SMALL FARM CENTER • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Small Farm News

—CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 —CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

VOLUME 11 2000

IN THIS ISSUE

by Desmond Jolly, extension economist, UCDavis, and director, Small Farm Program

Organic ConferenceEducates Growers

1 From Cottage Industry to Con-glomerates: The Transformation ofthe U.S. Organic Foods Industry

Organic Conference EducatesGrowers

From Cottage Industry toConglomerates: TheTransformation of the U.S.Organic Foods Industry

Organic agriculture developedduring the 1960s and1970s as part of the counter-

cultural response to the conformist,bland, middle-American culture of the

1950s. In its early incarnations, it was essentially a cottage industry comprised of verysmall-scale operations. It took some time for the values of organic production topenetrate mainstream consumers, but a recent marketing survey revealed that about athird of U.S. food consumers purchase organics with varying degrees of frequency.

Organic products now represent a $3.5 billion market, growing at a rate of 15 – 20percent per year. Clearly, this represents an important economic opportunity that hasbegun to attract attention from serious business interests that will eventually “main-stream” organic foods while possibly marginalizing the small-scale farmers that nur-tured the industry in its infancy and growth. California’s organic industry is the mostdeveloped among the U.S. states and territories, and the evolution of the structure offarm production is likely predictive of the pattern that will evolve in the U.S. as awhole.

Structural Trends and ProspectsA survey of California organic growers covering 1992 – 1995 concluded that “...reg-

istered organic agriculture was highly concentrated. Two percent of all registered farms,those who grossed over $500,000 annually, captured over half of the state’s total sales.Less than 3 percent of all growers, who grossed between $250,000 and $500,000 an-nually, gained another one-sixth of total revenue. At the low end of the scale, two-thirds of all farms, which grossed under $10,000 per year, realized less than 5 percentof all sales in the state.” Statistical Review of California's Organic Industry, 1992-1995,University of California Agricultural Issues Center, (1998).

Along with scientific solutions andnovel ideas, a sense of hope for thefuture of organic agriculture was

conveyed to farmers at the Organic Farm-ing Conference in the San Joaquin ValleyJune 29-30 in Reedley, California.

Successful organic farmers, brokers oforganic foods and business people who cre-ate organic inputs reminded participantsthat organic farmers serve a market thatcommercial agriculture cannot satisfy, andthat market is growing.“There is a strongfuture for organic farms,” says UC SmallFarm Program farm advisor RichardMolinar. “But there are also many chal-lenges to face on the way to producing andmarketing organic food.”

Helping farmers overcome challengeswas Molinar’s goal when he set out to cre-ate the valley’s first organic farming con-ference. He teamed up with UC Coopera-tive Extension, California Certified Or-ganic Farmers, the UC Small Farm Centerand Reedley College to develop an eventthat drew more than 100 participants. “Or-ganic farmers are up against a lot,” Molinarsaid. “We wanted to send them back to thefarm with concrete information to put touse on their farming operations, and also

by Jeannette Warnert, public informationrepresentative, University of California

Organic apples, shown here at the Davis Food Co-op in Davis,California, are part of the $3.5 billion organic industry.

3 10Program News

Best Management Practices forPromoting Food Safety in OrganicProduction: Water Quality

Remembering Kathleen Barsotti

Farm Conference 20008 12

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SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

Jolly Reappointed UC Small Farm Program DirectorBy Jeannette Warnert, public information representative, University of California

UC Davis agricultural economistDesmond Jolly has been ap-pointed to a second five-year

term as director of the state-funded UCSmall Farm Program, which provides re-search-based information and counsel toCalifornia’s small-scale farmers.

“Dr. Jolly is an internationally recog-nized expert on small farm issues, with adeep understanding and appreciation ofthe many challenges and barriers facingCalifornia’s small and limited resourcegrowers,” said UC Agriculture and Natu-ral Resources Associate Vice PresidentHenry Vaux, who announced the appoint-ment. “I’m pleased that he agreed to servea second term.”

Small-scale farms, defined by the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) asfarms with annual gross sales between$1,000 and $250,000, number nearly60,000 in California and represent $2.3billion in annual production. The UCSmall Farm Program includes the UCSmall Farm Center based in Davis, whichserves as a clearinghouse for small-scaleproduction information. The center’s staffresponds to the needs of farmers, market-ers, farm advisors and government agen-cies by conducting conferences, publish-ing materials and maintaining a libraryof journals, books and scientific reports.

The UC SmallFarm Program alsoreaches into com-munities with full-time farm advisorsbased in Fresno,Tulare, Santa Bar-bara, San Benito,San Diego, and SanJoaquin counties.They develop andimplement educa-tion programs and

conduct research on fruit and vegetablevarieties, pest control methods, culturalpractices and irrigation strategies bestsuited for small-scale farmers in their lo-calities.

During his five years at the helm, Jollyhas maintained the program’s role as an im-portant source of technical information andhas made additional efforts in the arena offarming issues and public policy.

“We’re now more involved with issueslike pesticide safety, resource management,food safety, and encouraging and facilitat-ing diversified farm enterprises to includethings like agricultural tourism, value-added production and marketing,” Jollysaid. “We’ve tried to improve the accessi-bility of the USDA and the Land Grant sys-tem to small farmers. I think we’ve hadsome measure of success there.”

