Supporting and promoting organic and sustainable agriculture since 1987
Welcome to the new Organic Beet! 
Our now bi-monthly publication will cover FOG events, happenings throughout the state, the latest with our programs that serve the community, policy work in Washington, D.C., organic certification news and more!

Are you passionate about organic food and farming and want to be part of the growing movement in Florida? Become a Friends of FOG member today and join us! 
Whole Foods Market's  Donate Your Dime campaign raises more than $26,000  to benefit FOG! 

Whole Foods Market will present a check to Florida Organic Growers (FOG) on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, for the first statewide Donate Your Dime campaign!

The campaign raised more than $26,000 to help benefit FOG's programs and services throughout Florida and beyond that impact organic farmers, consumers and just food systems. 

Launching this past January, the Donate Your Dime campaign took place in all 25 Florida stores as an effort to maximize efforts and collectively raise awareness and funds for FOG. This also marked the first time in Whole Foods Market history that a region partnered with an organization for the campaign.

Fresh Access Bucks reaches
more communities and offers incentives to drive visitors

Spring has sprung and farmers markets across the state are in full swing. The produce is bountiful and market shoppers are finding the most delectable produce Florida has to offer! 

Fresh Access Bucks is continuing to reach more communities throughout Florida and offering incentives to drive visitors.   

A program of FOG, Fresh Access Bucks increases the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by providing economic incentives at the point of purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. FAB enables farmers markets to accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and allows SNAP users to purchase double their food dollars for fresh, Florida-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.

Learn more about how we are expanding access across the state and the incentives we are offering at our 28 partner markets by visiting the Fresh Access Bucks website! 
Conversations with an Agrarian Elder featuring Jim Gerritsen
When:    Saturday, April 23, 2016

Where:   Indigo Bistro Restaurant,
                 1690 Raymond Diehl Rd.
                 Tallahassee

Time:      3:30 p.m.

Gerritsen will speak on organic farming and growing potatoes. Then at 5 p.m.., he will speak on building food integrity in the organic community.

Immediately following, there will be an Earth Day feast featuring a delightful supper of locally sourced produce from our local farmers deliciously prepared by Indigo Bistro Restaurant.

REGISTRATION:  $25.00/person by April 19!  

Eat with the Seasons offers tips on how to use
local produce  to make healthier meals
Florida Organic Growers Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program and UF/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP), the SNAP-Ed implementing agency in Florida is partnering with select farmers markets throughout Florida to host Eat with the Seasons.

Eat with the Seasons,” features UF/IFAS Chef David Bearl, American Culinary Federation certified chef for more than 30 years. He will demonstrate seasonal, healthy and easy to prepare market to table recipes using Florida grown produce right from the market.  

Upcoming demonstrations include: 
.For more information, please visit the Fresh Access Bucks  website.
Statewide Events and Happenings

April 27
Jacksonville

April 28
Gainesville 

Florida Beef Cattle Short Course
May 4-6
Gainesville

May 17
Perry

May 18-19
Gainesville
Quality Certification Services 
The latest in organic and food safety/
GAPs certification 


QCS is offering a two and a half day training course from June 13 – 15 for Food Safety Preventative Control Alliance’s (FSPCA) Preventative Control for Human Foods – Qualified Individual.

For more information about the training including cost, and details, please visit the QCS website


USDA has just released $44 million in funding for Value Added Producer Grants.  Learn more!

Organic Certification Made Simple: Bite by Bite Video Series
FOG and and Little Bean Productions have joined with the USDA National Organic Program to launch a video series called  Organic Certification Made Simple: Bite by Bite as part of the USDA Sound and Sensible Initiative, a campaign that aims to make organic certification more accessible, affordable and attainable.

Check out one of the videos called Why Organic Certification!

Watch the rest of the videos  here!

Spanish resources are available,  learn more !

Agricultural Justice Project's
Food Justice Certification
The Agricultural Justice Project’s Food Justice Certification is one way to ensure fairness is happening on and for organic farms. 

The market is shifting towards a fair and healthy food system for the people that work the land, in addition to the land itself. Consumer demand for ethical purchasing is on the rise with 31% looking for fair trade food labeling (Consumer report 2014).

Learn more about AJP and Food Justice Certification by visiting their website

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