Market Farming

[Lucy Owsley <goodows AT infinet.com>]

Dear Friends:

Please excuse cross postings.

Please post the following information in relevant publications and
calendars of events.  Summary text for insertion is provided at the bottom
of the release.


For Immediate Release: Monday, January 21, 2002
Contact: Sean McGovern    614/421-2022

OEFFA Announces 23rd Annual OEFFA Conference

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is proud to announce its 23rd
Annual Conference themed, "Farms of Tomorrow...Food for Today" The
Conference will be held March 9th and 10th, at Northridge School, in
Johnstown, Ohio. Experts from Ohio and around the country will be on hand
sharing sustainable agriculture production and marketing techniques through
a wide variety of workshops and keynote speeches. The OEFFA conference is
Ohio's largest annual sustainable and organic agriculture gathering of  600
consumers, farmers, and retailers.

Plenary presenters will include Dr. Bobby Moser of Ohio State University,
who will discuss an approach to agriculture which recognizes the vital
relationships between agriculture and the ecological, economic, and social
systems it supports.  Andy Fisher, Director of the Community Food Security
Coalition will share models of food systems which utilize grower consumer
relationships to make healthy local foods accessible to low income
residents. Nutritionist Joan Dye Gussow will explore the epicurean
implications of a healthy, seasonal, and locally produced diet. Donita
Anderson, Market Manager of the North Union Farmers' Market will discuss
her efforts to develop one of the strongest producer-only farmers' markets
in Ohio. Speakers may be available for interviews.  For more information,
call the number above.

"OEFFA's intent," said President Bob Henson " is to foster an agriculture
which is ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible
through farmer and consumer collaboration."

The conference will feature 50 workshops on sustainable and organic food
production, marketing, and networking. Workshops include topics such as
Community Food Security, Selling through Farmers' Market, Fruit Tree
Grafting, Fighting Urban Sprawl, Fall Gardening, Apprentice Links, Growing
and Marketing Specialty and Gourmet Potatoes, Children's Gardens,
Composting for the Home Garden, Organic Pest Control,  Transitioning to
Organic Grain Crops, Range Poultry and Pork Production, Community Supported
Agriculture, Community Gardening and much more!

Other activities will include a trade show for ecological entrepreneurs, a
Saturday night contra dance, child care services and children's conference,
and Ohio grown and organic meals prepared by the Alcove Caterers. Attendees
will have the opportunity to browse the Organic Trade Show, which features
organic and sustainable product vendors from across Ohio and the Midwest.

Two days registration fees for the conference begin at $50, with volunteer
discounts available. Child care is available. Early registration deadline
is 2/25.02. On site and single day registrations will be accepted. For
further information visit OEFFA on the world wide web at www.oeffa.com, or
contact OEFFA at the points above.

OEFFA is a non profit organization founded in 1979 as a broad based
membership association of farmers, gardeners and consumers which conducts
Ohio's organic certification program, and hosts numerous educational
programs for sustainable and organic farmers, gardeners, and their
customers.

##

Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
23rd Annual OEFFA Conference "Farms of Tomorrow...Food for Today"
March 9 and 10, 2002 Johnstown, Ohio
Over 50 workshops on organic and sustainable food system issues for
farmers, consumers, and everyone who eats,  Plenary sessions by Dr. Bobby
Moser, Joan Dye Gussow, Andy Fisher, and Donita Anderson.

For more information contact Sean McGovern at 614/421-2022 or email
<conference AT oeffa.com>

Sean McGovern, Executive Director
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
PO Box 82234 Columbus Ohio 43202
(ph) 421-2022  (fx) 614/421-2011    email:  <seanmcgovern AT oeffa.com>
www.oeffa.com

Shipping Only:  OEFFA, IPC, 1970 Waldeck Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201

For OCIA/OEFFA organic certification services in Ohio, contact:
Steve Sears, OEFFA Certification
419/853-4060, fax 419/853-3022 or email <organic AT oeffa.com>

For OEFFA Newsletter submissions and/or ad rate sheets, contact:
Anne Bulford
2074 Brownschapel Rd, Clarksburg, Ohio 43115
(ph/fx) 740/993-2871    email <newsletter AT oeffa.com>     Call first for faxes.