In 1997, U.S. Department of Agricul-ture Secretary Dan Glickman appointedJolly to the National Commission onSmall Farms. The commission held hear-ings in farming communities nationwideand submitted a report to Glickman in1999 titled “A Time to Act,” which con-tains the most significant policy recom-mendations made to the Clinton Admin-istration on small-scale, family farms.

Jolly now sits on the National Advi-sory Board for Research, Extension, Eco-nomics and Education, the top researchand education advisory board for USDA.The board looks at the USDA’s range ofresearch and education activities andmakes recommendations for policy andfunding priorities.

In the coming years, Jolly said he willcontinue to focus efforts on a diversity ofactivities. Initiatives promoting foodsafety, agri-tourism and value-added en-terprises will be at the top of the SmallFarm Program’s agenda. In addition, Jollysaid he plans to continue working withpublic policy makers.

“I would like to have our state’s policymakers get a sense of what contributionssmall, family farms are providing Califor-nia, and determine how the legislature andlocal governments can facilitate the sus-tainability of these farmers,” Jolly said. ■

From the UC Office of the President

Desmond Jollydelivers the dinnerkeynote present-ation at the SecondNational SmallFarm Conference inSt. Louis, Missouri,October 1999.

Visit the Small Farm Centerweb site at

www.sfc.ucdavis.edu

“I would like to have our state'spolicy makers get a sense ofwhat contributions small,family farms are providing

California.”—Desmond Jolly

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VOLUME II 2000 SMALL FARM NEWS

SMALL FARM NEWS is published by the Small FarmCenter, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis,CA 95616-8699; phone (530) 752-8136; fax (530) 752-7716; e-mail: sfcenter@ucdavis.edu;web site: http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu

Director: Desmond Jolly, dajolly@ucdavis.eduSecretary: Birgit Hempel, sfcenter@ucdavis.eduNewsletter Editor: Susan McCue, semccue@ucdavis.eduPostgraduate Researcher: Janeen Simon,sfcstudents@ucdavis.eduTechnical Assistant: Solomon Teklu, steklu@ucdavis.eduAdministrative Assistant: Linda Vieira,lmvieira@ucdavis.eduStudent Intern: Scott Whittington

The Small Farm Center links those who need information onsmall-scale farming with those who have the information. TheCenter produces publications and a newsletter; sponsorsconferences and seminars; holds a library of periodicals,reports and books; gives referrals; and answers requests forinformation.

Readers are encouraged to send us information, express views,and contact us for assistance. Mention of a specific product isintended for the reader’s information — not as a recommenda-tion of that specific product.

Harold Baeten, retired biology professor, St.Norbert College, Wisconsin, visited the center andspoke with technical assistant Solomon Tekluabout ways to assist Wisconsin family dairy farm-ers.

AwardsMichael Yang, field assistant, UC Coopera-

tive Extension, Fresno County, received a SpotAward for his work as a Hmong translator for UCIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) Programclasses. With twodays’ notice, Yangstepped in to teachtwo evening pesticidesafety courses a weekfor six weeks.

The Davis-basedDANR Unit EmployeeSpot Award is given inrecognition of a sig-nificant one-time con-tribution to its pro-grams or departments. The award was cosponsoredby the Small Farm Program.

Jennifer Weber, program representative, IPM,and a member of the Small Farm Workgroup, alsoreceived a Spot Award in recognition of her ex-traordinary efforts in teaching classes for the sameIPM project.

Michael Yang presents a 30-minuteradio broadcast for Hmong farmers.

Small FarmCenter

AppointmentsDesmond Jolly, agricultural economist, De-

partment of Agriculture and Resource Econom-ics, UC Davis, has been reappointed director ofthe UC Small Farm Program. See related storyon page 2.

VisitorsMembers of the Danish Agriculture Exten-

sion and Advisory Center visited with repre-sentatives of several UC Davis departments andprograms to learn about different areas of agri-cultural outreach. Susan McCue, web manager,Small Farm Center, presented features of theSmall Farm Center web site to demonstrate itsvariety of information technology transfer meth-ods.

Desmond Jolly briefed various interna-tional visitor delegations on the Small Farm Pro-gram. Visitors included a group of farmers, re-searchers, and members of the legislature fromAlbania, led by Professor Velesin Peculi, rectorof the Agricultural University of Tirana.

Jolly also hosted Darius Bartecki, advisorto the Minister of Economy, Poland, for an ex-change on alternative enterprises for Poland’ssmall scale agriculture.

Donna Frances, school principal at Life forEthiopian Children in rural Ethiopia, visited theSmall Farm Center for information about inter-national permaculture and earthen constructionfor animal shelters.pr

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SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

From Cottage –FROM PAGE 1

kets in all but their product lines. Twomajor supermarket chains have evolved,both listed on the stock exchange. A re-port in the January 1997 issue of NaturalFoods Merchandiser magazine is indica-tive of trends in retail and wholesale mar-keting. According to the article by Mat-thew Patsky, “Consolidations, mergers,acquisitions and public offerings werecommon themes among businesses mak-

ing up what we call the Healthy Livingcategory. On average, these companies,comprised of publicly traded companiesin the natural products industry, postedalmost 50 percent gains in 1997.”

