Tag: food safety

Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association to Hold Conference in Annapolis

Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association to Hold Conference in Annapolis

MOFFA, the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association, announces its 23rd Annual Winter Meeting, on Saturday February 15, 2014, from 8 am to 5:00 pm, at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis.

There will be Information for farmers and gardeners in search of new ideas, techniques, & inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food.

MOFFA Chairperson Holly Budd says, “I am looking forward to the Panel Discussion on GMO and Food Safety Issues, Organic Food Justice Discussion, an update cow share and raw milk legislation in Maryland, and learning more about farming techniques and research from other organic farmers and researchers.”

Presentations, Panels and Workshops Include: 

  • Panel Discussion GMO/Food Safety Issues Exciting News in State politics moderated by Sophia Maravell, Brickyard Educational Farm.  Panelists include: Alexis Baden-Mayer Organic Consumer’s Association, Darla Eaton, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, MD Delegate Ariana Kelly, Montgomery County, MD Sen. Karen Montgomery, Montgomery, Colin O’Neil, Center for Food Safety.
  • Panel Discussion:  Organic Food Justice Panelists: Carrie Vaughn, Claggett Farm, Lavette Sims, Capitol Area Food Bank. Greg Bowen, Hub and Spoke Program for SMADC

Erroll Mattox from UMES – MD Cooperative Extension will be talking about ethnic vegetable production

Tanya Tolchin: Exploring Low Tech Food Dehydration to Increase Profits on Small Farms.

Mike Haigwood, PA Bowen Farm, “Grassfed and Beyond” – Mike recently returned from Australia where he was studying permaculture and he will include some of that in his presentation.

Maryland Green Registry A good program to share and improve green practices for your farm and great tool for consumers too

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Update on the Organic/GAP University research and GAP training session

Maryland Department of Agriculture Organic Program presentation

Tyler Brown Real Food Farm. Urban farming collective The Farm Alliance of Baltimore

Research Talks by Extension and UMD Researchers:

  • Buchanan, A., G. Chen, L. Hunt and C.R.R Hooks. 2014. Using cover crops for pest suppression in crookneck squash.  Presented by Amanda Buchana
  • Chen, G., A. Buchanan, R. Weil and C.R.R. Hooks. 2014.  Integrating reduced or no tillage systems with cover cropping for organic vegetable productions.  Presented by Guihua Chen.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch, one of the highlights of the meeting.

Attendees can bring seeds to exchange with the other participants in the MOFFA Seed Swap.

There will be a silent auction.  Members may bring display materials; table space is available in exchange for silent auction item donations.

Registration is $20 for non-members and $5 for members. Membership is $25 for one year or $45 for two years. Registration is at the door. For more information, go to http://www.marylandorganic.org or contact Holly Heintz Budd at 443-975-4181

Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association (MOFFA) was established in 1991 as a non-profit organization. MOFFA strives to build a sustainable network of individuals and organizations that support small farms, family gardens and ecologically sound businesses

MOFFA WINTER MEETING 2014 SCHEDULE

TIME

Room  A

Room B
8:00-8:30

Registration
8:30 -8:45

Welcome and Announcements/Holly Budd MOFFA Chair
8:45-9:00

Laura Armstrong of MDE, Julie Oberg MDA Maryland Green Registry A good program to share and improve green practices for your farm and great tool for consumers too.
9:00-9:30

 Shirley Micallef: update on GAP research and organic by Shirley Micallef, University of MD
9:30-9:45

Coffee Break, Silent Auction, Seed Swap Break into separate rooms
9:45-10:30 Buchanan, A., G. Chen, L. Hunt and C.R.R Hooks. 2014. Using cover crops for pest suppression in crookneck squash.
Presented by Amanda Buchana		 Shirley Micallef, Donna Pahl:  Pre harvest organic production and GAP
10:30-11:15 Chen, G., A. Buchanan, R. Weil and C.R.R. Hooks. 2014.  Integrating reduced or no tillage systems with cover cropping for organic vegetable productions.
Presented by Guihua Chen.		 Shirley Micallef, Donna Pahl:  Post harvest organic and GAP
11:15-12:00 Mike Haigwood, PA Bowen Farm, “Grassfed and Beyond” – Mike recently returned from Australia where he was studying permaculture and he will include some of that in his presentation! Deanna Baldwin, MDA Organic Certification FAQ.  Certified Organic or considering certification? Deanna Balwin will update you and answer questions about NOP interpretations, and compliance with all of the rules.
12:00-1:20

Potluck Lunch, Silent Auction, Seed Swap, Networking
1:20- 1:30

Board Elections and Announcements
1:30-2:30

Panel Discussion: GMO/Food Safety Issues Exciting News in State politics  

Moderated by Sophia Maravell, Brickyard Educational Farm

Alexis Baden-Mayer Organic Consumer’s Association
Darla Eaton, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
MD Delegate Ariana Kelly, Montgomery County
MD Sen. Karen Montgomery, Montgomery      Colin O’Neil, Center for Food Safety
2:30-2:45

