1. *fffl3q*
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"Tlte p*acftcal s;holce for Srour orgaalc cerrtificatlon-tt Tlre
an unforeseen drop in income that makes it unrealistic to give
bonuses can be understood by the workers who have had the
financial picture from the beginning of their work season.
Also as part of the project, workers were given workshops on
health and safety issues such as using mechanical farm
equipment and avoiding Lyme's Disease. Richard
Mandelbaum from the Agricultural Justice Project and
Ernesto Velez Bustos from Centro Campesino found that
workers on the pilot program farms felt loyalty toward the
farmer. The farmers likewise felt a concern for the workers
and appreciated their plans to return to the farm next year.
Farmers hiring one employee and farmers hiring many
migrant workers all felt that their end product is better if their
workers are invested in the business.
The retailers at the meeting stated that their cus-
tomers responded very positively to the Fair Trade concept
being extended to area producers. The pilot program provid-
ed a template for the stores to examine their employee prac-
- Ag j,ustice projects irrpr<rve farrner / rnrorker relationshipp
by Ttish Dougherty, MOSA Certification Specialist
When I sit down with a cup of coffee, I feel fortu-
nate that the coffee is labeled Organic and Fair Trade. To
date, I think of Fair Trade products as coming from countries
south of our border, but the Agricultural Justice Project and
the Local Fair Trade Networld began work to extend fair
trade labeling to products made in the USA. During the past
year they conducted a pilot project in the Midwest among
producers and retailers. They created forms for them to fill
out and sent an inspector to the farm or store. These pro-
ducers, retailers, the Agricultural Justice Project and the
Local Fair Trade Network folks, and MOSA director Bonnie
Wideman and I met to discuss the successes, challenges and
future of this endeavor. We met at the Featherstone Farm
near Rushford, Minnesota, on a cold, sunny day in
December. The farm members were gracious hosts, and the
Bluff Country Co-op provided delicious food and drinks.
tices. As many co-ops operate on a tight margin, too
often they are unable to provide the wages and berr
efits they wish they could. i{ow to work with this
dilemma was a big part of the project for them.
Next our adept facilitator JJ turned our atterr-
tion to the challenges experienced during the pilot
project. Producers asked how the additional cost of
Fair Trade certification would be offset. Although
farmers did not have to pay a fee for the Agricultural
Justice Project certification, they did have to bear
the costs of documenting their practices and holding
extra meetings with workers. The goal is for the
costs of certification to eventually be covered by
income from a Social Justice Fund, representing a
A store handout promoting local fair trade, featuring workers from
Featherstone Farm, Rushford, Minnesota.
Many felt the biggest success of the pilot program
was that it was completed, as too often planning meetings
occur without action afterward. Producers found the forms
helpful guidelines. For example, although producers felt
they treat their workers fairly, having employee guidelines
gave them a concrete way to check that this was so. For pro-
ducers who were just growing big enough to hire an employ-
ee, it gave them a base to work from. While hiring a friend
for the summer may work, having a written policy avoids
misunderstandings. Under the Ag Justice/Fair Trade project,
the farmers'goal is to pay a living wage to employees. If
unable to do so, farmers document this and provide the
employees with the farm's financial information. In this
way, transparency and partnerghip are fostered. As a result,
fraction of a percentage fee on certified and labeled products
paid by the consumer at the point-of-purchase. In this way,
the consumer is helping to protect the integrity of the pro-
gram, support farmer
certification, and
down the road possi-
bly even share in the
cost of farmer and
worker benefits such
as health care. It may
also be the case that
the Fair Trade audit
..continued page 14
Executive Director's Report.....................2
NOP News for Handlers............................8
MOSA Welcomes New Associates..........11
Changes to MOSA Policies and Fees.....l2
MOSA Annual Meeting Feb. 22-.-..........15
Ballot for trlecting MOSA Board-...,.,.-.15
Classifieds..... ....................16

2. Orgareic Dairy vrrorkshops for veterirnarians
Wisconsin workshops for veterinarians and dairy sup-
port professionals interested in the growing organic dairy sector
are planned for February and March, with a special emphasis
on organic livestock health management. In addition, the state
of Minnesota is offering general organic dairy workshops.
"Wisconsin leads the nation in organic milk production
and is home to about one fourth of the nation's organic dairy
cows," said Laura Paine, organic and grazing specialist at the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection. "We're hoping organic farmers will invite their vet-
erinarians to participate to learn about this rapidly growing
dairy sector."
Four workshops are coming up:
Feb.22, Radisson Hotel, La Crosse, WI (in conjunction with
the Midwest Organic Farming conference)
March 13, American Legion Hall, Loyal, WI
March 25, Holiday Inn South, Rochester, MN
March 27, Community Center in Mclntosh, MN.
All workshops run from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Training
will emphasize scientific understanding as well as practical
experience. Topics at these daylong professional development
workshops include:
. An overview of organic dairy in the state based on research
conducted by the University of Wisconsin Program on
Agricultural Technology Studies
'AToolbox for Managing Animal Health in Organic Systems
. Treatrnents and Disease Management on Wisconsin Organic
Dairy Farms
. A panel of farmers
Topics at the Minnesota workshops will include:
Certification-legal and practical requirements; Livestock
Health and Nutrition; Economics; Performance; Science, Myth,
and Practical experience.
Presenters will vary by location and feature local
experts, including certified dairy producers, regionally and
nationally-known experts.
The workshops cost $30 per person and include lunch;
late registration $40. For a brochure and registration form for
Wisconsin: www.cias.wisc.edu/organic-farming or call 608-
224-5120. For Minnesota: www.sfa-mn.org/documents/organ-
ic_dairy101.pdf or call 32O-226-63 18.
Ag. Justice and Fair Tlade .
...continteed frorn loage orae
could be combined with a producer's organic certification
audit, which would further reduce costs and tirne demands on
the producer. MOSA is interested in this possibility. All of the
producers that were at the meeting are certified by MOSA.
Many of the challenges noted in the pilot project dis-
cussion pertained to marketing. Producers and retailers dis-
cussed the value of written contracts to assure that the pro-
ducers would have a market for their product. Area produc-
ers are in constant communication with each other regarding
what they are growing and how much they will sell it for.
Discussion of the usefulness of a marketing web site was dis-
cussed.
The last part of the meeting was spent looking for-
ward. The Agricultural Justice Project and Local Fair Trade
Network people both recognize that this is a big project, and
by using the currentparticipatory model of including the pro-
ducers and retailers in the discussion and design, the project
is also "messy." Also understood is that maintaining the
local-ness of control of what is produced, as well as a devis-
ing and eventually being certified for the use of a uniform
label that will be marketed wide and far, are in tension with
each other. But no one wanted it differently. Everyone at the
meeting was willing to continue the "messy" process in order
for the project to come to fruition.
Organic consumers may assume certified organic
products are already produced by workers who enjoy a
respectful relationship with their employer and a dignified
work environment. However, by making this explicit with an
additional label, we are enhancing the organic market.
Thanks to all of those who are working to make this happen.
Forms, inspections, and labels can have their benefits.
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