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Media Inquiries: Media interested in Organic Alberta should contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to connect you to spokespersons, businesses and members.

Canada’s National Organic Week is the largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country. Hundreds of individual events showcase the benefits of organic agriculture and its positive impact on the environment. Organic represents a vibrant alternative food system and an alternative option for clothing, personal care and cleaning products.

Website: http://www.organicweek.ca/

See COTA's press release here.

LOCAL ORGANIC MILK NOW WIDELY AVAILABLE IN ALBERTA

It’s a win-win situation for Alberta dairy farmers and Alberta consumers

Alberta consumers now have one more way to express their values, support local producers, limit food miles, demand organic and make healthy choices. Alberta organic milk has come to local Safeway stores under the O Organic label and to locations across Alberta under the Saxby Creamery label.

In the past, most organic milk sold in Alberta came from BC or from one organic dairy in Alberta, Vital Green Farms, near Picture Butte. Often demand exceeded supply.

Now, eight more dairy farmers have made the commitment to convert their herds, land and minds to organics.  “I love the choice we made to go organics” claims Brooke Wyntes of Clearview Dairy. “I don’t want pesticides and hormones going into my body or my children.”

Canada to decide on future (or lack of future) of organic livestock farmers

On January 27th genetically engineered alfalfa (GE alfalfa) was released in the US. Canada now has to decide whether to allow it into Canada. On Thursday March 10th the Agriculture Committee will decide whether to recommend to the House of Commons that a moratorium be placed on its release here until a full public study is completed.

So what’s the big deal? Well… the future of organic livestock farmers in Canada.

Organic Alberta has a whole suite of educational opportunities coming this fall and winter for anyone involved in, or interested in organics. The workshops include a crop planning for vegetable producers workshop which is relevant to anyone juggling multiple vegetable crops on their farm. The focus then switches to organic livestock with a series across the province looking at building local organic beef markets, and a workshop in Sangudo on transition to organic livestock production.

These workshops are the key to getting you connected. Don't miss out.

In cooperation with Going Organic, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is organizing a conference in Leduc on March 17 and 18, 2010.