Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, owner of the Garden of Eve organic farm, and members of the Organic Farmers Association are traveling to Washington, D.C. to discuss updates to the U.S. farm bill and advocate for policies that support organic farming. They will address concerns such as organic dairy farm closures and the integrity of organic labeling, while seeking support for organic infrastructure and local food systems.
Advocating for Organic Farming: A Crucial Trip to Washington, D.C.
Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, owner of the Garden of Eve organic farm, and members of the Organic Farmers Association are traveling to Washington, D.C. to discuss updates to the U.S. farm bill and advocate for policies that support organic farming. They will address concerns such as organic dairy farm closures and the integrity of organic labeling, while seeking support for organic infrastructure and local food systems.
( Credit to: Riverheadnewsreview )
Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, the owner and farmer of the Garden of Eve organic farm in Riverhead, is gearing up to travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies that specifically benefit organic farming and discuss their impact on the wider agricultural community.
( Credit to: Riverheadnewsreview )
From March 4th to 7th, Kaplan-Walbrecht, along with other members of the Organic Farmers Association (OFA), a national industry organization established in 2016, will be meeting with congressional representatives and agriculture committee staffers to discuss pending updates to the U.S. farm bill.
This legislation, originally enacted during the New Deal era, serves as the primary framework for all U.S. agriculture and food policy programs and is typically revised by Congress every five to six years. The current version, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2018 and expired in September of last year.
To keep the program funded through September 30, 2024, a Continuous Resolution was enacted in November.
The farm bill covers a wide range of programs, including crop insurance for farmers, access to healthy food for low-income families, training for beginning farmers, and support for sustainable farming practices, as outlined on the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s website.
During her meetings with legislators such as U.S. Representative Nick LaLota (R-Bay Shore) and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Kaplan-Walbrecht will address the pending updates to the Farm Bill. Additionally, she will be seeking immediate support for organic dairy farms, which have been hit hard by increased input costs such as labor and fuel, leading to the closure of many family farms.
Kaplan-Walbrecht also emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of organic labeling, a major concern for organic farmers.
“We discuss very specific ways that the standards need to be upheld and changed to ensure they favor real, sustainable farming practices and biodiversity, rather than just checking off boxes,” she explained. “This includes preventing fraud from imported products and ensuring that the standards truly promote environmental sustainability.”
The Organic Farmers Association will also be advocating for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that aim to increase organic infrastructure, develop new regional programs to boost organic production, address challenges related to climate and supply chain resilience, and strengthen local food systems, as stated in the organization’s press release about their trip to Washington, D.C.
Kaplan-Walbrecht and her husband, Chris, established Garden of Eve in 2001. Over the years, their operations have grown to cover 60 acres of certified organic vegetables and flowers. They also raise 1,500 pastured laying hens, providing food to the community through farmers markets and community supported agriculture programs across Long Island and New York City.
Kaplan-Walbrecht has been a member of the OFA for many years and was elected in 2020 to serve as its Northeast Region Farmer Representative.
Kate Mendenhall, the executive director of the OFA, emphasized that bringing organic farmers to the forefront in Washington, D.C. and highlighting their concerns is a top priority for the organization. She believes that farmers are best equipped to educate policymakers about the challenges they face and should be involved in crafting solutions to promote organic farming in the country.
Kaplan-Walbrecht urged local community members to continue supporting organic farming by shopping at local farms. She emphasized the importance of consumers’ purchasing power in enabling farmers to succeed and their role in maintaining the purity and strength of the organic brand. She also encouraged individuals to let their representatives know that organic farming is important to them.
In conclusion, Kaplan-Walbrecht’s upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. alongside other members of the Organic Farmers Association is a crucial opportunity to advocate for policies that support organic farming and address the challenges faced by organic farmers. By engaging with lawmakers and sharing their experiences and concerns, they hope to shape the future of organic agriculture in the United States.