Contact: Michael Colin
(805) 963-0583
For Immediate Release
Gildea Resource Center Publishes Book Aimed at
Increasing Organic Agriculture, Locally & Nationally
Santa Barbara, Calif.JQ The Gildea Resource Center, a prominent West Coast environmental research organization, has published a manual on organic agriculture, the product of a two-year effort of the Santa Barbara County Safe Food Project. "Increasing Organic Agriculture at the Local Level: A Manual for Consumers, Grocers, Farmers & Policy Makers," authored by Maren Hansen and others with the Project, is unique in that it addresses issues pertinent to every sector of society involved in food production and
sales.
A well-documented chapter on pesticides provides a compelling argument for organic agriculture and a chapter on consumer education outlines how community activists can get the message out. Individual chapters describe easy and effective steps necessary to increase: consumer knowledge and demand for organics, organic production, outlets and promotion in stores, and public policy that will create a more even playing field for organic farmers.
Author Maren Hansen, who organized the Safe Food Project in 1989 following the Alar controversy, was honored with a 1991 Safe Food Trailblazer award by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a 250,000 national consumer advocacy group that promotes food safety and agricultural reform through its Americans for Safe Food Project. Hansen, a marriage, family and child counselor, is an ordained Unitarian minister. The mother of two children, Hansen also teaches classes at Pacifica Graduate Insitute.
Santa Barbarans Phil Boise, owner of Island Seed & Feed, and Jim Hagen, co-owner of Hope 'N Hagens natural foods store, assisted in the writing of the manual.
"Increasing Organic Agriculture at the Local Level" is available for $16 (plus 7.75% tax for CA orders) and $2 s&h from the Gildea Resource Center, 930 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, (805) 963-0583.
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