“The largest industry players, includ-ing Pittsburgh’s General Nutrition; Aus-tin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market;and Wild Oats Markets in Boulder, Colo-rado; all saw their stock prices more thandouble during the year. The total equityvalue of the publicly traded industry play-

ers (market capitalization) surpassed $10billion for the first time. As a result, in-dustrial money managers met this mile-stone by including these stocks in the port-folios at most major mutual fund houses.Not surprisingly, some of the best perform-ing funds for 1997 held large positions inthis sector.”

Patsky’s article describes one acquisi-tion by Whole Foods, which acquiredAmrion for $160 million. Further, “...bothWhole Foods and Wild Oats continued toacquire well positioned retail operationsin target markets such as Chicago andsouthern Florida.” The Hain Food Groupacquired Westbrae Natural in Carson,California, and entered the $100 millionsales category.

In the food processing and productfabrication arena, a similar trend towardsincreased consolidation can be witnessed.For example, Shamrock Holdings, a ven-ture capital company operating withDisney family money, now owns Fantas-tic Foods and Cascadian Farms, a formerindependent organic food company. Otherventure capital companies own Health Val-ley Co. and Breadshop’s Natural Products.As Patsky notes, “All of these companiesare well-positioned to grow rapidly. They

Table 1 shows the number and per-centage of California farms that were cer-tified and registered between 1992 and1995.

From Table 1, we observe that as thesize of the operation increases, the prob-ability that the operation will be certifiedand registered as organic increases, andthere is a high and direct correlation be-tween size of operation and the probabil-ity of being certified. If certification be-comes a significant marketing element,which it is almost certain to become, thenthe smallest producers may become in-creasingly marginalized.

The paradox in the growth and pen-etration of organics into America’s con-sumption mainstream is that small-scaleproducers were among its most articulateadvocates and supported a national or-ganic standard. But the costs of certifica-tion, along with the transaction costs thatmarketers seek to minimize, means thatsmall-scale producers will not be mean-ingful players in the organic industry assuch.

As mainstreaming continues, the roleof health food stores is decreasing andnatural food supermarkets are develop-ing, mimicking conventional supermar-

Table 1. Percentage of California Farms Certified and Registered between 1992 and 1995.

Registered Organic Certified Organic Certified/RegisteredOrganic (%)

Sales Class 1992-93 1994-95 1994-95 1994-95

$0-10,000 740 907 188 21$10,001 – 25,000 142 149 72 48$25,001 – 50,000 93 97 66 68$50,001 – 100,000 73 90 78 87$100,001 – 250,000 56 65 54 83$250,001–500,000 32 34 29 85$500,001–1,000,000 13 13 13 100$1,000,001 and above 8 17 17 100

Total Number of Growers 1,157 1,372 517 38

Source: University of California Agricultural Issues Center, Statistical Review of California’s Organic Agriculture, 1992 – 1995.

“But the costs of certification ... meansthat small-scale producers will not be

meaningful players in the organicindustry as such.”

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VOLUME II 2000 SMALL FARM NEWS

becomes more characterized by monopo-listic competition and eventually, perhaps,oligopoly.

Small scale farmers will need to evenmore keenly develop relationship market-ing systems based on direct exchangeswith consumers, grounded in trust and

intimacy. They may need to develop newmechanisms of product differentiation tocompete with larger entities. If they aresuccessful in this direction, many can con-tinue to be viable operations for at leastthe next couple of decades.

ReferencesPatsky, Matthew. Growth, consolidation,1997 highlights. Natural Foods Merchan-diser, January 1998, 1–4.

University of California Agricultural Is-sues Center. Statistical review ofCalifornia’s organic industry, 1992 – 1995,July 1998.

This paper was presented at the Interna-tional Federation of Organic AgricultureMovements (IFOAM) 2000: The WorldGrows Organic Conference, in Basel, Swit-zerland, August 25-September 2, 2000. ■

have the financial resources and the com-mitment of their venture owners; theywill continue to acquire other naturalproducts brand name companies. Anybrand with more than $10 million in rev-enue is a potentially attractive acquisitionfor any of these four growing companies.”

ConclusionsTo date, the evidence on farm struc-

ture of the California organic industrystrongly suggests that small-scale familyoperations will be increasinglymarginalized from mainstream organicmarkets. And based on the trends in thefood fabrication and marketing segmentsof the industry, small health food storeswill either be absorbed as parts of national

retail chains or themselves bemarginalized as small players in the bur-geoning natural foods and organic foodsindustry. As of December 1999, Wild Oatsowned 105 stores, having gone on a store-buying binge. Drawing inferences fromthe performance of the conventional foodproduction and marketing system, we canpredict that over time, prices of organicfresh products may decrease somewhat interms of the differentials from their con-ventional counterparts.

Additionally, the farm share will de-cline, while the marketing share will in-crease. Farmers will supply raw product,and food companies will be responsiblefor the value-added component. Brand-ing and labeling, promotion, advertisingand other selling costs will take on greaterand greater significance and present sig-nificant barriers to entry. The level ofcompetition will decline as the industry

Farmers who want to generate in-come by inviting visitors to theirfarms may submit farm informa-

tion for the UC Small Farm Center on-line agri-tourism directory, which is nowunder development.

