Monday, February 27, 1995 * 1:30 pm
Lower Lobby Conference Room, NRECA Building
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC
A briefing for persons interested in policies related to
organic food and farming has been organized by several
individuals who were involved in pushing the Organic Food Act
through Congress in 1990. It will provide information on 1) the
status of implementation of the Organic Food Act; 2) the outlook
for appropriations for the Organic Program established at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture; 3) the possibility that the Organic
Food Act may be modified during the Farm Bill process; 4) the
status of accreditation for U.S. certifiers, and 5) the status of
international organic standards being developed through the
Codex process.
The presenters are Harold Ricker, Director of the Organic
Program at USDA; Katherine DiMatteo, Executive Director of the
Organic Trade Association, and Annie Kirschenmann, chairperson
of the Organic Certifiers Caucus. Individuals who were members
of the U.S. delegation to the recent Codex meeting in Ottawa also
will be present. After the series of presentations, ample time will
be provided for questions and comments.
A working group made up of more than 25 national consumer,
environmental, animal protection, and other nonprofit organizations
helped shape the Organic Food Act in 1990 and push it through Congress.
An attempt will be made following this meeting to bring these and other
organizations together again in a joint effort to provide information to
members of Congress and help shape decisions relating to organic food
and farming during this session of Congress.
Additional information on the briefing can be obtained by
calling Roger Blobaum or Linda Elswick at 202-293-2156; Melanie
Adcock at 301-258-3111, or Kathleen Merrigan at 202-544-0705.
DIRECTIONS TO THE MEETING:
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is located at 1800
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 1/2 block from Dupont Circle Metro Station
(use the South escalator).