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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office of Gov. John
Hickenlooper Office
of Economic Development and International
Trade Colorado
Department of Agriculture Kathy Green (OEDIT) Christi Lightcap
(CDA) |
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HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP HELPS COLORADO ORGANICS GO
GLOBAL LAKEWOOD, Colo. – March 22, 2012 – Colorado organic producers may find it
easier to export to the European Union (EU) following the announcement of an
historic equivalency agreement between the US and EU. Beginning June 1, 2012, organic products
certified in Europe or in the US may be sold as organic in either region. Previously, growers
and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to
obtain separate certifications beyond the USDA National Organic Standards,
which could mean a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork. This partnership
eliminates significant barriers, especially for small and medium-sized
organic producers. All products meeting the terms of the equivalency
agreement can be traded and labeled as certified organic produce, meat,
cereal, or wine. “Colorado has a reputation
for producing high quality organic products and I’m excited that our farmers
and ranchers will now have greater access to ship those products around the
globe,” said Tom Lipetzky, Markets Division
Director for the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). “This agreement will, hopefully, have a
great impact on our organics exports—particularly for millet and wheat.” This unique agreement will also have a positive impact on Colorado’s economy. "Increasing the export of Colorado goods and services to global markets keeps Colorado competitive,” said Ken Lund, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). “The partnership with European Union makes doing international business even easier for Colorado growers which can lead to business expansion, job growth and increased economic vitality.” The US and EU are the two
largest organic-producers in the world, with nearly 340 organic producers in
Colorado alone. CDA is accredited by the USDA as an organic certification
agency and certifies nearly 190 Colorado operations. Additional operations
are certified by outside third party agencies. The program assures consumers
that certified “organic” products are produced without prohibited substances
and adhere to the national Organic Program Standards. This new partnership
was announced on February 15 at BioFach
2012, the world’s largest trade show for organic foods held annually in
Germany. CDA, in partnership with the OEDIT, led a delegation of eight
Colorado companies to BioFach last month. Those
companies exhibited their organic products through a shared booth space free
of charge, thanks to an export-promotion grant that CDA and OEDIT received
last year from the US Small Business Administration. The Colorado exhibitors
reported acquiring 62 qualified international buyer leads, made $115,000 in
sales at the show, and anticipate making at least another $750,000 in sales
within the next 12 months. “BioFach was a great opportunity to meet with potential international buyers, make sales right on the show floor and promote Colorado’s strong organic sector,” said Wayne Roth of Roth Organic Farms, one of the Colorado companies that exhibited at BioFach. “I was thrilled to hear about the new US – EU Agreement, and am confident that it will help organic farmers throughout Colorado increase their international sales.” For more information on Colorado’s organic industry, including a list of companies that exhibited at BioFach 2012, visit www.coloradoagriculture.com/organic. The Colorado
Department of Agriculture and OEDIT offer a variety of programs to assist
Colorado companies in developing or expanding their exports. Funding support is available from the USDA
and SBA to assist individual companies in expanding their exports. For more information
on international trade, contact CDA marketing specialists: Tim Larsen, (303) 239-4118, tim.larsen@ag.state.co.us Dawn Velasquez de Perez, (303) 239-4123, dawn.velaquez@ag.state.co.us ### |
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