APRIL 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Organic sector undertakes core review
COABC seeks higher profile as organics go mainstream
by PETER MITHAM VERNON – Celebrating
organics while preparing for the next generation of consumers was a key theme of the annual conference of the Certified Organic Associations of BC in Vernon, February 22-24.
An open discussion on
Friday night, a Saturday morning panel and a Sunday roundtable all touched on the challenges the sector faces as organic products become the norm rather than alternatives to conventional offerings. While last year’s conference in Abbotsford heard from the sector’s pioneers, this year’s meeting looked to build on their foundation to serve the first generation raised in homes where organic products were the norm. But some noted that
forerunners such as Aaran Stephens of Richmond-based organic cereal maker Nature’s Path Foods Inc. were absent. “He never comes to these
conferences anymore,” noted Andrea Gunner during the Saturday morning panel discussion. “People who have
been pivotal in growing this industry into much more of the mainstream … should be part of this discussion.” While the conference
attracted close to 200 people, COABC reports 764 producers registered with its certification programs in 2018. Nature’s Path wasn’t the only absence. Some of the province’s largest growers were absent, including some from the Interior. Krystine McInnes of Athena
Farm in Cawston is the largest organic vegetable grower in the Similkameen. She believes COABC is a critical organization for organic growers but as a producer farming 60 acres she would like to see it engage in greater outreach and advocacy on behalf of growers in the face of economic pressures and a variable climate. “Personally, I don’t feel
there is the value for me as a large producer at these events,” she said. “I’d love to see the COABC become a real resource in these times of disaster and crisis, so organic farmers know where they can go and how they can be supported, and to become a
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Rochelle Eisen, far left, and Anne Macey, far right, are receiving the inaugural Bedrock Award from the Certified Organic Associations of BC in recognition of the important roles they've played helping the sector realize its vision. Paddy Doherty and Carmen Wakeling stand between them. COABC PHOTO
leader in – very loudly and relentlessly – educating the public on why supporting BC organic farmers is so important.” Sessions at this year’s
conference addressed some of the issues concerning McInnes, with presentations on business management and climate change, as well as social issues related to Indigenous peoples and seasonal workers. The challenge of staying
relevant isn’t lost on the association, which launched a core review last November to help it become more
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responsive to the needs of the sector and consumers. The review coincides with
the province’s new organic labelling regulation, which aims to reduce consumer confusion. The regulation kicked in smoothly, but using the word "organic” in business names is still problematic. The province’s organic specialist, Emma Holmes, says the ministry’s compliance
office can’t ticket companies as long as the term isn’t used to describe the company’s products. However, business names are being collected and could be handed over to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for consideration under regulations governing misleading claims.
Rochelle Eisen, a long-time See CORE on next page o
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