Information on everything from in-formal farm stays to well-established agri-tourism enterprises is being cataloged ina web database to give tourists an easy wayto search for a farm experience in specificcounties or ZIP codes.

Agri-tourism can take many forms.Roadside stands and farmers’ markets of-fer farm-fresh produce and interactionwith growers. Ranches may open to thepublic for wildlife watching and hunting.Ag tours, on-farm bed and breakfasts, anddude ranches give tourists the fresh air,open space and relaxation of country life.

U-pick operations, pumpkin patches,Christmas tree farms, corn mazes, farm-animal petting zoos, wine tasting, ag heri-tage museums, festivals and fairs all at-tract visitors.

To submit an agricultural operationto the UC Small Farm Center agri-tour-ism directory, send the following informa-tion:

• Name of operator/owner• Name of operation• Type of operation (farm stand,

U-pick, cattle ranch, etc.)• Street address/city/state/zip• County• Phone/fax/email/Web address• Hours of operation• Products/services/special events• Directions to the site (major high

ways, junctions, etc.)• Contact name

Mail information to the Small FarmCenter, University of California, OneShields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8699;email sfcenter@ucdavis.edu; phone (530)752-8136; fax (530) 752-7716. ■

Agri-tourismInformationNeeded

The Davis Food Co-op in Davis, California, sells bothorganic and conventional produce.

Farmers' markets provide organic farmers with directconsumer interactions that can build trust and intimacy.

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SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

Organic Conference –FROM PAGE 1

Carolyn Foxe of C & C Vermiculture discusses her organicvermiculture operation with tour members. Photo byJeannette Warnert.

This worm separator machine was custom-built for C & CVerimiculture. Photo by Jeannette Warnert.

where integrated pest management plantpathologist Jim Stapleton and UC Davis en-tomologist Charlie Summers reviewed re-search that shows growing tomatoes overreflective mulches is an effective methodof enhancing productivity by repellingaphids that transmit plant diseases.

The shade of towering pecan treeswelcomed the group to its second stop,C & C Vermiculture, a worm compostingand consulting business near Visalia. Twoyears ago, Carolyn Foxe and Charmaine

Harris began using red worms to compostorganic material on the berms betweenpecan trees at the Harris Ranch. The wormsexpedite the composting process, trans-forming such inputs as dairy manure, greenwaste, grape pomace, gin trash and othermaterials into a nutrient- and microbe-dense soil amendment.

Tour participants were faced with astark contrast at New Era Farms ofVisalia, a 60-acre facility where dairy ma-nure is composted on a much larger scale.Heat waves blurred the horizon and visi-

tors squeezed into a sliver of shade from aparked compost turner as Ralph Jurgensdescribed how his operation creates andmixes custom blends of compost for indi-vidual farmers.

Depending on the chemistry of hisclient’s soil, a fraction of limestone, gyp-sum, potassium or micronutrients mightbe mixed into the compost after its finalturn.

At the Good Bugs Insectary east ofVisalia, Nick Macris explained howAphytis wasps are reared and marketed tocitrus growers for red scale control. Two-foot-long pod shaped squash are inoculatedwith scale. Aphytis that are later sprinkledon sting the scale and lay eggs that willhatch and be harvested for sale to farmers.

Another group of conference partici-pants visited several successful organicfarms, including the T & D Willey Farmsin Madera County, where owner TomWilley demonstrated equipment he uses tolay plastic for soil solarization and formhis vegetable planting beds. The group vis-ited Sherman Thomas Farm, where farmmanager Mike Braga led a tour of its or-ganic fruit and nut orchards. He also dem-onstrated a propane weed burner andshowed the group an on-farm dehydrator.

The conference wasn’t only for small-scale farmers. The final tour visited fourlarge-scale organic operations, where asmany as 3,000 acres of cropland are de-voted to organic production. On the or-ganic portion of John Diener’s West Sidefarm, there were 20 acres of French filletbeans, 50 acres of sweet corn in staggeredplantings and a large field of Mexican corndestined for organic tortillas.

“One of the differences we saw at thelarge farms was that some are farming otherfields conventionally as well,” Molinar said.“Organic production on the West Side wason a larger scale, but the principles andpractices were virtually the same as withsmaller growers.”

Molinar said the conference planningteam will reassemble to hold a secondorganic farming conference at Reedley Col-lege in May 2001. ■

the desire to maintain their commitmentto natural, sustainable farming practices.”

The farmers’ commitment to sustain-able production was galvanized by theconference’s keynote speaker John Ikerd,professor emeritus of the University of Mis-souri and an outspoken critic of the trendin America toward large, conventional cor-porate farming.

Ikerd said corporate farming hasserved neither the farmer nor the con-sumer. Corporate farms increase produc-tion, which drives down prices for farm-ers and eliminates the connection betweenthe farmer and the land. The environmentsuffers, he said, when farming systemscharacterized by specialization, standard-ization and mechanization rely on pesti-cides and chemical fertilizers. Consolida-tion results in failing rural communities,he said, and leaves consumers with lessnutritious, less flavorful foods.

