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Organic Innovation and Inspiration

Due to the overwhelming support of our members and partners, our Annual Conference is now sold out. We encourage you to explore the full conference program below, and join the waitlist for the event. Should registration spots open up, we will contact waitlist members and register them for the day's activities.

CCOF Annual Meeting and Conference

Save the date for CCOF’s 2017 Annual Meeting and Conference events on February 9-10, 2017, in Visalia, California. This year’s theme—Organic Innovation and Inspiration—will feature the innovative techniques organic producers, handlers, retailers, and other change-makers are using to address current economic and environmental issues, as well as big ideas for tackling the challenges of tomorrow.

We invite you to join other innovators to change the world by changing the way we grow.

The festivities begin Thursday evening with our first annual CCOF Foundation Awards Feast. Hear from the next generation of organic producers and the champions who are helping them build their careers in agriculture.

Friday’s full-day conference will focus on the innovations that are shaping our organic world. From new technology to out-of-the-box solutions for sustainability, you won’t want to miss this show and tell from some of organic’s biggest thinkers.

Agenda

Thursday, February 9
5:30 p.m. — First Annual CCOF Foundation Awards Feast
Honoring the National Co+op Grocers and their CEO Robynn Shrader

Friday, February 10
8:00 a.m. — CCOF Annual Meeting
Get an update on your CCOF membership and learn about the history of agriculture in the Central Valley

• Cathy Calfo, Executive Director/CEO, CCOF
• Jake Lewin, President, CCOF Certification Services
• Marilyn Kinoshita, Agricultural Commissioner, Tulare County

9:00 a.m. — Keynote Address

• Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm

9:35 a.m. — Stories of Organic Innovation 

• Michael Joseph, Green Chef 
• Paige Poulos, All American Hay & Grain

10:30 a.m. — Big Ideas in Organic

• Robynn Shrader, National Co+op Grocers 
• John France, Homegrown Organic Farms
• Matt Rogers, Whole Foods Market

1:00 p.m. — Bringing Inspiration Back to the Family Farm

• Dieter Schellenberg, Schellenberg Farms
• Robin Singh, California’s Organic Harvest
• Caitlin Couture, Couture Farms
• Moderated by Heather Mondello, Abundant Harvest Organics

1:00 p.m. — The State of Organic in California

• Jim Houston, California Department of Food and Agriculture
• Jamie Johansson, California Farm Bureau Federation
• Mark Lipson, Molino Creek Farm
• Moderated by Nancy Casady, Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market

2:15 p.m. — GRO Organic Research and Promotion Program Overview

• Laura Batcha, Organic Trade Association
• Moderated by Kelly Damewood, CCOF

2:15 p.m. — Expanding Opportunity: Organic Distribution and Retail

• Corinne Shindelar, Independent Natural Food Retailers Association
• Bu Nygrens, Veritable Vegetable
• Rick Lejeune, Heath & Lejeune
• Moderated by Mark Squire, Good Earth Natural Foods

3:30 p.m. — Flavor of Innovation in the Valley

Organic farmers, handlers, and ranchers can be found growing and creating inspiring food throughout the Central Valley. This tasting and networking session will feature product from organic farmers and CCOF-certified members who farm and process in the Central Valley.  

4:00 p.m. — Processor/Handler Chapter Meeting

CCOF’s Processor/Handler Chapter will hold their annual meeting at the event. Processor/Handler Chapter members may attend in person or remotely via GoToMeeting.

Accommodations 

CCOF has reserved a block of rooms at the Visalia Marriott at the Convention Center for this special event. Room price is $119 per night. Reserve your room by January 27, 2017 to take advantage of this special rate.

More Information

To learn more about this event, contact ccoffoundation@ccof.org or (831) 423-2263.

For event sponsorship information, contact Madelaine Baer at mbaer@ccof.org or (831) 346-6259.