|
|
CONTACT:
Holli Cederholm, 207. 809. 7530
|
|
|
Organic Community Stepping Up to Support OSGATA
Organic Seed Organization Uses Crowdfunding to Bolster Operational Funds
|
Washington, ME, December 4 , 2015 - The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) is nearly at the halfway point in their new GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign launched earlier this week on Giving Tuesday.
OSGATA is the farmer-led membership trade organization which develops, protects, and promotes the organic seed trade and its farmers, and assures the organic community has access to excellent quality organic seed, free of genetically engineered (GE) contaminants, and adapted to the diverse needs of local organic agriculture.
|
| | OSGATA Board Member & Organic Farmer, Lyn Howe. |
Board Member Lyn Howe, of Beach Road Farm in Hawaii, said, "This is a great opportunity to support a grassroots organization run by organic seed farmers. These dedicated farmers work at state and federal levels to keep the standards of our organic seed from being compromised."
Since 2007, OSGATA has been committed to fostering a robust decentralized seed trade, suited to the ecological, economic and localized needs of organic farming at every scale. They've also been continually working to protect the integrity of organic.
From 2011-2014, OSGATA r epresented over 300,000 individuals, farmers, and seed businesses as the lead plaintiff in the landmark community lawsuit OSGATA et al. v. Monsanto. They received a historic win in 2014, partially protecting farmers from GE contamination while making momentous progress in public education concerning seed issues and farmers' rights.
Donor support raised during the GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign will help the organization continue to do the following: send seed farmers to important stakeholder meetings of the organic industry, like meetings of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB); provide training to farmers on GMO contamination mitigation; and help existing and transitioning seed farmers with business planning tools.
|
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association
OSGATA is a farmer-controlled national non-profit membership trade organization of certified organic farmers, certified organic seed companies, organic seed professionals, affiliate organizations and individuals dedicated to the advancement of certified organic seed. OSGATA is committed to protecting, promoting and developing the organic seed trade and its growers, thereby assuring that the organic community has access to excellent quality certified organic seed, free of genetic contaminants and adapted to the diverse needs of local organic agriculture.
###
|
|
|
PO Box 362 Washington, ME 04574
|
|