“For farming to be sustainable, farm-ers must love the land they farm and eachfarmer can only love so much land,” Ikerdsaid. The crowd expressed their approvalof Ikerd with a spontaneous and sustainedstanding ovation.

“It was very validating to me to knowthat I am on track with someone who hasdone the research,” said Mark McAfee, aKerman farmer who produces organicapples, almonds, alfalfa and soon, organicmilk. “My farm is a good example of sus-tainable agriculture.”

Sessions and ToursConference participants spent the first

afternoon in 25 breakout sessions catego-rized in five subject areas: vegetables, fruitsand vines, soil/compost/nutrition, market-ing and general. A diversity of speakersfrom UC Davis, UC Cooperative Exten-sion, the UC Kearney Agricultural Center,the USDA Agricultural Research Service,Fresno State University and several privatecompanies gave farmers the opportunityto select topics to meet their specific needs.

Three tours were organized for thesecond day to further tailor the conferenceto participants’ interests. One tour beganat the UC Kearney Agricultural Center,

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VOLUME II 2000 SMALL FARM NEWS

■ According to the March 2000 Kiplinger Agriculture Letter,two new programs from USDA are designed to help organicfarmers. A pilot federal crop insurance program is the be-ginning of an effort to get full coverage for organic farmers.

The pilot program will be implemented in the areas of the country with existing state orprivate organic certification systems. The second project is a marketing order program.Similar to marketing order programs for other commodities, organic farmers will re-ceive help in promoting their organic fruits and vegetables from the USDA AgricultureMarketing Service and other project cooperators.

■ UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors across the state are conducting research onpotential new crops for small scale farmers. New and ongoing research studies focus oncrops including capers, lychees and longhans, blueberries, edamame, chili peppers, andherbs. Learn more about these crops by clicking on the News Tips: New Crops forCalifornia link at http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/research/research.html or call the SmallFarm Center at (530) 752-8136.

■ Free seed is available in limited quantities for use in educational, agricultural re-search, or breeding purposes from the USDA Agriculture Research Service NationalPlant Germplasm System (NPGS). NPGS is a plant genebank network that collectsgermplasm (seeds) worldwide to maintain a constant source for scientific study. TheNPGS collection is distributed from its web site at http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/

■ The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) recently asked certifying agen-cies how many farmers they were certifying. OFRF found that at the end of 1999, 6,600U.S. farmers were certified as organic farmers, an increase from 1,300 farmers duringthe previous two years. The findings were part of an update of the National OrganicCertifiers Directory compiled by OFRF. The directory is available on the OFRF websiteat http://www.ofrf.org/about_organic/certifier.html.

■ Farmers involved in agri-tourism are invited to submit a free listing in the upcomingSmall Farm Center’s online agri-tourism directory. For details about submitting youragri-tourism operation information, see the related story on page 5.

A group of California farmers looking for a way to cooperatively advertise theirCSA projects has created a new web site called Local Harvest. The site provides con-sumers with a national database to locate CSAs, farmers’ markets, farm stands, and U-pick operations in their areas. Farmers also can create, for free, an extensive listingabout their farms. Visit the web site at www.Localharvest.com.

■ The Organic Materials Review Institute has released its Brand Name Product List,which provides the OMRI recommendation on the acceptability of certain productsused for organic production, processing, and handling. The Brand Name Product List isavailable on the Internet at http://www.omri.org.

News NotesScholarships forFarmers Available

An estimated 100 scholarships areavailable to small and limitedresource farm operators who

would like to attend the Agricultural Mar-keting Outreach Conference in Modesto,California, October 31-November 2, 2000.

The Small Farm Program is cospon-soring the conference, along with the CalPoly, San Luis Obispo College of Agricul-ture, and USDA's Farm Service Agency andAgricultural Marketing Service.

Featuring marketing tools and re-sources for small-scale farmers, the con-ference will help participants utilize mar-ket information to determine current pricetrends and to explore alternative crops andenterprises that will help them compete inniche markets.

Farmers who are selected for scholar-ships will have all conference expensespaid by the sponsors.

To obtain an application form, callBirgit Hempel at the Small Farm Center,(530) 752-8136.

Workgroup MeetingProceedings Offered

Plans are under way at the Small FarmCenter to develop a proceedingspublication from presentations

given at the 2000 Small Farm WorkgroupContinuing Conference, held this year inWatsonville, California, May 16-18, 2000.

Focusing on field grown cut flowers,the conference included extensive presen-tations from growers, Cooperative Exten-sion specialists and farm advisors, and UCDavis faculty members.

Topics included cut flower productionand marketing, postharvest handling, dis-ease and pest management, and informa-tion resources.

The conference also toured several cutflower operations in the Watsonville area,including the UC Santa Cruz Center forAgroecology and Sustainable Food SystemsFarm and Garden. ■

■ ■ ■

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SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

Best Practices for Promoting Food Safety inOrganic Production: Water Quality

With the introduction of thePresident’s 1997 Food SafetyInitiative, the national

“From Farm to Table” program was in-stituted. This program drew attentionto the ways growers can help managefood safety risks on their farms.

