DATE: 5/2/05

CONTACT/WRITER: Dr. Geoff Zehnder, (864) 656-6644

EDITOR: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

Clemson student farm now “Certified Organic"

CLEMSON – Produce grown at the Calhoun Field Laboratory (CFL) Sustainable Farming Project is now officially certified as "Organic" under USDA National Organic Program guidelines.

The certification process for the CFL Project was conducted by the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry Organic Certification Program, a USDA-accredited organic certifying agency.

Organic food is produced without using conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. To obtain organic certification, crop production at the CFL is conducted according to these rigid, environmentally conscientious standards. The "USDA Organic" label means that consumers can be certain that products were grown using organic practices and without the use of harmful substances.

Established in 2000, the CFL Project occupies approximately 15 acres of the "Clemson Bottoms" on the Clemson University campus, and is dedicated to intensive production of high value seasonal vegetables, culinary herbs and cut flowers. The CFL farm is operated entirely by students under the supervision of Joseph Bassett, farm manager. The CFL Project is directed by Geoff Zehnder, a professor in the Department of Entomology, Soil and Plant Sciences and coordinator of the Clemson University Sustainable Agriculture Program.

Produce from the CFL is sold at a weekly farmers market at the Clemson University Hendrix Center and is also available through a membership-based subscription market program.

Information on the CFL Project and markets are available at http://www.clemson.edu/scg/sust/calhounfieldlab_main.html.

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