SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) members won a range of awards this year for unique products, innovative packaging, urban farming, outstanding education, commitment to sustainability and agricultural stewardship among others.
Some award winners include:
- Ineeka Inc. received the Best New/Most Unique Product award for the first-ever certified organic green tea beer, Himalayan Green Tea Bier, at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California in March 2009.
- Bonterra Vineyards and Traditional Medicinals, made Ode Magazine's 2009 List of Top 20 Organic Picks. Bonterra Vineyards are known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and Rose wines. Traditional Medicinals creates teas that provide health benefits from relieving cramps to improving memory.
- Santa Cruz's Homeless Garden Project was named one of the Top 10 Urban Farms in the country by Natural Home magazine in their March/April 2009 edition.
- Also, in Santa Cruz, Jim Leap, farm manager of member Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) won the 2009 Pedro Ilic Award for Outstanding Educator.
- Andrew Hoxsey, president of Yount Mill Vineyards, was honored with the 2009 Grower of the Year award from the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG).
- Two long-time CCOF members were honored with prestigious awards this year: Judith Redmond, owner of Full Belly Farm, was a finalist for the food production category of the Natural Resources Defense Council's first-ever "Growing Green" awards and Lundberg Family Farms won the 2009 American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and Western Agricultural Services' "Agricultural Stewardship Award." Lundberg also received the Organic Trade Association's Organic (OTA) Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing the Organic Industry at the 2009 All Things Organic Conference.