M i O i ’ C ti M k ti Eff tMarin Organic’s Cooperative Marketing EffortMarin Organic’s Cooperative Marketing EffortMarin Organic s Cooperative Marketing EffortMarin Organic s Cooperative Marketing Effort g p gW W b (F /R h G t P )Warren Weber (Farmer/Rancher Grant Program)Warren Weber (Farmer/Rancher Grant Program)( g )

P j t N b FW03 107 Objectives: Results:Project Number: FW03-107 Objectives: Results:j

O l i h l h i l f hi d f i i h d S ifi b fit t th it d l l i l d th f ll iTitle: Marin Organic’s Cooperative Marketing Effort Our goal is to help ensure the survival of ranching and farming in the county and to Specific benefits to the community and local growers include the following:Title: Marin Organic s Cooperative Marketing Effort Our goal is to help ensure the survival of ranching and farming in the county and to Specific benefits to the community and local growers include the following:protect the environment and the local landscape through education and the commercialPrincipal Investigators: protect the environment and the local landscape through education and the commercial We expanded the number of Marin Organic growers from 18 to 23 so that ourPrincipal Investigators: promotion of the area’s regionally produced food

We expanded the number of Marin Organic growers from 18 to 23, so that our Warren Weber Star Route Farms promotion of the area s regionally produced food. membership now includes 90% of the row crop farms in Marin three beefWarren Weber, Star Route Farms p g y p membership now includes 90% of the row crop farms in Marin, three beef H l H llb E ti Di t l i h i i i C i l di i i h b f

p p ,h d d i (T d h l 40 d b dHelge Hellberg, Executive Director We also wish to promote organics in Marin County including increasing the number of ranches and one dairy (Today there are nearly 40 producer members and moreg g,

M i O iWe also wish to promote organics in Marin County including increasing the number of ranches, and one dairy. (Today, there are nearly 40 producer members and more

Marin Organic organic farms and expanding outreach to farmers and ranchers who are interested in than 60 business members including lodges restaurants and caterers )Marin Organic organic farms and expanding outreach to farmers and ranchers who are interested in than 60 business members, including lodges, restaurants, and caterers.)P O Box 962 switching to organic produce

g g )W h d f i d di ib i k d b l i /b iP.O. Box 962 switching to organic produce. We purchased a refrigerated distribution truck and began a gleaning/buying

Pt Reyes Station CA 94956g g p We purchased a refrigerated distribution truck and began a gleaning/buying

Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956 program from our farmers for an organic school lunch program in the Novato(415) 663 9667 program from our farmers for an organic school lunch program in the Novato (415) 663-9667 p g g p gU ifi d S h l Di i

( )h l @ i i Unified School District.helga@marinorganic.org Unified School District.helga@marinorganic.org

i i We brought a Marin Organic farm stand to the more heavily populated suburbanwww marinorganic org We brought a Marin Organic farm stand to the more heavily populated suburban www.marinorganic.org g g y p pf h d ld M i O i d h kpart of the county and sold Marin Organic produce there once a week.part of the county and sold Marin Organic produce there once a week.

Technical Advisor: We held a series of cooking classes called “Cooking West Marin” whereTechnical Advisor: We held a series of cooking classes called Cooking West Marin where Elli Rill E ti Di t

g gl b i h f d l l i d f h i i ThEllie Rilla, Executive Director celebrity chefs used local organic produce to feature their recipes. The money,

UC C i E i M i Ccelebrity chefs used local organic produce to feature their recipes. The money

UC Cooperative Extension Marin County raised went to support the Pt Reyes Farmers MarketUC Cooperative Extension Marin County raised went to support the Pt. Reyes Farmers Market.1650 Novato Blvd Ste 150

pp yM l f i d d f f d f k M i1650 Novato Blvd, Ste. 150 Metal farm signs were produced for use on farms and at farmers markets Marin

Novato CA 94945Metal farm signs were produced for use on farms and at farmers markets, Marin

Novato, CA 94945 Organic signs for retail outlets and farmers markets were distributed free of(415) 499 4204

Organic signs for retail outlets and farmers markets were distributed free of (415) 499-4204

g gh d 50 000 t i t ti di t ib t d f t f( )

ill @ d i d charge, and 50,000 twist ties were distributed free to farmers.erilla@ucdavis.edu charge, and 50,000 twist ties were distributed free to farmers.erilla@ucdavis.edu Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson expanded their organic operation by leasing 4 Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson expanded their organic operation by leasing 4