As organically-grown fruits andvegetables become more successful inthe marketplace, organic farmersshould continue to give attention to theissue of microbial food safety. The fol-lowing guidelines on water use canhelp organic farmers manage and re-duce microbial risks.

• Be sure that high-quality water isused for all operations where thewater comes into contact with theedible portion of the plant.

• As the possibility increases for wa-ter to make direct contact withfruit, it becomes easier for watercontamination to be transferred.Some growers find it useful todivide farm operations intoagricultural and postharvest opera-tions. This helps to divert thehighest-quality water to the laterstages of food production.

• Be sure irrigation water does notcontaminate produce. While nocomprehensive microbial stan-dards for agricultural water havebeen established, state regulationsrequire that reclaimed water usedfor irrigation does not exceed 2.2total coliforms per 100 mL. WorldHealth Organization (WHO)guidelines specify less than 1,000fecal coliforms per 100 mL ofwater as acceptable. We recom-mend that these limits be used asguides until more definitive data isavailable.

• Contact between irrigation waterand edible plant parts should beminimized. This may includefavoring drip or furrow irrigationinstead of spray irrigation. If over-head irrigation must be used, thegrower should use water with lessthan 2.2 E. coli per 100 mL water.Minimizing contact between plantsand water when contact isn’t nec-essary acts as a safety barrier tocross-contamination between irri-gation water (which is oftenreclaimed water or surface water)and produce.

• Protect the water source. Factorssuch as run-off, flooding and ani-mal waste may cause contamina-tion in the water supply. Diversionberms and buffer areas may helpprotect the water source fromcontaminants brought in by run-off and flooding. Nearby animalproduction may pose risks towater quality due to high volumesof animal waste production.Water contamination from animalwaste has been shown to be in-volved in outbreaks of E. coliO157:H7. The use of fences orgates may help keep animals out.

• Maintain and repair wells regul-arly. This includes having wellcasings inspected regularly andrepaired as needed. Growers whorely on wells for their water sourceshould have wells inspected andtheir water tested annually by awater quality expert.

• The grower should be aware of his/her certifying agency's guidelinesfor water disinfectants. Organicoperations may not permit thesame levels of chlorine for sanitiz-

September isNationalFood SafetyEducationMonth. TheSmall Farm

Center is cooperating with USDAand the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration at both farm andconsumer levels to promote safefood handling and preparationpractices. For more information,visit the Small Farm Center website at www.sfc.ucdavis.edu orwww.FoodSafety.gov/September.

ing irrigation equipment or forwater disinfection that conven-tional growers use. California Cer-tified Organic Farmers allow amaximum of 50 parts per millionof chlorine to come into initialcontact with edible produce. Theyalso stipulate that the flush waterfrom irrigation equipment may notcontain more than 4 parts per mil-lion of chlorine, the maximum fordrinking water. Each organic cer-tifying agency has its own guidelines; consult with your agency forspecifics. ■

Written by Shantana Goerge, postgraduateresearcher, from materials developed byTrevor Suslow, Extension specialist, Depart-ment of Vegetable Crops, UC Davis.

Best management practices help organic farmers reducemicrobial risks on crops like these organic apricots atthe Davis Food Co-op in Davis, California.

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VOLUME II 2000 SMALL FARM NEWSSm

all F

arm

Pro

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ublica

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s

The Specialtyand Minor Crops

Handbook

The Small FarmHandbook

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Updated and expandedfrom the first edition, the Spe-cialty and Minor Crops Hand-book contains 63 crop profiles,a comprehensive bibliography,a glossary of Asian vegetables,and an index to common andscientific crop names.

To order, call the SmallFarm Center at (530) 752-8136. Cost: $35 plus tax andshipping.

This practical guide coverstopics including livestock andcrop production, buying prop-erty and equipment, dealingwith taxes and regulations, andmarketing.

To order, call the SmallFarm Center at (530) 752-8136. New price: $15 plus taxand shipping.

ResourcesPublications Web Sites

Free web pub-lications focusingon organic veg-etable production in California are avail-able on the Small Farm Center web site athttp://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/research/organic.html or by calling the Small FarmCenter at (530) 752-8136. UC authors in-clude Mark Gaskell, farm advisor, San LuisObispo and Santa Barbara counties; andBenny Fouche, farm advisor, San JoaquinCounty. Titles include:

• Organic Certification, Farm ProductionPlanning, and Marketing

• Soil Management and Soil Quality forOrganic Crops

• Weed Management for Organic Crops• Insect Pest Management for Organic

Crops• Plant Disease Management for Organic

Crops

The Organic Materials Review Insti-tute (OMRI) has released the third OMRIGeneric Materials List, which contains in-formation on more than 500 substances,and the U.S. National Organic StandardsBoards’ recommendations on the materi-als. Cost: $50. Contact: OMRI, P.O. Box11558, Eugene, OR 97440; phone: (541)343-7600; http://www.omri.org/

The National Organic Certifiers Direc-tory is available on the Internet atwww.ofrf.org/about_organic/certifier.htmlor from the Organic Farming ResearchFoundation, P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA95061, (831) 426-6606.

Sustainable Vegetable Production fromStart-Up to Market guides beginning veg-etable growers in moderate-scale vegetableproduction using sustainable practices.Publication number: NRAES-104. Cost:$42. Contact: NRAES, Cooperative Exten-sion, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY14853-5701; phone: (607) 255-7654; fax:(607) 254-8770; http://www.nraes.org.

