Feb. 18, 2010, Guelph, Ont. – This year's Guelph Organic Conference drew another large crowd of almost 1,800 attendees. Attracted by 155 trade show booths, a wide array of farmers, traders and students foraged the show for organic samples. Meetings, food events, trainings and a host of annual general meetings spanned five days.

Highlights for attendees included the Food Inc. showing in downtown Guelph hosted by organic yogurt giant, Stonyfield Farm’s Gary Hirshberg. Margaret Webb’s ‘Think Big Canada’ keynote presentation packed the house.

Vermont success story, Pete Johnson and partner/co-presenter Meg Gardner of Pete’s Greens’ talk on organic market gardens was a sold-out workshop of 100-plus registrants. The University Centre was vibrant and lively on Saturday and Sunday with a vast array of organic trading companies and non-profits exhibiting at the Expo. The show drew a lot of inquisitive consumers this year, proving that the organic business is really drawing the attention of the mainstream. The trade show is ideal for consumers to meet organic suppliers in person.

Taking part in the $5,000 donation were students of the Organic Agricultural Program, along with (from left to right) Feast of Fields chair Daniel Gilbert, Professor Ann Clark, and Conference Manager Tomas Nimmo. Photo credit: © 2010 Heather Osborn, Crave Images.

One major conference highlight was the presentation of a $5,000 cheque to Ann Clark and the University of Guelph’s Organic Agriculture Program by Organic Advocates/Feast of Fields, a non-profit organization of organic producers, environmentally concerned chefs, food professionals, and enlightened consumers.

By far, the most popular workshops in 2010 were the “Organic Market Managers” and “New Farmer Panel.” Many attendees and organizers felt that the time allowed was only enough to graze the surface of the depth of the issues.

Referring to the Organic Farmers Market Networking room, a popular multi-booth display and demonstration room, Carrie Ann Watson noted that, “as a longtime organic market supporter and organizer, this Networking Room was a fabulous idea. I think its popularity was a remarkable example of the booming desire to strengthen the connections between our food, our environment and the people who grow it.”

Everyone involved – the many volunteers, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and an extremely dedicated staff – deserve high praise for contributing to a very successful event. “Every year this show attracts such an exciting crowd that you know you’re at Organic Central,” said conference manager Tomas Nimmo.  “Guelph 2010 met all my goals.”

Non-profit organizers of the 29th Guelph Conference include:

• Canadian Health Food Association

• Canadian Organic Growers

• CSI – Centre For Systems Integration

• Ecocert Canada

• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario

• International Organic Inspectors Association

• National Farmers Union

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

• OCIA-International

• Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

• Organic Council of Ontario

• Organic Trade Association In Canada

• ProCert Organic Systems

• Quality Assurance International

• Resource Efficient Agricultural Production

• Society For Biodynamic Farming & Gardening In Ontario

• University of Guelph Organic Agriculture Program

For a copy of the Conference Proceedings, including a summary of the 35 workshops and a “guide to organic marketers” trader list, mail a cheque ($10 postpaid to Canada or $15 to the U.S.) payable to “Organic Conference” to:

Organic Conference,

Box 116

Collingwood, ON

L9Y 3Z4.