Marin Organic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Focus | Sustainable, organic and local agriculture |
| Location | |
| Members | 200 (2009) |
Key people | Peggy Smith, President of the Board of Directors Helge Hellberg, Executive Director |
| Employees | 7 (as of December 2009) |
| Volunteers | 600 (2009) |
| Website | www.marinorganic.org |
Marin Organic is a non-profit 501(c)(3) association of organic producers headquartered in Point Reyes Station, California. Founded in 1999 with the goal of creating the first all-organic county,[1] Marin Organic is known for working with the government, community groups and organizations, fellow ranchers and farmers to advance the practice of sustainable, organic production. The organization is internationally recognized model for building economically viable, community-based local foodsheds.[2][3]
Marin Organic was founded to advance the interest of the small farmers of Marin County, California.[4] The association of 66 organically certified farmers is known for sustainable agriculture and produces vegetables greens, fruit, cheese and meat.[4] The Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA) is recognized by the USDA Organic Program (NOP) as one of the ten organic certifiers in the US in 2021 that contributed to the National Organic Standards.[5]
History
In 1990, in response to an announcement that the USDA would undertake a process to regulate a National Organic Program, Marin County organic farmers met to discuss the need for stringent standards and locally responsive food systems. Over the next eight years, as practitioners they developed a unique, place-based set of criteria as hallmarks of sustainable, local food production standards, and they worked with the Marin County Agricultural Commissioner's office to create a county-based, local standards for organic certification.[6]
In 1999, the local farmers and producers founded Marin Organic as a farmer-driven, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization to help preserve farming as a way of life in the county.[6] They created a forum for sharing information and best practices among members and instituted protections for Marin's wildlife and habitat. They advocated for the highest standards - to go beyond the national standards for organic and to include economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social equity - the three pillars of sustainability.
In 2004, the organization was able to raise enough money through individual donations, foundation and government grants to hire a full-time executive director, development director and membership coordinator.[7] Soon after, the Point Reyes all organic Farmer's Market, and the Organic School Lunch program were launched. The organization's notoriety increased precipitously in November 2005, when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Marin County as guests of Marin Organic.[2]
At the time of Marin Organic's founding, Marin County had a total of 13 certified organic producers and 400 certified organic acres. Since that time, Marin Organic has led and supported educational and farmer outreach efforts directly and indirectly resulting in the certification of nearly sixty operations and conversion of more than 20,000 acres (81 km2) from conventional agricultural production to organic production. Today, the organization's membership includes thirty-seven local, small and mid-scale organic producers. Delegates from all over the world have come to study Marin Organic as a model for sustainable, community-based agriculture.[3]
Board of directors
As of December 2009, the Marin Organic Board of Directors are:[8]
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