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| Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association |
| Abbreviation | MOFGA |
| Formation | 1971 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Unity, Maine |
| Region served | Maine, United States |
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is an American nonprofit advocacy, education, and certification organization focused on organic agriculture, sustainable horticulture, and local food systems in Maine, New England, and the broader United States. Founded by farmers, gardeners, and activists concerned with pesticide use and soil health, the organization operates a certified organic inspection agency, hosts an annual agricultural fair, manages demonstration farms and research plots, and publishes periodicals to support practitioners and consumers. Its activities intersect with policy debates, academic research, market development, and community networks across regional and national institutions.
The organization originated in 1971 amid environmental activism that included participants connected to Rachel Carson, Earth Day (1970), and regional movements in New England. Early leaders drew on practices from Rodale, Inc., proponents of organic farming such as Sir Albert Howard, and precedents set by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 advocacy. During the 1970s and 1980s MOFGA worked alongside groups like Slow Food, Local Harvest, and state-level agricultural agencies, contributing to the diffusion of techniques championed in texts such as The One-Straw Revolution and Silent Spring. The organization established demonstration gardens and farmsteads in Unity, Maine and formed partnerships with land-grant institutions including the University of Maine and cooperative extension services to advance research on soil fertility, crop rotations, and integrated pest management. Its history reflects linkages with national networks such as Rodale Institute, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and international dialogues at forums like IFOAM.
MOFGA's mission emphasizes promotion of organic production, protection of natural resources, and support for local food systems, aligning with policy goals pursued by actors including USDA offices and regional food policy councils. Programs encompass certification services, farmer training, market development initiatives, youth education efforts, and land access projects that coordinate with entities like Land for Good, Farm Service Agency, and community organizations in towns such as Augusta, Maine and Portland, Maine. The organization administers grant-supported projects in collaboration with foundations including Kresge Foundation, Ford Foundation, and state programs modeled after initiatives from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Vermont Agency of Agriculture. MOFGA also engages with networks such as Slow Food USA, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Northeast Organic Farming Association to scale technical assistance and business planning.
Educational offerings include workshops, apprenticeships, internships, and curriculum materials used by schools such as University of Maine Cooperative Extension programs, vocational centers, and community colleges. Outreach leverages events like the Common Ground Country Fair, demonstration farms, and publications to share techniques tied to figures like Masanobu Fukuoka and agricultural texts held at institutions such as the Biodynamic Association. Youth programs connect with 4-H chapters, local school gardens, and seasonal camps, while farmer-to-farmer networks mirror models used by SARE and ATTRA to disseminate research on cover cropping, composting, and seed saving. Partnerships extend to municipal markets in Bangor, Maine and regional distribution projects modeled after Farmers Market Coalition initiatives.
MOFGA operates an organic certification program that interfaces with federal regulations under National Organic Program standards administered by the USDA National Organic Program, and coordinates equivalency with Canadian and European schemes like Canada Organic Regime and European Union organic certification. Certification services include inspection, record review, and enforcement measures similar to practices at California Certified Organic Farmers and Oregon Tilth. MOFGA’s standards reflect international principles from IFOAM Organics International and align with sectoral guidance from bodies such as National Organic Standards Board while working with legal frameworks like the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
The annual Common Ground Country Fair, held at MOFGA’s demonstration site in Unity, Maine, attracts thousands of visitors and features exhibitors, craft vendors, workshops, livestock shows, and food demonstrations. Modeled after agricultural fairs such as the Eastern States Exposition and craft gatherings like The Big E, the Fair showcases heirloom seed exchanges, workshops led by experts connected to Seed Savers Exchange and displays from regional universities including University of Maine. Notable speakers and workshop leaders have included advocates associated with Alice Waters, Vandana Shiva, and practitioners from Permaculture Association networks. The Fair serves as a marketplace and convening space linking consumers, farmers, artisans, and educators from across New England.
MOFGA supports applied research on soil science, crop systems, pest management, and value-added production in collaboration with researchers at University of Maine, Cornell University, University of Vermont, and federal research entities such as USDA Agricultural Research Service. Publications include a regional periodical and technical fact sheets comparable to resources from SARE, ATTRA, and extension bulletins, alongside books and manuals distributed through partnerships with publishers like Chelsea Green Publishing. Research priorities have covered topics in agroecology championed by scholars linked to Rodale Institute and Land Institute, and have contributed to peer dialogues at conferences including those hosted by Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
The organization is governed by a board of directors drawn from farmers, gardeners, educators, and community leaders, reflecting governance structures similar to nonprofits such as Heifer International and National Young Farmers Coalition. Administrative offices collaborate with fiscal sponsors, development officers, and program managers, and coordinate volunteer networks modeled on systems used by AmeriCorps partners and community nonprofits in towns such as Rockland, Maine and Lewiston, Maine. MOFGA’s governance engages with state policy makers in Maine State Legislature and participates in coalitions with organizations including Northeast Organic Farming Association-USA and national policy groups to influence agricultural practice and land-use outcomes.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Maine