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South East
Care Co-ops
Based at Care Co-ops Community Farm Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex. Care co-ops run an Organic Gardening Course in conjunction with Plumpton College.
Contact tel: 01273 696153
Community Action for Food and the Environment, (CAFÉ)
CAFÉ run a programme called Fresh Ideas supporting the increased availability of affordable fresh fruit and vegetables as health alternatives to overly processed foods. The project offers support to community groups, schools and businesses in the East Sussex and Brighton and Hove area who are trying to address these aims. To contact email either:
Johnny Denis jdenis@esbhhealth.cix.co.uk or:
Sarah Davies sdavies@esbhhealth.cix.co.uk
Regional Organics South East (ROSE)
R.O.S.E. is a group of certified organic growers and retailers who come together to promote production, distribution and consumption of locally grown organic food. A Directory is produced of where you can buy organic food in the South East from farm shops, producers, box delivery schemes and retail shops. To obtain a copy of the Directory please contact Keith Obbard of R.O.S.E. tel: 01892 863658.
Web site: www.egeneration.co.uk/kent
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Eat the View
Web site: www.eat-the-view.org.uk
It is a Countyside Agency's initiative launched in July 2000 to help people make the links between the products they buy and the countryside they cherish. The project works with and funds the National Association of Farmers' Markets, the Farm Retail Association and England's Regional Food Groups, through Food from Britain. They are developing a new initiative with the Soil Association called Local Foodworks. This initiative will provide advice and practical assistance to local groups wishing to establish local food initiatives.
Soil Association
Web site: www.soilassociation.org
Sustain
Web site: www.sustainweb.org
Sustain is the alliance for better food and farming. It represents over 100 national public interest organisations working at the international, regional and local level. Its aim is to advocate food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture. A quarterly journal, Digest, aims to keep readers abreast of development in the food and agricultural policy arena. A steering group co-ordinated by Sustain has called for an Organics Target Bill.
Organic South West
Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 8PB
Email: osw@soilassocation.org
The Organic South West Centre is a Soil Association project in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall and Triodos Bank. Its objectives are to act as a regional centre for excellence in organic farming practices and food production in the South West, aiming to substantially increase the amount of organic production and processing in the region. It provides advice, technical information, business support and training to all organic producers and processors, to those considering conversion and to related businesses.
F3 Foundation for Local Food Initiatives
Web site: www.localfood.org.uk
It is an independent not-for profit co-operative company. Their aim is to promote and support the growth of healthy local food economies as a key part of sustainable development. F3 work mainly with local authorities, central government and agencies, health authorities and development agencies.
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Organic Centre Wales
Web site: www.organic.aber.ac.uk
Email: organic@aber.ac.uk
Technical helpline: 01970 622100
The Organic Centre Wales was formally opened on 10th July 2000. Its function is to co-ordinate the provision of advice and information to farmers under the National Assembly's Welsh Agri-Food Partnership Organic Action Plan. The aim of the plan is to have 10% of Welsh Agriculture organic by 2005.
Organic Marketing Initiatives and Rural Development (OMIaRD)
OMIaRD is a research project lasting three years from Jan. 2001 linking EU policy areas of sustainable agriculture and rural development. It will examine all aspects of marketing of organic food in Europe with a focus on rural development. The web site is www.irs.aber.ac.uk/omiard where you an download the newsletter.
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Organisation supporting co-operatives
South East
Mutual Aid
Web site: www.co-op.org/mutualaid/
Mutual Aid is a Sussex wide forum for a variety of housing, workers and social enterprise co-operatives. Its aim is to develop democratic, sustainable and environmentally aware enterprises inspired by the principles of co-operation. There is an online discussion group at mutualaid-on@totalcoverage.co.uk. Informal meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month, 8pm upstairs at the Quadrant pub, by the Clock Tower, Brighton.
Other Useful contacts for organic producers
A comprehensive list of licensed certification bodies, organisations offering research and advice, education and training is available in 2001 'Organic Farm Management Handbook', eds. Nic Lampkin and Mark Measures.
Organic Week is a week in mid October when events are organised around the UK to promote organic food. See www.organicweek.org for more details.
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