Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) certifies organic food and products throughout the State of Maine. It is a voluntary organization whose office is located in Unity, Maine. As of 2016, MOFGA certifies 480 producers and growers.[1]

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
AbbreviationMOFGA
Formation1971
Location
  • Unity, Maine
Region
Maine
Websitehttp://www.mofga.org/
MOFGA Greenhouse

MOFGA also offers workshops and trainings related to organic agriculture, and organizes the annual Common Ground Country Fair.[2]

Formed in 1971, MOFGA is one of the largest, and oldest, state organic associations in the United States.[3] Currently MOFGA has two active satellite chapters located in Penobscot and Sagadahoc, although members live in every county of Maine as well as many other states.[4]

History

MOFGA was founded in 1971 following the evolution of the preceding organization, Maine Organic Foods Association (MOFA).[5]

Membership

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association comprises over 7,000 members and more than 2,000 volunteers.[5][6]

Events

MOFGA plays host to numerous events throughout the calendar year ranging from workshops to gatherings. Perhaps the most well-known event is the annual Common Ground Country Fair held in Unity, Maine.[7]

Programs

MOFGA offers a number of forestry and organic agricultural programs including a farm apprentice program and an organic certification program. MOFGA is also associated with the Maine School Garden Network, a non-profit education agricultural program for student youth focused on sustainability and stewardship, and oversees the Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Award, named after the late Russell Libby, MOFGA’s executive director from 1995 to 2012.[8]

Buy Maine Organic Program

A program centered around encouraging organic practice in both consumption and production of agricultural goods and related products. At present, MOFGA certifies over 500 producers of organic goods, including those of each of Maine’s 15 counties.[9][10]

Farm beginnings

A program geared towards supporting entry-level farmers towards a sustainable farm business with a focus on sustainability through workshops and mentoring. The MOFGA Farm Beginnings program is affiliated with The Farm Beginnings Collaborative, a national collective consisting of independent regional groups of farms and farmers.[11][12]

Farm Apprenticeships

A program offering farm apprenticeship for individuals interested in organic farming. Applicants are paired with experienced farmers and often exchange their labor for the training and room board.[13]

Current labor laws leave in question the legality of labor-exchange programs like MOFGA’s apprentice program.[14] However, Maine’s economy has largely benefited from these and similar programs as they appear to be related to a growing interest and engagement in youth farming and an uptick in organic farms in Maine.[15]

MOFGA Journey Person Program

A program aimed at training more experienced farmers in organic farming careers, the Journey Person program is designed to address and impart the skills and technical knowledge relevant to those individuals who have completed the farm apprenticeship program or have at least two years farming experience, one or more of which must be in Maine. In addition to offering training in organic farming, the program mentors individuals in business planning and finances.[16]

Organic Farmer Loan Fund

MOFGA offers two types of loans for prospective borrowers intended to support organic farmers in establishing viable businesses and credit history with their businesses: The Business Loan Fund, and the Organic Farmer Loan Fund.[17]

Business Loan Fund

The Business Loan Fund is tailored towards medium-sized businesses and smaller aiming to expand or support their business operations including marketing, non-production equipment, and working with or securing capital.[17]

Organic Farmer Loan Fund

The Organic Farmer Loan Fund is a transitional assistance loan supporting farmers in converting to an organic farm through the securing of capital or equipment.[17]

Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards

An annual scholarship award named after the late executive director of MOFGA, Russell Libby, aimed at supporting those in the realm of sustainable farm practice and organic agriculture.[18][19]

Three categories of scholarship are awarded each year for the following:

  • MOFGA Journeyperson Program participant
  • Maine High School Senior planning to study sustainable or organic farming at a college in Maine
  • Kennebec Valley Community College student studying sustainable agriculture

Low Impact Forestry

A program supporting sustainable timber harvesting practice and use, the Low Impact Forestry (LIF) project of MOFGA offers events and workshops throughout the year. Following the 1997 purchase of 200 acres in Unity, Maine for a year round fairspace and headquarters for the association, MOFGA’s LIF program has worked to preserve and manage the forests on the land.[20]

Maine School Garden Network

Maine School Garden Network (MSGN), a non-profit education agricultural program for student youth focused on sustainability and stewardship. Sponsored by MOFGA until 2014 when MSGN became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, MSGN continues to partner with MOFGA to promote organic agricultural awareness and involvement in Maine’s youth through school programs throughout the year.[21]

Common Ground Education Center

The Common Ground Education Center is located on 300 organic acres of forest and farmland in Unity, Maine. It is the location of MOFGA's headquarters and the site of the Common Ground Country Fair. The property was acquired in 1998 and converted to organic demonstration fields, gardens, orchards, shade trees and low-impact forestry woodlots.[22]

Maine Heritage Orchard

The Maine Heritage Orchard is a 10-acre orchard that preserves more than 360 varieties of apples and pears traditionally grown in Maine. It is used to teach organic orchard care. The orchard was planted in a reclaimed gravel pit starting in 2014.[23][24]

MOFGA Public Policy Initiatives

Pesticide Notification Registry.[25]

Publications

The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener

A quarterly publication consisting of information related organic practice, sustainable farming, gardening, and agricultural pursuits, and commentary on social and political issues related to the effects of industrial agriculture. While the publication is available to its members and for sale on newsstands throughout the year, it sees its biggest circulation through the nexus of the annual Common Ground Fair gathering in the autumn reaching approximately 60,000.[26][27]

See also

References
  1. Pols, Mary (22 May 2016). "Organic conundrum: Farm-to-label path too rocky for some". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. Raver, Anne (26 September 2012). "Green Ribbons at an Organic Fair". New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  3. Goad, Meredith (6 April 2016). "How the farm-to-table movement took root in Maine". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Chapters". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  5. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Abridged History". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  6. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Membership". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  7. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association > Events". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  8. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association > Programs". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  9. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Buy Maine Organic". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  10. "Maine Organic Farmers And Gardeners Association Buy Organic Info Graph" (PDF). www.mofga.org. Maine Organic Farmers And Gardeners Association. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  11. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "MOFGA Farm Beginnings". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  12. "MOFGA Farm Beginnings® Course Offers New Farmers Business Planning Skills - Farming". www.farmingmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  13. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association > Programs > Farm Apprenticeships". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  14. "Old labor laws run up against new farming approaches - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  15. Board, The BDN Editorial (30 September 2015). "Organic farming: Maine's small economic bright spot". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  16. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Journeyperson Program". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  17. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Organic Farmer Loan Fund". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  18. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  19. "Meet the winners of the first Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  20. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Low Impact Forestry". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  21. "About MSGN – Maine School Garden Network". www.msgn.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  22. "Common Ground Education Center". Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  23. "Consider the Apple". The Maine Mag. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  24. "The Maine Heritage Orchard". Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  25. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Public Policy Initiatives". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  26. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association > Publications". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  27. Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. "Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener". www.mofga.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
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