Last Chance for Silent Auction, Seed Swap, Grab Some Coffee, Break into separate rooms
2:45-3:30 Tanya Tolchin: Exploring Low Tech Food Dehydration to Increase Profits on Small Farms. Liz Retzig Update cow share and raw milk legislation in Maryland
3:30-4:15 Erroll Mattox from UMES – MD Cooperative Extension will be talking about ethnic vegetable production Panel Discussion:  Organic Food Justice Panelists: Carrie Vaughn, Claggett Farm, Lavette Sims, Capitol Area Food Bank. Greg Bowen, Hub and Spoke Program for SMADC
4:15-5:00 Tyler Brown Real Food Farm. Urban farming collective The Farm Alliance of Baltimore

THE FARM BILL – THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY; SPECIFICS ON THE ORGANIC CHALLENGE & FSMA

THE FARM BILL - THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY; SPECIFICS ON THE ORGANIC CHALLENGE & FSMA Tacoma Park Silver Spring Co-op’s Second Annual Food and Public Policy Series:

This year, the series will focus on healthy and safe food and how our representatives are addressing the issue of food safety and the availability of healthy food.

Consumers and Farmers must stay alert as the FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) regulations are developed, in order to protect sustainable farming and access to fresh, organic produce. Find out what’s happening to farmers, the Farm Bill, organic agriculture and the ability for all income groups to have access to sustainable foods. (Are we still subsidizing large farms and penalizing low income folks?)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 1, 2014

THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR CO-OP AND FAMILY FARMS

1:00 – 4:00PM

Historic Takoma Building
7328 Carroll Ave. Takoma Park MD 20912
 

SPEAKERS:

  •  Michael Taylor, Deputy Director, FDA
  • Ferd Hoefner, NSAC (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) — will cover Farm Bill big picture and what is good, bad and ugly in the final product
  • Steve Etka, NOC (National Organic Coalition) – will discuss specific organic issues
  • Ariane Lotti, NSAC – will discuss FSMA, where we are, what comes next and we will all share

Q&A and discussion that follows about the future of sustainable agriculture

 Upcoming forums include:

  • Saturday, Feb 15, 1-4pm, GMOs, AND HOW LEGISLATION MIGHT IMPACT MARYLAND CONSUMERS
  • Guest Speaker: Barbara Mikulski, MD US State Senator
  • Saturday, Feb 22, 1-4pm, HEALTH OF THE BAY AND ITS IMPACT ON FOOD, FARMERS AND CONSUMERS
  • Invited Guest: Ben Cardin, MD  US Senator
  • Saturday, March 1, 1-4pm, IMPACT ON US AGRICULTURE POLICIES ON MARYLAND CONSUMERS
  • Invited Guest: Chris Van Hollen, MD US Congressman, 8th
  • Saturday, March 22, 1-4pm, TAKOMA PARK/SILVER SPRING CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR COUNTY OFFICE AND THEIR POLICIES ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 Seating is limited, please do not hold seats.

For more information contact: outreach@tpss.coop

 Please join me for a tour of the Co-op after each event.

Sherri Collins

What will new FDA Food Safety Rules mean for small, local, and organic farmers?

Demeter at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, where the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association Annual Winter meeting will be held on February 16, 2013, from 8 to 5.
Demeter, Greek Goddess of Agriculture, at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, where the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association Annual Winter Meeting will be held on February 16, 2013, from 8 to 5.

The MOFFA Annual Winter Meeting is February 16, 2013, at the MD Dept. of Agriculture Bldg., Annapolis MD  it will run from 8 to 5. The event includes a panel in the afternoon, from 1:40 to2:40 p.m., to discuss the new FDA Food Safety Rules, and what they mean for small, local, and organic farmers.   Click here to find more details about MOFFA Annual Winter Meeting.

What will new FDA Food Safety Rules mean for small, local, and organic farmers?

Find out how the proposed rules could affect your growing, harvesting, on farm processing and post-harvesting handling practices.  Find out what new labeling and record keeping requirements you may have to meet for sales on farm, at farmers markets, and to retailers and wholesalers.  Learn about exemptions from certain requirements.

Presenter:

Ariane Lotti, Assistant Policy Director, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Panelists:

Mike Tabor, Licking Creek Bend Farm, Needmore PA and Takoma Park, MD

and

Deanna Baldwin, Program Manager, Food Quality Assurance, Maryland Department of Agriculture

Ariane Lotti,

Ariane coordinates NSAC’s policy campaigns including organic and food safety issues.

She holds a B.A. and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University.  She has served as the Policy Director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation.  She is a published author, and has worked on and conducted research on organic and conventional farms in the US and Europe.

Mike Tabor

Since 1972, Michael Tabor has been producing local fresh food for DC area residents of mixed income groups using organic methods.   Mike has also been active in many causes to advance environmental and social justice, including access to healthy local food for inner city populations.

Deanna Baldwin

Deanna is responsible for the Maryland Organic Certification Program as well as other grading and certification programs, including Fruit and Vegetable Grading, Egg Grading, and Good Agricultural Practices/Good Handling Practices Certification.  Deanna has a broad perspective on issues of food safety and local and organic production practices across Maryland.