Posted
11th July 2001
Organic Farmers Cultivate Search Engine
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), the largest organic
certification and trade association in California, has announced
its launch of a revised edition of their "Find-A-Farmer" search
engine. The search engine, located on the CCOF
Web site, allows consumers, retailers, and other interested
organizations and businesses to easily find a CCOF certified
organic farmer, processor, handler, packer, or retailer. In
addition, visitors can search for CCOF certified organic crops,
livestock, processed organic products, and organic business
services. Visitors to the site can find desired information
by using one or more of nine search categories: products, business
name, owner/manager, address, city, state, county, sales method,
or international accreditation.
There
is no charge to use the search engine. According to Helge Hellberg,
CCOF marketing director, the organizationís goal is to re-establish
a dialogue among consumers, organic farmers, and retailers:
ěCCOF certifies over 70 percent of the organic agriculture in
California, and our search engine offers consumers and other
interested parties an easy access to a large array of certified
organic farms and products, which results in greater exposure
and more marketing opportunities for our certified members in
return," Hellberg said. CCOF, founded in 1973, is a non-profit
third party organic certifier and the largest certifier in California
with more than 1,000 members and 100,000 acres certified organic
land. CCOF promotes and supports sustainable agriculture in
California and worldwide through programs to increase awareness
of and demand for certified organic product as well as advocacy
for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic
agriculture.
CCOF
is a member of the Organic Certifiers Council (OCC), the Organic
Trade Association (OTA), and IFOAM, the International Federation
of Organic Agricultural Movements. CCOF is also accredited by
IFOAM, and by USDA for ISO 65 Guide compliance. CCOF members
export their products to markets in North America, Europe, and
Asia. .
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