First Words

Fifty Years of Advancing Organic

As CCOF celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am nearing my decade anniversary with CCOF. I served as policy director from 2014-2019 before stepping into the role of CEO and in this time I have been humbled by the strength of our collective voice. It’s been an amazing experience not only to learn from, but also to help represent the people who dedicate their careers to cultivating organic food. I love knowing that our united efforts make a real difference in increasing the accessibility of nutritious meals for families and communities.

Community is everything. CCOF wouldn’t be where it is today without the advocacy of our membership and partners over the years. Organic policy encompasses many areas, from local regulations governing pesticide use to state-level water legislation to navigating the intricacies of federal programs and funding. Our impressive progress in shaping this landscape is due to the resolute advocacy of our members and partners who have fought for integrity and trust in the organic label and who continue advocating for improvement at every opportunity.

Farmers have always had to work hard to help lawmakers understand what they need to succeed, and organic farmers face even more complicated challenges. Regulations often fail to encompass the inherent and necessary stewardship integral to organic production. Our commitment to addressing this gap has been unwavering, which you will read about in our feature article this issue, “Guided by Integrity: 50 Years of Advocating for Organic.”

Your voice is necessary to this movement, and no action is too small. Making a small donation, signing a letter, or calling your local representative all add up to create major policy changes. We are privileged to have many opportunities to advocate for policies, programs, and funding that support organic producers. The important part is that lawmakers hear from us. CCOF remains dedicated to getting out the word to our members whenever advocacy opportunities arise.

Remember, we are always learning and growing. Your feedback through participating in chapters, post-inspection surveys, and member surveys is critical to helping us understand how we can best meet your needs. We also always welcome inquiries to policy@ccof.org

As we look forward to the next 50 years, I’m excited for what we can do together. We’ve come a long way with your support, and your voices are what will continue to propel organic integrity forward.

With heartfelt gratitude,

CCOF Action Fund

In the past two years, CCOF has worked with lawmakers to achieve the following:

→ Prioritize organic food in schools

→ Secure $1.85 million for organic research and extension

→ Secure $5 million for emergency relief for small-scale producers

→ Secure $10 million for producers transitioning to organic management

Help us build on this success to grow the organic sector. The CCOF Action Fund is dedicated to advancing organic agriculture through support of elected leaders who want to help us grow organic. The fund is governed by a committee comprised of organic producers. Your investment translates into millions of dollars for organic. Join us by contributing to the fund today!

Contributions to the CCOF Action Fund are not deductible for income tax purposes. CCOF Action Fund is a registered California committee (ID# 1373142).

Contributions to the Action Fund are limited to $6,800 per calendar year.

Thank you for your support!

Kelly Damewood CEO

Have thoughts to share with us about CertifiedOrganic magazine?

Get in touch at ccof@ccof.org .