W W b l ft d H l H llby p g p y g

f l d h h h i l l dWarren Weber, left, and Helge Hellberg,

Western SARE Grant: $13 500 more acres of land where they grew heirloom tomatoes, melons, corn, andexecutive director of Marin Organic converse atWestern SARE Grant: $13,500 more acres of land where they grew heirloom tomatoes, melons, corn, and executive director of Marin Organic, converse at W b ’ S R F i B li peppers In addition to selling to upscale restaurants they also set up aWeber’s Star Route Farms in Bolinas. peppers. In addition to selling to upscale restaurants, they also set up a

f l d id f t dsuccessful roadside farm stand.Sit ti

successful roadside farm stand.Situation: Rancher Kevin Lunny certified 1 400 acres of pasture organic expanded hisCustomers at Toby’s in Pt Reyes Station got to “know the hands that feeds you” through large photos in the storeS u o : Rancher Kevin Lunny certified 1,400 acres of pasture organic, expanded his Customers at Toby s in Pt. Reyes Station got to know the hands that feeds you through large photos in the store.

b f ti t i l d 5 f i ti h k d b kiActions beef operation to include 5 acres of organic artichokes, and began working onWith the recent advent of “industrial organic” agriculture small organic farmers are Actions beef operation to include 5 acres of organic artichokes, and began working on With the recent advent of industrial organic agriculture, small organic farmers are becoming the first certified organic beef rancher in Marin Countyfacing an increasingly bleak future Unable to compete with the economics of scale Wi h hi j d d f ili d h h f l ll d d

becoming the first certified organic beef rancher in Marin County.facing an increasingly bleak future. Unable to compete with the economics of scale With this project we encouraged and facilitated the purchase of locally produced W W b i d t t ith l l i t h l t b th li fg g y p

th t it li d i lt hi ll d h t bl t i iWith this project, we encouraged and facilitated the purchase of locally produced Warren Weber signed a contract with a local private school to be the supplier ofthat capitalized agriculture can achieve, smaller producers have trouble staying in organic food in schools farmers markets and retail outlets We built public awareness

Warren Weber signed a contract with a local private school to be the supplier of p g , p y gb i Addi i ll h i i f ifi i d i i i d

organic food in schools, farmers markets and retail outlets. We built public awareness organic vegetables for their school lunch programbusiness. Additionally, the rising costs of certification, advertising, promotion andg , p organic vegetables for their school lunch program.business. Additionally, the rising costs of certification, advertising, promotion and and understanding of the importance of supporting local sustainable agriculture bylabeling add an extra financial burden This development threatens both the future of and understanding of the importance of supporting local sustainable agriculture by labeling add an extra financial burden. This development threatens both the future of

i i di ti i f ti d tt ti b it h ti drural communities as well as the integrity of small scale farming increasing media coverage, creating an informative and attractive website, hosting and rural communities as well as the integrity of small-scale farming. g g , g , gattending public events and educating growers about sustainable practices Weattending public events, and educating growers about sustainable practices. We

M i O i i i ti f t f th i d d i id d i t t d h d f ith t l d i f ti f t i i dMargin Organic is an association of most of the organic producers and processors in provided interested ranchers and farmers with tools and information for sustaining andMargin Organic is an association of most of the organic producers and processors in i h l i h k d h l d

provided interested ranchers and farmers with tools and information for sustaining and Marin County Over the last six years we have worked together to plant and enhancing their operations increasing the viability of local agricultureMarin County. Over the last six years, we have worked together to plant and enhancing their operations, increasing the viability of local agriculture.implement strategies to address issues that are important to small agriculturalimplement strategies to address issues that are important to small agricultural producers such as a regional marketing strategy that promotes Marin County farmsproducers such as a regional marketing strategy that promotes Marin County farms p g g gy p y

d d t ith t i bl d i t ll d f i tiand products with sustainable and environmentally sound farming practices. Identification signs were provided to M i O i d t ld tp y g p Identification signs were provided to f d il

Marin Organic products were sold at farmers and retailers. Toby’s in Pt Reyes StationToby s in Pt. Reyes Station.

Potential BenefitsPotential Benefits

With many consumers becoming disconnected from the land and a whole cultureWith many consumers becoming disconnected from the land and a whole culture y gt d d it l i lt d th lik it tcentered around it, namely, agriculture, our program and others like it reconnects Work goes on at Star Route Farms , y, g , p g

l i h h l d d b i h fi ld l h blWork goes on at Star Route Farms.

people with the land and brings the field closer to the table.people with the land and brings the field closer to the table.

We now want to increase the number of schoolchildren at farm tours where theyWe now want to increase the number of schoolchildren at farm tours where they learn real world experience about where their food comes from This will benefitlearn real-world experience about where their food comes from. This will benefit pM i ’ i f i th l t d th h lth d f th i iMarin’s organic farmers in the long term and the health and economy of the rising g g y g

i Wi h h i f d i l ill h h igeneration. With the expansion of consumer education, people will see how theirgeneration. With the expansion of consumer education, people will see how their choices directly affect open space water quality air quality wildlife and thechoices directly affect open space, water quality, air quality, wildlife, and the

Marin Organic’s delivery truck strength and balance of our communityMarin Organic s delivery truck. strength and balance of our community.g y