eNEWS
February 2010 > Free Social Justice Certification for limited time
For a limited time Florida Organic Growers (FOG) and collaborators are offering free social justice certification; free technical assistance, marketing, and publicity; and free research data on customer priorities and support for fair employer and trade practices.
FOG was awarded a grant in 2009 to bring the Agricultural Justice Project to the South, and is seeking farms, processors, grocery stores and food co-ops that want to capitalize on the recent stir about social justice and fair trade. The Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) is a non-profit initiative to create fairness and equity in our food system through the development of social justice standards for organic and sustainable agriculture.
Social justice labels are being created and market claims being made by large agribusiness and mom and pop operations alike due to increasing consumer interest in knowing how food is produced. The strength of the AJP social justice certification is that it has actively ensured that ALL the members of the food system community have equal say in standards development. The steering committee and advisory council to the AJP have farmers and farmer advocates, farmworkers and farmworker advocates, food co-op managers, and other food system business representatives. FOG is a founding member of the AJP.
FOG recognizes that farmers and small scale family businesses struggling to stay afloat in this economy will not want to add another chunk of paperwork and regulation to their businesses, which is the reason FOG is offering to take you through the process and the paperwork step by step. FOG discovered over the years that many of you are already doing great things to promote a more socially aware business and food system. Now more than ever there is a market for food produced with more than just a bottom line incentive. The public want a label and a promise that is proven and high bar and that is what FOG is offering.
To participate in FOG's efforts to bring the AJP to the southern U.S., email leah@foginfo.org or call 352.377.6345.