ATTRA List: Suppliers of Organic,Non-GE, or Heirloom Vegetable Seedh t t p : / / w w w. a t t r a . o rg / a t t r a - p u b /altseed.html

USDA-ARS Biocontrol of Plant DiseasesLabhttp://www.barc.usda.gov/psi/bpdl/bpdl.html

USDA National Organic Programhttp://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/index.htm

Organic Trade Associationhttp://www.ota.com/

Organic Farming Research Foundationhttp://www.ofrf.org

California Certified Organic Farmershttp://www.ccof.org/

Organic Farmers’ Market Associationhttp://web.iquest.net/ofma/

University of Illinois Farm.Doc DecisionOutreach Centralhttp://web.aces.uiuc.edu/farm.doc.

How to Get Information from USDAhttp: / /www.usda.gov/news/howto/howto.htm

USDA Agricultural Biotechnologyhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelineshttp://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/crops-agriculture.html

UC Sustainable Agriculture Researchand Education Programhttp://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/sarep

UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecologyand Sustainable Food Systemshttp://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/sarep

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SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

T he agricultural communitymourns the passing ofKathleen Barsotti, 51, who died

July 2, 2000, after a valiant nine-yearbattle with breast cancer.

Barsotti was a member of the UCSmall Farm Program Advisory Commit-tee and a strong supporter of the pro-gram. Last year she received the SmallFarm Program 1999 Pioneer Agricultur-ist Award for her lifelong commitmentto organic farming, her dedication tohelping other organic farmers, and herefforts to establish the Davis Farmers’Market. She will be remembered as aninspiration to the organic farming com-munity, and to women growers in par-ticular.

“Kathleen was an exemplary leaderwho pioneered innovations in familyfarming that not only benefited herfarm, but opened up opportunities forothers,” said Desmond Jolly, Small FarmProgram director. “We will sorely missher.”

The proprietor of Capay ValleyFruits and Vegetables, Barsotti brought

innovation to her 70-acre organic farm-ing operation for more than two decades.She received a master’s degree in ecologyin 1974 from UC Davis and started farm-ing organically with four partners on asmall plot of land in the Capay Valleynorthwest of Davis.

A pioneer in organic farming andsmall scale marketing, Barsotti was amongthe first small, organic farmers to under-stand the potential for specialty cropsmarketed to chefs who created the newCalifornia cuisine. Her introduction of the

Bintje potato to the San Francisco mar-ket was a textbook example of success-ful specialty marketing. She also ran asuccessful Community Supported Agri-culture program that drew subscriptionsfrom consumers as far away as the BayArea.

Barsotti also was a founding mem-ber of the Davis Farmers’ Market 25 yearsago with Martin Barnes, Jeff and AnnieMain of Good Humus Produce, andHenry Espenshade. Her family grew upin the market, and many hours of herlife were devoted to ensuring the market’ssuccess. She is survived by her husbandTerry Schroeder, and sons Che, Noah,Thaddeus and Freeman.

The Small Farm Program was indeedlucky to be graced by Kathy Barsotti’spresence. We will always remember herwarm smile, her positive attitude, andher ongoing dedication to small-scalefarmers. The Small Farm Program's Pio-neer Agriculturist Award will be renamed“The Kathleen Barsotti Pioneer Agricul-turist Award” to honor the inspirationand leadership of Kathleen Barsotti. ■

Remembering Kathleen Barsotti

The Small Farm Program is issu-ing a call for nominations for the2000 Pedro Ilic Agricultural

Awards. The awards will be presentedat Farm Conference, November 17-19,2000, in Santa Rosa.

The awards were established in1994 to honor Pedro Ilic, farm advisorin Fresno County from 1976 to 1994.Awards are given to an outstanding edu-cator and an outstanding farmer se-lected on the basis of some of the at-tributes which contributed to Pedro’ssuccess. Criteria include:

• The ability to envision what can bedone and the imagination, energy,and intellect to translate that visioninto a successful activity

• To be part of the solution, not theproblem — critical in thinking butconstructive in approach

• To act as an advocate and risktaker

• To be an effective teacher, instillingself-esteem and constantly encourag-ing others

• To be a dedicated professional whobelieves in his or her work

• To have determination, exuberance,high energy, and genuine friendlinessfor all people,with the conviction thatthe smallest is as important as thelargest

• To have good personal and familyvalues.

The above criteria should be clearlyshown in the nominations. Forms maybe obtained from the Small Farm Cen-ter; phone (530) 752-8136; or e-mailsfcenter@ucdavis.edu.

The 2000 Pedro Ilic Agricultural Awards

The Kathleen Barsotti 2000 PioneerAgriculturalist Award also will bepresented at Farm Conference 2000.If you have suggestions for nomina-tions, send them to Desmond Jolly,director, Small Farm Center, Univer-sity of California, One ShieldsAvenue, Davis, CA 95616-8699;(530) 752-8136.

