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Episode 25: Baystate Organic Certifiers Lauren Sandstrom - How Do Farms Become Certified Organic?

Release Date: 11/20/2024

Episode 38: Potsdam Institute for Climate Research Professor Hermann Lotze-Campen - What Is the Planetary Health Diet?

Food For You and the Planet

Professor Hermann Lotze-Campen, is Co-Author of the EAT Lancet Commission, an agricultural economist and Head of Research Department 2 "Climate Resilience" at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Professor of Sustainable Land Use and Climate Change at Humboldt University in Berlin. Professor Hermann Lotze-Campen grew up on a farm in Northern Germany and studied Agricultural Sciences and Economics at the University of Kiel and the University of Reading in England, where he graduated with a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics. For his doctoral studies he studied in...

Episode 37: American Farmland Trust Tim Fink - How Can We Preserve American Farmland?

Food For You and the Planet

Tim Fink is the Vice President of Policy at the American Farmland Trust. Tim develops the American Farmland Trust’s overall policy direction and strategies and coordinates federal and relevant state policy work in close collaboration with American Farmland Trust national initiative leaders, regional directors, and partners. Before joining AFT, Tim was the director of research and policy analysis at the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation, where he advocated for increases in USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, fundraised for the National Academies'...

Episode 36: WWOOF Chloe Sullivan - What Is WWOOF World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms?

Food For You and the Planet

Chloe Sullivan is the PR and Communications Manager at Federation of World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) Organisations. Chloe Sullivan is the PR and Communications Manager for the Federation of WWOOF Organisations (FoWO). Her journey with WWOOF began in 2021 as a WWOOFer. After transformative experiences on organic farms in Denmark, the Netherlands, and the US, Chloe was inspired to share the WWOOF experience with others. She started sharing about her experience on social media, which led to a connection with the WWOOF Canada team and an opportunity to become more involved...

Episode 35: Native Plant Trust Arthur Haines - What Are The Benefits Of Native Plants and Foraging?

Food For You and the Planet

Arthur Haines is a Senior Research Botanist at The Native Plant Trust. Arthur is a plant biologist specializing in the taxonomy and identification of New England tracheophytes. He is the senior research botanist for Native Plant Trust and author of Flora Novae Angliae published by New England Wild Flower Society and Yale University Press, and several other books, including Flora of Maine, A New Path, and Ancestral Plants (a two-volume set on edible, medicinal, and useful plants). In addition to his work studying advancement in plant systematics, Arthur is an administrator for the Go...

Episode 34: Organic Farmers Association Kate Mendenhall - What Is The Organic Farmers Association?

Food For You and the Planet

Kate Mendenhall is the Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Association. Kate Mendenhall has served as the Executive Director of Organic Farmers Association since it was founded in 2016. Before OFA, she built a career working with organic farmer organizations from California (CUESA & PAN), New York (NOFA-NY), and Iowa (IOA) getting to know what organic farmers need to be successful in different regions and markets. She now lives in her hometown of Okoboji, Iowa where she balances running a small diversified organic livestock farm, raising two kids, and leading OFA. Her...

Episode 33: Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition Sally McGee - What Is The Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition?

Food For You and the Planet

Sally McGee is the Director of Climate and Strategic Initiatives at the Nature Conservancy and Leader of the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition. Sally McGee works for the Nature Conservancy where she is the Director of Climate and Strategic Initiatives for the Global Aquaculture Program. Her areas of focus include the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition, Sustaining Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR), and projects focused on seaweed cultivation. Sally also developed, owned, and operated an oyster farm, Sixpenny Oysters, in Noank, Connecticut. Previously, Sally was TNC’s...

Episode 32: Deer Isle Oyster Company Abby Barrows - How Can Oysters Provide Healthy Food and Benefit the Environment?

Food For You and the Planet

Abby Barrows is the Owner and Operator of Deer Isle Oyster Company and microplastics research scientist. Abby Barrows grew up and currently lives on an island off the coast of Maine. The ocean has been her passion driving her personal and professional path. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tasmania and a Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic. Directing microplastics research since 2012, she initiated the first baseline data map of microplastic pollution distribution in Maine. She concluded her work as the Principal Investigator...

Episode 31: Cornell University Michael Mazourek PhD - How Can We Breed Vegetables for Flavor and for Local Growers?

