Hawaii Organic Farmers Association

The HOFA inspection training on Sept. 27-29. 2001 at Kalopa State Park was well attended and very successful. Two groups of people were trained; new farm inspectors and cooperative extension personnel.

The farm inspectors learned how to do a basic farm inspection using HOFA guidelines and Federal regulations. They also learned how to use the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) handbook to evaluate organic inputs and were introduced to on-farm processing and livestock. The cooperative extension agents learned many of the same things with additional sessions on how to answer questions concerning organic certification and organic production. Organic production information included information on pest control, weed control, fertility, and resources for organic information. Both groups went on field trips to one of two farms. One farm inspected for first-time certification of macadamia nuts and coffee. The other farm is operated by an organic yellow ginger grower Hugh Johnson who was renewing his certification.

The training was conducted by Harriet Behar, the Chair of IOIA (Independent Organic Inspectors Association), Tane Datta, Certification Chairperson of HOFA and also a training coordinator for IOIA, and Eileen O'Hora-Weir, Certification Coordinator of HOFA. HOFA farmers were very generous with their food donations. Food preparations and planning were coordinated by Kelly Lange and Lisa Lilja whose contributions greatly enhanced the financial success of the training. The IOIA affiliation gives international recognition to the participants in the course and increases the professional knowledge of the USDA’s National Organic Program.

It is hoped that the course participants will contribute to the growth of organic agriculture in Hawaii by becoming inspectors for HOFA, helping in volunteer and paid positions within the organization, and providing knowledgeable advice to other organic growers. It is also hoped that participants will have a better knowledge of the national and international organic infrastructure and be able to guide HOFA and the local organic growers through the accreditation process. Once HOFA is accredited, growers with HOFA certification will have recognition and access to national and international certified organic markets.

Goodbye and Thank You! - Kelly Lange

Well, some of you may already know that there is a position opening up in the HOFA office. Yes, it is true. I am resigning my duties as Office Administrator to pursue other dreams in life. I have been working for HOFA for almost two years now and have gained much knowledge and insight in the organic farming world. I have made incredible friends and connections I will take with me always. I will be working for HOFA through the end of this year and longer if necessary to acquaint the new Board of Directors and Office Administrator with operations. I hope to travel to Central America the beginning of February to study Spanish and work on an organic farm for a couple months. When I return, I will pick up my HOFA skills once again, as I pursue my own small business as an organic farmer. I know that I have spoken or written to all of you at some point in my career and I hope that we will meet again some day. Until then, I wish you all the best over this holiday season and through the new year.

Your friend, Kelly Lange

Federal Accreditation for Certifying Agencies

HOFA submitted its application for accreditation by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on October 18, 2001. The original deadline for initial applications under the new federal organic rule, October 22, 2001 was extended just a few days before we submitted our application and is now December 21, 2001. We still expect to have the results of this accreditation process announced by April 22, 2002. We hope for a favorable finding and are preparing for the on-site audit that must be done before the USDA’s National Organic Program can make a determination as to whether to grant accreditation to HOFA. During the on-site audit by the USDA, a few of our certified producers may be chosen for a spot inspection. Don’t panic, this is not a financial audit. If contacted, the auditors will probably want to look at your certification records, which should be accessible and organized. If you have any concerns, please read over the section on accreditation in the federal rule appendix of the new HOFA Certification Handbook you recently received.

Certification News

The new Handbook was published in October 2001 and has been revised to reflect requirements under the federal organic rule. Copies have been mailed to all current HOFA certified clients. Currently there are 61 HOFA certified producers in Hawaii. We’d like to welcome our most recent addition to the list, Peter and Florence Pua, who are growing noni for the market. We also must announce that Hana Ranch, which became HOFA certified for the production of organically raised beef earlier this year, has voluntarily chosen to withdraw from the organic certification program due to the need to implement non-complying pasture management practices.

Membership Drive

Currently, we have 301 members statewide. Membership in HOFA is open to anyone wishing to support organic agriculture in Hawaii and our membership goal for 2001 was met. We’d like to set a new goal for 2002 and hope to attract 50 new members to the organization. From now until February 28, 2002, HOFA will offer a free bumper sticker to any current member who signs up a new member. Just have the new member identify you when they submit their payment and application. We’ll send both you and the new member a bumper sticker in the mail!

News from Hawaii Sustainable Agriculture By Jodi Smith

The Sustainable Agriculture program at CTAHR has received a SARE professional development grant . This grant will help train University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension agents and Natural Resource Conservation Service staff on sustainable pest control techniques for the tropics (addressing nematode, weed, insect, and plant disease control). A two-day training program will be offered in January 2003. In conjunction with the training event, the grant will fund ten on-station and on-farm sustainable pest control demonstrations (with field days for the public).

Hawaii’s sustainable agriculture program cordially invites you to join us in our education efforts. Please consider joining the grant “workgroup” that will help design our January training event. Alternately, you may wish to host a demonstration site and field day on your farm, partnering with a local CES agent, NRCS staff person, or another ag professional.

The project manager for this grant is Dr. Richard Bowen. If you would like to participate on this project, contact Jody Smith at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, email: smithjos@hawaii.edu, phone: (808) 956-7774. For information about tropical cover crops and green manures, agritourism, our Hilo sustainable ag workshop “Hawaii Agriculture 2001”, and other topics in sustainable agriculture, visit our website at: http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/

HOFA ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP

Nov. 17, 2001 at The Puueo Community Center

The Program:

The meeting was called to order at approximately 1:25 PM at Puueo Community Center with approximately 40 people attending.

Guest speakers included Dr. Jack Fujii with a slide show presentation on the UHH composting facility and David Parks, member from Oahu, provided information about the state’s plans to fluoridate the public water supply and actions being taken to oppose this plan.

Michael Alms of Growing Solutions, Inc. gave a demonstration of his company’s new compost tea aerator equipment.

HOFA’s Golden O’o Award was passed from Eileen O’Hora-Weir, recipient in 1999, to Merle Wood for his outstanding contribution to HOFA in year 2000. The Golden O’o Award was then passed by Merle Wood to Kelly Lange to honor her contribution to HOFA in 2001.

Business Meeting:

Eileen O’Hora-Weir provided a short synopsis of major events impacting HOFA during the last year.

The effects resulting from the passage of the federal organic rule were discussed. It was explained how HOFA modified its by-laws to comply with federal accreditation requirements.

The application for accreditation was submitted to the USDA’s National Organic Program on October 17, 2001. An on-site audit will be performed sometime in the next four months.

HOFA now has an Errors and Omission insurance policy that extends to its independent inspectors and evaluators.

HOFA was a sponsor of the three-day Body and Soil Farm Conference held on Maui in July, has participated in the State Ag Fair on Oahu, the Ulupalakua Trade Show on Maui, Earth Day events on the Big Island, and a Sustainable Agriculture workshop on Molokai.

A three-day Inspector Training was held in conjunction with the Independent Organic Inspector’s Association (IOIA) in September at Kalopa Park on the Big Island.

Final deliverables for the grant HOFA received from Community Based Economic Development (CBED) program have been completed and submitted this month. The materials include a revised HOFA Certification Handbook, the video “Growing Toward the Light”, materials for HOFA’s Farm Apprentice Program, and a Business Planning Template for farm operations.

HOFA received two grants from Hawaii County and Maui County to assist with accreditation costs and help in the development of promotional and educational materials.

Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA)
P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 969-7789 Toll Free: (877) 674-4632 Fax: (808) 969-7759
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Copyright 2002