Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)

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Resource Pointer #348 (Going Organic: Transitioning Your Farm)
December 10, 2003

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*Organic Research Web site* http://www.organic-research.com/. Provides subscribers access to a database of over 120,000 scientific documents on organic agriculture in both temperate and tropical climates. Site also offers research opportunities to non-subscribers including links to farming education courses, farm web sites, and organic farming legislation. A free email newsletter updates subscribers to the latest news and research in organic agriculture. Subscription rates range from $150 for personal subscription to $890 for 4 user corporate subscription. Contact, Customer Services, CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8DE, UK; phone (44 14 9) 183-2111; fax (44 14 9) 182-9292; email orders@cabi.org.

*Opportunities in Agriculture: Transitioning to Organic Production, 2003* Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). Provides an overview of considerations to be made before and during a transition to organic agriculture. Outlines the key characteristics of a successful organic farmer and includes stories of transitions to organic. Summarizes organic farming certification, transition approaches, farming methods, and economic considerations associated with transition to an organic production model. 32 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.sare.org/bulletin/organic/. Contact UC SARE Program, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616; hone (530) 752-7556; fax (530) 754-8550; email sarep@ucdavis.edu; Web site http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/.

*Organic Fruit Growing, 2003* K. Lind, G. Lafer, K. Schloffer, G. Immerhofer, and H. Meister. Presents a step-by-step guide to planning, cultivating, maintaining, processing, and marketing organic fruit. 281 pages. US $100. Contact CABI Publishing, Wallingford OX10 8DE, United Kingdom; phone (44 01 49) 183-2111; fax (44 01 49) 183-3508; email cabi@cabi.org; Web site http://www.cabi-publishing.org/.

*Selling Directly to Restaurants and Retailers, 2003* Gail Feenstra, Jeri Ohmart, and David Cheney, University of California (UC) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). Presents the proceedings of a November, 2002 workshop discussing successful direct marketing strategies for sustainable farmers. Provides a step-by-step guide to develop and maintain a sales relationship with restaurants and retailers and a list of resources. Available for free download at: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cdpp/farmersmkt.htm. Contact UC SARE Program, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616; hone (530) 752-7556; fax (530) 754-8550; email sarep@ucdavis.edu; Web site http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/.

*Organic Farm Certification and the National Organic Program, 2002* George Kuepper. Provides a summary of organic certification based on the National Organic Program guidelines. Discusses the procedure necessary to achieve certification and the associated costs. 7 pages. Available for free download at: http://attra.ncat.org/organic.html. Contact Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), National Center for Appropriate Technology, 3040 Continental Drive, Butte, MT 59701; phone (406) 494-4572; fax (406) 949-2905; email info@ncat.org; Web site http://attra.ncat.org/.

We encourage those interested in having resources listed in the PANUPS Resource Pointer to send review copies of publications, videos or other resources to our office.

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and reporting on pesticide issues that don’t always get coverage by the mainstream media. It’s produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

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