About NWOC

The NWOC opened in 2004 and since then we have been involved in a number of achievements that have benefited the organic sector in the region. Examples include:

• The Northwest Organic Centre and Cumbria Organics initiated and supported the development of the Northwest Organic Milk Producers ltd. (NWOMP). NWOMP is a wholly producer led initiative with a membership of 28 organic dairy farms.  The main aims of the group are to strengthen the supply chain for organic milk and support the development of the NW organic milk field. The approach adopted is to work alongside the existing milk co-ops and to complement other initiatives to develop the northern organic market. A successful application for RES funding has enabled NWOMP to employ an Organic Milk Marketing Manager who will work to promote organic milk throughout the Northwest.
• In the autumn of 2006 the NWOC facilitated an innovative project to enable children to understand the benefits of organic food production for their own health and wellbeing and for the health of the planet.  Communicating these complex messages through traditional learning techniques is often difficult NWOC sought to use the acknowledged potential of the creative arts for raising awareness by engaging the imagination. Two storytellers interacted with children from local schools during visits to two organic farms in the Northwest. Around 80 children and 10 teaching staff from 7 different schools learnt through a series of sessions to become more aware of their environment. The theme of sustainability was explored, acknowledging that everything that we use comes from the earth and will one day be returned there.

Children at Whiteholme and Low Luckens Farms, Carlisle

• A number of successful events have been organised to promote knowledge exchange and training. This has been on a large scale – the Northern Horticultural Seminar, in association with the other Northern Regional Organic Centres, brought together 60 delegates from across the regions for panel discussions, workshops and a farm walk. On a smaller scale many successful farmer mentoring visits have taken place.  These allow farmers and growers one-to-one access to an established practitioner who has been in the same situation and who can offer specific practical solutions. Training has also taken place for farm business advisors and trading standards officers. This has allowed them carry out their work with new confidence through a better understanding of the methods of organic production and certification requirements.

 Getting to the root of the issue