Organic, sustainable farming pushed at Field Day

New Ulm to host Green Expo Sept. 21

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

LAMBERTON -- Organic, sustainable and regional food systems were promoted at the 5th Annual Organic Field Day Friday at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center.

Representatives of OFARM (Organic Farmers' Agency for Relationship Marketing), the Southwest Minnesota Poultry Coop and the Land Stewardship Project and University of Minnesota Morris regional food system initiative promoted their causes during morning and afternoon workshop sessions.

Organic farmer Carmen Fernholz of Madison said the farm income problem and the failure of government policies are merely examples of why farmers must work together in their own best interest.

The mission of OFARM is to coordinate efforts of producer marketing groups to benefit and sustain certified, organic producers. The group is looking for more members and other groups with a minimum of 10 members to join the seven groups it already comprises, Fernholz said.

OFARM benefits include sharing price information with other OFARM producer groups, developing reliable inventory information, keeping up with markets and market trends, eliminating one-on-one negotiations with buyers, developing and monitoring producer-friendly contracts, developing and monitoring a list of credit-worthy buyers for members and enhancing opportunities to add new crops and agronomic practices to farm rotations.

Fernholz stressed that according to Capper-Volstead Act of 1922, only farmers can join OFARM.

Fernholz said OFARM producers have a "significant edge" on farmers that are not members of such groups.

"I still haven't sold my 2001 soybeans," Fernholz said. "I'm waiting for the right time. I know I'll be there when the time is right. If buyers call me, I refer them to the marketers, which have no vested interest in what I'm selling. The marketers represent me better than I can represent myself."

Fernholz explained that OFARM lists minimum target "sticker" prices. Products are often sold a little above or below the target prices.

A member of the Southwest Minnesota Poultry Group said he is selling certified, organic boiler chickens for $2.40 per pound. Dressed, whole organic fryers are bringing $1.75 per pound. Certified, organic eggs are bringing $2.25 per dozen.

Working is underway to sell organic chickens to grocery chains, food coops and ethnic restaurants.

OFARM Organic Producer groups include the Buckwheat Growers Association of Minnesota. Visit www.buckwheatgrowers.com

Audrey Arndt of the Land Stewardship Project said most area restaurant food has traveled 1,600 to 1,800 miles to customer plates. She stressed the need to support locally-produced food to create a new, viable rural economy that can reduce the need to rely on food from Brazil, Turkey and Thailand.

Arndt promoted using the Minnesota-Grown Directory 2002, a free publication printed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The publication included fresh produce, plants, flowers, Christmas trees and more. Most of the directory listings are in the Twin City Metro, St. Cloud and Rochester areas.

Green Expo 2002 will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 at Vogel Arena in New Ulm. The event is designed for southern Minnesota businesses, industries, agencies and organizations to share ideas, products, environmental initiatives, programs and services that are good for the environment and the economy.

Green Expo 2002 will be presented by Kraft Foods, Inc. of New Ulm, the Brown County Recycling Office, the New Ulm Energy Awareness Commission and Putting Green, Inc.

Last year's Expo included more than 40 booths, children's activities, a farmer's market, information presentations, food and prizes.

For more information, contact Laurel Gamm at Putting Green, PO Box 91, New Ulm, MN 56073 or call 507-354-PUTT (7888). Registration deadline is Aug. 31, 2002.