Food For You and the Planet

Michael Mazourek, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Horticulture. Michael Mazourek, PhD, is the Calvin Knoyes Keeney Associate Professor of Vegetable Breeding at Cornell University. Michael is a breeder of peas, beans, squash, cucumbers and peppers and has released numerous cultivars and breeding materials that are shared by small, regional seed companies and incorporated into breeding program of the world’s largest seed companies. Michael’s specialty is biochemical genetics in vegetables; he explores the...

Episode 30: IFOAM Organics International Karen Mapusua - How Can We Build An International Organic Agriculture Movement?

Food For You and the Planet

Karen Mapusua is the President of IFOAM Organics International. Founded in 1972, IFOAM Organics International is a membership-based organization working to bring true sustainability to agriculture across the globe. The mission of IFOAM Organics International is to lead change, organically. Its goal is the broad adoption of truly sustainable agriculture, value chains and consumption in line with the principles of organic agriculture. Through its work, it builds capacity to facilitate the transition of farmers to organic agriculture, raises awareness of the need for sustainable...

Episode 29: Northeast SARE Teresa Leslie PhD - How Can We Increase Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education?

Food For You and the Planet

Teresa Leslie, PhD, Director of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Teresa holds a doctorate in medical anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in medical anthropology from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Howard University. She has experience cultivating relationships with diverse stakeholder groups to create innovative, evidenced-based policy and practice solutions. Founded in 1988, USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a...

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Lauren Sandstrom is a Certification Administrator at Baystate Organic Certifiers.

Lauren joined Baystate Organic Certifiers 10 years ago as a Certification Specialist and then became a Certification Administrator in 2016. Prior to her position at Baystate, Lauren was a certification reviewer for another certification agency accredited to the USDA totaling 15 years’ experience regulating the USDA Organic Regulations. Lauren also has a certificate as a crop and livestock inspector through the International Organic Inspectors Association. Lauren grew up on a Certified Organic Farm in Central New York and knows the labor of love that organic food production is. Lauren is honored to have participated in the growth of organic food production over the last decade and a half and is looking forward to seeing the program continue to develop and support certified organic food production.

Baystate Organic Certifiers is a USDA National Organic Program accredited certifying agency providing organic certification to farm and processing operations throughout the continental United States. The foundation of Baystate, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is to make organic certification accessible, affordable and timely to anyone that wants to participate in the program. Baystate strives to not create any new barriers to certification and not overregulate farms and processors beyond the regulations outlined by the USDA National Organic Program. In 2014, Baystate certified 300 organic farms and processing facilities and had 6 employees. Today, Baystate certifies over 700 certified organic operations with an additional 50 new operations in the pipeline to be in next few weeks and a staff of 18 people.

TOPICS EXPLORED

0:00 – 1:51 – Introduction

1:51 – 2:20 – What is Baystate Organic Certifiers and what type of work does it do?

2:20 – 3:13 – How did you become interested in a career in sustainable food and agriculture?

3:13 – 4:28 – What is the National Organic Program and how did it begin?

4:28 – 5:15 – What were some of the key reasons why a National Organic Program was created?

5:15 – 6:24 – How were the USDA Certified Organic standards initially created and how are updates made?

6:24 – 7:48 – What are some of the core criteria for USDA Certified Organic?

7:48 – 10:43 – The term “regenerative agriculture” is becoming quite popular. Why is it important to continue to focus on USDA Certified Organic?

10:43 – 12:09 – How can organizations like Regenerative Organic Alliance which use USDA Organic Certification as their foundation be helpful for the organic movement?

12:09 – 13:09 – What role do certifiers such as Baystate Organic Certifiers play in the USDA Certified Organic certification process?

13:09 – 18:37 – What are some common misconceptions about USDA Certified Organic that farmers may have?

18:37 – 20:44 – What are some of the actual fees for a farm certifying through Baystate Organic Certifiers?

20:44 – 22:27 – What are some common misconceptions about USDA Certified Organic that everyday people may have?

22:27 – 24:37 – What are some of the benefits of becoming a USDA Certified Organic for farmers?

24:37 – 26:50 – What are some of the benefits of purchasing food that is USDA Certified Organic for everyday people and the planet?

BAYSTATE ORGANIC CERTIFIERS INFORMATION

https://baystateorganic.org/

RESOURCES

Baystate Organic Certifiers Certification Information: https://baystateorganic.org/certification/

USDA National Organic Program: https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program

Organic Certification Cost Share Program: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/organic-certification-cost-share-program-occsp

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