About Us

About Us

The Organic Food Council of Manitoba (OFCM-COG) became a chapter of Canadian Organic Growers (COG) in 2000.  OFCM-COG is a registered non-profit organization (130140494 RR 0001) with a diverse membership made up of producers, consumers, distributors, retailers, gardeners, artists, entrepreneurs, activists, and writers, among others.

    

Mission
Vision
Aims and Objectives

History and Activities

Membership and collaboration with other groups

  


Our Mission:     

 

To promote the growth and accessibility of local organic food.  

 

COG’s Mission is to lead local and national communities towards sustainable organic stewardship of land, food and fibre while respecting nature, upholding social justice and protecting natural resources.    

 

  

      Our Vision:  

     All food will be grown in a sustainable manner,
     All people will have access to such food, and 
     Farmers will make a decent return on their investment. 

 

 

Our Aims and Objectives:    

  • Assist growers, consumers, and processors through education and demonstration to increase organic food production and consumption;
  • Endorse practices which promote long-term soil fertility, organics recycling, the conservation of non-renewable resources, and the reduction of pollution and global warming;
  • Foster the goals of a decentralized food system which promotes greater regional food self-reliance and improved rural/urban relationships;
  • Promote research into alternatives to chemical and energy-intensive food production practices, and give support to growers, consumers, and service providers interested in such alternatives;
  • Provide information and networking opportunities through conferences, workshops, seminars, and on-farm demonstrations for organic food systems;
  • Participate in consultations and inquiries into sustainable food systems and concerns about food safety;
  • Promote career opportunities in the organic food sector;
  • Publish articles, reports, and position papers relevant to these aims;
  • Nurture spokespersons on organic food-related issues.  

  

Our History and Activities:

 

2000 - 2002

  • OFCM became a local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers in 2000. 
  • Sat on the steering committee of the third Our Food, Our Health, Our Future Conference coordinated by the Manitoba Eco-Network, February 2001
  • Supportive of the creation of the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund by the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD), October 2001
  • Implemented the Organic Farm Mentorship Program, 2001-2002

  • Down to Earth Guide to Organics in Manitoba published by OFCM in 2002

      2003 

  • Supportive of the Council of Canadians “Planting the Seeds of Doubt” tour, February 2003
  • Co-organized and donated funds for an event in support of Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser and SOD’s legal fight against Monsanto, West End Cultural Centre, March 26, 2003
  • Co-hosted the book launch for Stuart Laidlaw’s Secret Ingredients: The Brave New World of Industrial Farming, May 1, 2003
    Issued a statement of concern at the Public Information Session on Food Irradiation, January 2003
  • Co-Sponsored the fourth Our Food, Our Health, Our Future Food Security conference in Winnipeg, Feb/March 2003
  • Supported the Council of Canadians “Planting Seeds of Doubt” tour, February 2003
  • Hosted an Interlake Organic Farm Tour, July 2003
  • Hosted Room to Grow Organic Farm Tour near Boissevain, MB, August  16th and 17th, 2003
  • Partnered with and tabled at the Prairie Sun Organic Market, August and September 2003
  • Exchange District Market, tabled September 13th, 20th and 27th 2003

  • Partnered with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra to co-host first Organic Gala, October 2003

    2004

  • Participated in Environmental Awareness Week at U of M, February 2 – 6, 2004
  • Pilot website project internship for U of M Critical Thinking in the Environment course, Feb 2004- April 2004
  • Presented at a Japanese consumers group anti GE wheat press conference for the Council of Canadians Anti-GE wheat tour, March 2004
  • Participated in a Teach-In to halt GE Wheat, Morden Research Station and U of M Monsanto Building, April 2004
  • Active in SOD’s anti-GM Wheat campaign, March – April 2004
  • Backed Carol Rubin’s How to Get Your Lawn Off Grass book tour, Spring 2004
  • Publicized and attended Organic Farming in Cuba Conference, organized by the Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee and Carisun Travel, July 5th, 2004
  • Hosted Winnipeg region Organic Farm Tour July 24th, 2004
  • Partnered with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra to co-host second Organic Gala, October 2004
  • Signed a letter to the Minister of Health Ujjal Dosanjh rejecting Health Canada’s proposal to expand food irradiation, November 2004

  • Opposed Bill 40 which limited the public’s involvement in regulating the placement of intensive livestock operations in Manitoba, November 2004

    2005

  • Signed Beyond Factory Farming letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, demanding independent public investigation into Health Canada’s firing of Shiv Chopra, Margaret Haydon, and Gerald Lambert, May 11, 2005
  • Hosted the organic farm tour, “Producing Quality Compost” at Grange sur Seine Farm, August 2005
  • Provided a witness for Crossing the Line: A Citizens’ Inquiry on Canada-US Relations, organized by the Council of Canadians, October 2005
  • Partnered in the Organic Matters on the Prairies Conference, November 2005

  • Donated funds and tabled at the Seeds of Change film release, November 2005

    2006

  • Represented Manitoba on the Organic Federation of Canada, 2006
  • Signed Manitoba EcoNetwork Water Caucus’ letter to Premier Gary Doer and members of the Legislative Assembly regarding Manitoba’s Water Protection Regime and source protection of water quality and quantity, May 2006
  • Initiated dialogue to revive the Organic Farm Mentorship Program, November 2006
  • Attended a Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council strategy meeting and follow-up educational network meeting, December 2006

  • Attended the National Forum on Seed conference including the CFIA session on GURTS in Winnipeg, December 2006

    2007

  • Co-partnered with Manitoba Food Charter and Heifer International for Seeds in the City-Urban Farming presentation, March 2nd, 2007, and SPIN Farming Workshop, March 3rd, 2007
  • Tabled at the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council AGM, March 22 2007
  • Partnered with JUST Community Co-op on the 1st annual Earth Day Celebration, April 22, 2007
  • Consulted and publicized Pastured Poultry Workshop, May 5th, 2007
  • Attended the Manitoba Child Care Association Our Greatest Treasures Conference May 24th to 26th 2007
  • Signatory at the Manitoba Food Charter Signing Ceremony, Forks May 30th, 2007
  • Presented position at the City Hall public meetings to the Ad-Hoc Committee on Non-Essential Pesticide Reduction, May 30th, 2007
  • Provided a letter of support to Concerned Residents of Winnipeg (CROW) for the reduction of chemical pesticides used against mosquitoes in the province, July 25th, 2007
  • Hosted organic farm tour at the Wiens Shared Farm for local children, parents, and childcare workers of Taking Care Childcare Centre.  The tour connected children and organics as part of our Manitoba Growing Up Organic initiative, August 7, 2007
  • Co-hosted with York the Hotel, kitchen tour and cooking session with participants from Art City as part of our Manitoba Growing Up Organic Initiative, August 30, 2007 
  • Presented on the benefits of organic food and agriculture to the Herb Society of Manitoba, September 13, 2007 
  • Attended Taking Action! on Children´s Health and the Environment Workshop, October 30, 2007


Memberships and collaboration with other groups: 

 

Members of OFCM have served on the board, steering committee, and/or fundraising committee of the Manitoba Eco-Network since 2002 and on the Manitoba Food Charter Steering Committee since 2005.  Please check back here for newsletters and posts from these groups.

 

Manitoba Food Charter 

 

MFC Spring Newsletter 2008

Golden Carrot Nominations are now open! (poster)

Golden Carrot Nomination Form

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This page was last updated on: 2008-06-16.