“The only element of TDA’s Farm Policy Reform Act of 1984 that made it into the final legislation was the Conservation Reserve Program. This was the first time farmers were paid to put some of their acreage into longterm sustainable cover crops to improve wildlife habitat, water and air quality, and reduce soil erosion, as well as raise commodity prices […]
Organic Blog 5 Keith Jones
This is the fifth blog on the subject of Texas creating the first organic label. Please read the first 4 which explains the background of organics in Texas. Once the process of organic certification had been set up, someone needed to enforce it. In Texas, that someone was Keith Jones. “I was looking to get back into agriculture. I […]
Texas Organic Label part 4
Dennis Holbrook was appointed by Hightower to the Texas Organic Advisory Board that Dan Kelley was assembling that would craft a Texas Organic Label. We talked about that process in the previous blog. Holbrook has farmed organic in South Texas for over 40 years. Holbrook is a bit of a legend in Texas organic circles. He has a story to […]
Texas Organic Label part 3
Hightower, in his crusade to save the family farmer, focused on efforts to market higher value-added food products in niche markets, markets that wouldn’t interest the big commodity farmers and the big agribusinesses. Organic vegetables, organic grains, and organic meats were seen as one of those efforts. Growing food organically also just happens to aid the reduction of exposure to […]
Texas Organic Label part 1
Texas has Bragging Rights to the First Organic Label in the United States Yep! Texas! Who would have thunk it. Texas! First in the nation! Wait a minute!!. What?? The first? Yes…dear readers. Texas has bragging rights! Yet you won’t hear the current Agriculture Commissioner ever mention it, nor will you hear it from any of the Ag. Commissioners […]
How Hope Blooms: A Story of Rabbi Nancy Epstein
by Blake Herrera Imagine this: It’s Valentine’s Day. You walk into any supermarket in the state of Texas (be it H-E-B, Whole Foods, or Kroger) looking for a bouquet to give to your special someone. But wait — there is no cut flowers section! Valentine’s Day is a wash. If you have ever bought a bunch of flowers at a […]