Organic Farmers & Growers

OF&G & FWi

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:37:35 -0700

Me and @organiman standing here with @carolinefw and @farmersweekly at FWi spontaneous farming tweetup

Organic farmer gets OF&G mug at Highland Show

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:24:06 -0700

Organic Farmers & Growers licensee Brian Amos dropped by the OF&G stand for a chat. So delighted was he to be given an OF&G mug he took one for his wife

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OF&G hospitality Cereals 09

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:43:00 -0700

A lot of tea drinking and biscuit eating on the Organic Farmers & Growers and SAI Global Stand at #cereals 09. Its a serious business!

[Posted via mobile by Development Officer, Steven Jacobs]

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The inspectors call

Wed, 20 May 2009 03:39:33 -0700

Today we welcome to OF&G Towers the people who are out getting mud on their boots on our behalf - our inspectors.

They are the experts who know what to look for when a farmer or food processor wants to become, or remain, organic. At least once a year they cast their experienced eyes over the operations we certify and ensure that everything is exactly as it should be.

Their reports are sent in to our Certification Officers, who then follow-up on any non-compliances (things that aren't be done to our satisfaction) before issuing the all-important certificate once they are happy that the rules are being followed to the letter. It's a tough system, but for very good reason, and fairly administered.

It's great to have the chance to meet up with the inspectors, get feedback on how we're all getting on from their perspective, and share any updates that haven't already been sent out in a bulletin.

So if you're with us, you now have the pleasure of a little game: can I spot my inspector just by looking at the back of their head???

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EU logo competition finally accepting entries

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:44:00 -0700

We've been making lots of noise about the recently launched competition for an art or design student to come up with a new official logo for EU organic produce.

We've blogged about it, Tweeted it and even sent a press release to every UK student magazine and radio station we could find.

We'd really love to see a tonne of entries from the UK and it would be brilliant to see one win. The only problem was that, having launched the promotional website, the registration form wasn't actually live. Doh.

Finally though (about three weeks later), it has been put in place, so anyone who has been beavering away on their designs can now register for the competition.

You'll find that previously mythical form right here.

Spread the word to any art students you know or, if you are one, get in there and make your country proud!

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OF&G's Richard Jacobs encourages clarity of organic message to traders at 2009 Natural&Organic Products Show in London

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:25:48 -0700

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IFOAM EU say 'Hello' taking Science in Sport OF&G organic drink back to Brussels. We got truffles in return.

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:07:02 -0700

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Gilchesters sun flour at the end of the day, thanks Sybille

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:03:24 -0700

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The great Rose Elliott holding high Essential OF&G organic sprouts in The Natural&Organic Show Organic Kitchen

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:41:39 -0700

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Its day 1 on the OF&G stand, before lunch & we are busy, busy, busy. I couldn't resist an aerial shot. Olympia lends itself to this so well.

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:27:34 -0700

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Organised Organic. UK2 at Kensington, Olympia 2009

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:56:40 -0700

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See you at N&OPE?

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:37:56 -0700

Our team is setting up today for Natural & Organic Products Europe, at Olympia, London. The show's on tomorrow and Monday. If you're around, why not stop by and say 'hi' to the team.

On the stand for us will be Steven Jacobs, our Development Officer, plus Processor Certification Officers, Ruth Lamb and Joanna Gleeson. A nicer bunch of folk, you couldn't hope to meet.

Also on the stand are three excellent licensees, Trevarno Organic Skincare, Glebe Farm and Science In Sport all of whom demonstrate the pinnacle of quality in their respective fields.

They'll all be on stand 7060.

In addition, our Chief Exec, Richard Jacobs, will be taking part in a debate on beating the credit crunch in one of the event's theatres - 3pm, Monday.

If you're going, enjoy the show. Our team always does!

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Food costs soaring

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:21:17 -0700

One does wonder how much of the price increase is going back to the farmers...? Their costs have definitely risen!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7982056.stm

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Tried to get a shot of the lambikins in the field behind us

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:51:29 -0700

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A rural idyll?

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:37:00 -0700

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This is who we are NOT

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:36:28 -0700

Lots of people refer to us on their websites or in their publications, for a variety of reasons. Maybe it's the press, or a magazine article. Quite often it's a licensee who is proudly highlighting the fact that they've achieved organic accreditation under our standards.

The trouble is people so often insist on adding words to our name. So we become "The Organic Farmers & Growers" or "Organic Farmers & Growers Association" or, inevitably, "The Organic Farmers & Growers Association". Even stranger variations have been seen.

We're not an association. We're a company. We're called Organic Farmers & Growers.

Just a friendly reminder to anyone who cares to take it on board. It makes us feel better when people get it right.

That's all. Thanks.

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How nice. A mention in Tim Relf's Farmers Weekly blog!

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:08:00 -0700

http://www.fwi.co.uk/blogs/rural-life/2009/03/were-knits.html

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Announcing our new, free guide to organic food processing

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:49:28 -0700

We're very pleased with this new publication. You can find out more, including where to download a PDF copy, from our blog, here:
http://www.organicfarmers.org.uk/blog/2009/03/19/free-guide-to-organic-food-processing/

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Our Certification Manager, Steve, with his prize from Farmers Weekly for the best farming joke on Twitter.

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:41:27 -0700

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Is the market as bad as the numbers suggest?

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:03:59 -0700

Figures showing a decline in the sale of organic food have been released. They make for somewhat grim reading, although we all know to be careful with statistics.

In fact, what they suggest doesn't entirely tally with the feedback we're getting from the ground. We're still hearing very positive stories, but it would be fair to say that in organics, perhaps more than in other areas of farming, you make your own luck. Quite often it's down to the efforts licensees are making to find relevant outlets for their produce, rather than relying on the 'grow it and the supermarkets will buy it' model.

Making the most of what it means to be organic - and more specifically what it means to your customers - is crucial. Smart operators will be hitting home the message about welfare, environment and dramatically lower inputs, to remind their audience why the thought organic was a good idea in the first place.

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