost share program. I know that with the recent proposal to cut this program, there has been a lot of talk about it. This might be useful for the US Chapters:
Beginning as well as advanced tree fruit growers benefit from seeing organic management practices during thegrowing season. The Organic Tree Fruit Association will sponsor its first field day of the summer on Saturday, June 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Earth First Farms, owned and operated by the Rosenfeld family in Berrien Center, MI. Find location at www.earthfirstfarms.com
Michael Pollan will be at Zingerman's Road House in Ann Arbor on Sunday, April 11, 2010 for a private reception at 5:30pm and a public "conversation" at 6pm. Seats are limited to 20 for the private reception and 100 for the conversation. Local organic food will be prepared by chef Alex Young.
For 2010 we are able to offer 20 scholarships for the $50 student registration. We are accepting applications from community college and university students, recent graduates (within the last 3 years), participants in the MSU-Student Organic Farm Organic Farmer Training Program and members of the Michigan Young Farmers Coalition. To apply please fill out the scholarship application, complete it and mail or electronically submit it by February 21. The scholarship program is made possible by the generous support of George and Anne Bird.
MOFFA requests proposals from individuals, organizations, or groups to use the MOFFA Mobile Food Processing Unit for organic processing that includes education, outreach, and community development efforts that promote local and organic food. These efforts may involve, but are not limited to, small farm development, demonstrations, and learning opportunities related to food preparation and processing, promotion and growth of local markets, and other innovative projects that serve Michigan farmers and consumers. Partnership applications are encouraged. Download the proposal request for applications for more details.
The Michigan Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) will sponsor the Michigan Organic Conference on March 5 and 6 at the Kellogg Convention and Hotel Center located on the Michigan State University Campus in East Lansing MI. This Year's conference is titled Michigan Organic: Seeds, Soil, and Health and features keynote addresses fromJeffrey Smith from the Insititute of Responsible Technology and C.R. Lawn of Fedco Seeds and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). The conference will also include educational sessions, and organic luncheon, exhibits and the popular "Taste of Michigan" event.The conference is dedicated in memory of long time MOFFA board members and Michigan organic activists Doug Murray and Nancy Jones-Keiser. Download a conference flyer, conference schedule or conference registration form. Please visit our online registration page and confernece sponsor page for more information.
USDA just released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on GE alfalfa andNOW is your chance to demand that USDA protect organic food from GE contamination. Click on this link to register your dissent!
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was getting lots of appreciative applause and head nods from the packed hall at the Community Food Security Coalition conference today, held in Des Moines, Iowa. He described the USDA's plans to improve school nutrition, support local food systems, and work with the Justice Department to review the impact of corporate agribusiness on small farmers. But then, with time for only one more question, I was handed the microphone. "Mr. Secretary, may I ask a tough question on GMOs?"......
The 2010 Michigan Organic Conference "Michigan Organic: Seeds, Soil and Health" will be held at the Kellogg Convention Center located on the Michigan State University campus in East Lanisng MI. The conference will be held between March 5 and 6 and will consist of a series of keynote speakers, educational sessions, and organic luncheon, and the popular "Taste of Michigan" event. Keynote speakers for this year's conference are: Jeffrey Smith from the Insititute of Responsible Technology and J.R. Lawn of Fedco Seeds and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). This years conference is dedicated in memory of long time MOFFA board members and Michigan organic activists Doug Murray and Nancy Jones-Keiser . Please check back for more information.
JONES-KEISER - Nancy W. Jones-Keiser was born in Bucks County, PA in 1947 on a cattle farmand passed away on September 28 2009. A birthright Quaker, she was raised by her father and grandmother, after her mother passed on when Nancy was 1 1/2. This shaped her life in many ways. She handled farm and gardening tools, cared for farm animals and garden plants....
PAW PAW – Douglas A. Murray, 55, of Paw Paw, MI. passed away at home, Monday morning, July 13, 2009, with his family at his side. Doug was born October 29th, 1953, in West Branch, MI, the son of Alan and Loa Murray....