Kathleen Barsotti

11

VOLUME II 2000 SMALL FARM NEWS

cale

ndar

Add your event to our web site at http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/cgi-win/sfcweb.exe/listevents

Oct. 31 - Nov. 2Agricultural Marketing Outreach Conference forLimited Resource FarmersModesto, CAWorkshop sessions and tours cover topics including loans and grants,marketing, food safety, and export markets. Scholarships are available.See page 7.Contact: Small Farm Center, University of California, One Shields Ave.,Davis, CA 95616; (530) 752-8136.

NOVEMBER3Public Relations for Small WineriesDavis, CAParticipants learn the fundamentals of public relations tools, including howto write a press release and how to identify media needs.Contact: University Extension, University of California, 1333 Research ParkDrive, Davis, CA 95616; (800) 752-0881.

5-7Health and Safety in Western Agriculture: A Practical ApproachSacramento, CAConference topics include field studies, evaluations of safety, intervention,outreach, and intercultural communications, and how these topics areaffected by a diversity of crops, workers, geography, and cultures withinNIOSH Region IX (California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii).Contact: Donna Dold, UC Ag Health and Safety Center, One Shields Ave.,Davis, CA 95616; (530) 752-5253.

17-19California Farm Conference 2000Santa Rosa, CAShort courses, workshops and tours cover topics including agritourism,genetic engineering, specialty crops, livestock production, and marketing.Contact: California Farm Conference 2000; (530) 888-9206;http://www.californiafarmconference.com

DECEMBER12Temas para el Agricultor/Ranchero (Topics for the Farmer/Rancher)Fresno County, CAThis workshop, presented in Spanish, focuses on pest identification andcontrol, crop culture, and soil care and preparation.Contact: Richard Molinar, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County,1720 S. Maple Ave., Fresno, CA 93702; (559) 456-7555.

SEPTEMBER26 (San Diego, CA)October 18 (Watsonville, CA)Frost Control WorkshopParticipants learn about frost formation, chilling and freezing of crops,techniques for frost control, and using databases on the web.Contact: Mary Golden, California Ornamental Research Foundation,493 S. Highland Ave., Ukiah CA, 95482; (707) 462-2425.

27Annual Chile Field DaySanta Clara, CAMore than 150 chile varieties will be shown, including jalapeno,serrano, ancho, new mexican, thai, habanero and wax pod types.Contact: Maria de la Fuente, UC Cooperative Extension, Santa ClaraCounty, 1005 Timothy Drive, San Jose, CA 95133; (408) 299-2635.

OCTOBER14Establishing the Small VineyardUC DavisThis beginning course is the first in a series of classes covering basicviticulture principles and practical aspects of vineyard management.Contact: University Extension, University of California, 1333 ResearchPark Drive, Davis, CA 95616; (800) 752-0881.

17-18Aquatic Weed SchoolWoodland, CAThis two-day workshop covers topics including aquatic weedidentification, biology, and weed control in lakes, ponds, reservoirs,and other bodies of water.Contact: Kitty Schlosser, Weed Research and Information Center,University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616;(530) 752-7091.

26Soil SteamingSalinas, CAThis half-day workshop examines soil steaming, one of the alternativesto methyl bromide. Events include presentations on soil-inhabitingdiseases and weeds, and steaming techniques and demonstrations.Contact: Mary Golden, California Ornamental Research Federation,493 S. Highland Ave., Ukiah CA, 95482; (707) 462-2425.

Oct. 30 - Nov. 3Biology and Technology of Tree Fruit ProductionUC DavisFor orchardists, crop care advisors and pest control advisors, this courseprovides an advanced review of tree fruit plant growth, and currentpest control and production practices.Contact: University Extension, University of California, 1333 ResearchPark Drive, Davis, CA 95616; (800) 752-0881.

12

SMALL FARM NEWS VOLUME 11 2000

Small Farm CenterUniversity of CaliforniaOne Shields AvenueDavis, CA 95616-8699

Official Business610W

Address Services Requested

The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex,disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. The University alsoprohibits sexual harassment. Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture andNatural Resources, 1111 Franklin St., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-0096.

Printed on Recycled Paper

Bulk RateU.S. POSTAGEPAIDDavis, CAPermit No. G-00268

Sponsored by the UC Small FarmCenter and the Agri- and Nature-Tourism Workgroup, short coursetopics include:

• The demand for agriculturaland nature tourism

• The planning process from anoperator’s perspective

• Is this business for you? Assessingyour assets

• Developing a business plan andraising capital

• Product development• Your marketing plan• Advertising and promotion• Community relations and risk

management• Employee development

To register for the Agricultural andNature Tourism Short Course, call the2000 Farm Conference at (530) 888-9206.

Workshop TracksEducation about family farms and food systems

Specialty crops and productsCrop and livestock production

Sustainable farming practicesFarming and food policy

Farmers’ markets

Short CoursesAgricultural and Nature Tourism

Biotechnology and farmingSustainable grape production

The farmer/retailer relationship

ToursNurseries

PermacultureOrganic waste recycling

Sustainable dairy production

http://www.californiafarmconference.comFor more information, call (530) 888-9206

2000 Farm ConferenceHealthy Farms — Healthy Communities

November 17-19, 2000Santa Rosa Junior College

Short Course: Agriculturaland Nature TourismNovember 17, 20002000 Farm Conference