Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Organics
Give $220,000 to OFRF
Gift is the largest in OFRF’s 15-year history

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (February 14, 2006) – The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) today formally announced the receipt of $220,000 from Newman’s Own Organics and Paul Newman Charitable Giving at the end of December. “This is the largest single contribution OFRF has received in our fifteen year history. We greatly appreciate this investment in our work on behalf of organic family farmers and will use it to help continue the growth of organic agriculture across the U.S.,” stated Bob Scowcroft, OFRF’s Executive Director. The funds will broadly support of all aspects of OFRF’s work.

Since 1990, the farmer-led OFRF Board of Directors has awarded more than 200 grants totaling over $1.5 million in support of organic farming research and education projects. The Foundation’s grantmaking emphasizes grower-researcher collaboration; studies conducted on working organic farms and certified organic research land; and the sharing of project results with other farmers and researchers to advance the state of the art of organic farming systems. OFRF grants also support educational projects to improve farmer access to science-based and field-validated organic farming information and practices.

OFRF also maintains an active public interest policy program, educating the public and policymakers about organic farmers’ needs and concerns. The organization strives to:

• increase government support for the growth of organic agriculture;
• ensure that land grant universities have organic research and extension programs developed with the participation of organic farmers;
• cultivate state and federal policies that help to assure the economic viability of organic family farmers; and
• support organic farmers’ rights to grow and sell their products without the threat of contamination by pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“OFRF’s Policy Program is of particular interest to us,” said Nell Newman, President of Newman’s Own Organics. “They do a remarkably effective job, with limited resources, representing organic farmers’ interests on the Hill and in the various agricultural agencies. We’re really glad to help OFRF grow the farmer’s voice in Washington and elsewhere.”

In addition to grantmaking and policy initiatives, OFRF conducts original research about organic farming in the U.S. It also maintains a network of state and regional organic grower advocacy organizations, provides information and farmer-based perspectives to local, regional and national media, and is active in leading scientific societies. The results of OFRF-funded research projects and information on all of its other programs are available free online at www.ofrf.org.

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Media Contacts:

Bob Scowcroft
Organic Farming Research Foundation
(831) 426-6606
bob@ofrf.org

Sally Shepard
Shepard Public Relations
(415) 435-3571

sally@shepardpr.com