Tilth Conference

Schedule

Schedule

Organic 2: Transitioning to Organic – New Opportunities and Resources to Get There

  • Date: Friday, Oct. 27
  • Time: 3:30-4:45 p.m.
  • Speaker: Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program
  • Location: Room 202-2
  • Track: Track B

New opportunities and resources are available to assist farmers in transitioning to organic production and maintaining organic certification. Join the team from WSDA Organic Program to hear about USDA’s work to prevent fraud as well as their efforts to fund projects to assist farmers in transitioning to organic practices. Learn about the new resources already sprouting up in the Pacific Northwest as a result of this national effort, such as paid farmer to farmer mentorship, WSDA’s free consultation and technical assistance service, and a new guide for CSA and direct market farms on meeting both organic and produce safety requirements. The session will also include an opportunity for you to provide suggestions on the types of projects and resources you think would most benefit organic farms in Washington. 

A limited number of seats in this educational session are being offered for free by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). If you’d like to attend without registering for the rest of the Tilth Conference, please sign up here.

Sign up for this session

About the Speaker

  • Brenda Book

    WSDA Organic Program

    With the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Organic Program since 2002, Brenda Book oversees all aspects of the agency’s organic services and staff. A native of Central Iowa, Brenda grew up on her family’s third generation farm and has been involved in the organic industry since 1996 as farmer, researcher, retail produce manager, farmers market manager, and organic certifier. In addition to managing the WSDA Organic Program, Brenda has served on numerous regional and national committees focused on food systems and organic production.