1950s: Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer’s visit to Canada (to Alvin Filsinger’s) provides inspiration for emergence of organic movement; literature distributed from Europe, U.K. and U.S.A.; first formal organization, in 1953, was the Canadian Organic Soil Association, later called the Land Fellowship, founded by Christopher Chapman, a filmmaker who produced two relevant documentaries, Understanding the Living Soil and A Sense of Humus.

1960s: Lecture tours by Spencer Cheshire on behalf of the Land Fellowship; several organic farms operate successfully; publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962 fuels environmental movement.

1970s: Organic organizations (including COG in 1975) formed in six provinces, hold annual conferences, publish proceedings and newsletters, and lobby departments of agriculture; International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) established in 1972; Ecological Agriculture Projects (EAP) set up in 1974 at MacDonald College (see article on page 12); organic activities across Canada include Urban Rooftop Garden project in Montreal, Ecology House in Toronto, the Ark in P.E.I., City Farmer demonstration gardens in Vancouver; commercial organic farming services and supplies enterprises established, e.g., Eaton Valley Agricultural Service, Oak Manor Farms; 1978 IFOAM conference in Montreal

1980s: "Earthcare – Ecological Agriculture in Saskatchewan" published in 1980; studies and surveys of farmers and consumers conducted: e.g., "Organic Farming in Canada" (Stuart Hill, 1982), "Problems Facing Organic Farmers" (Dee Kramer, COG/Friends of the Earth, 1984), "From Frontier to Mainstream: Sustainable Agriculture in Canada" (Ken McMullen & Eva Durance, 1985); OFPANA established in 1985; a 1988 study finds that 25% of respondents living in Canada’s eight major cities would be willing to buy organic vegetables if price no greater than 125% of conventional price; discussions begun on regulatory support to control use of term organic in the marketplace; April, 1988 conference, "An Organic Food System for Canada"; meeting in November, 1988 to develop a national definition of organic; organic certification programs established, e.g., MAB, Oak Manor, OCIA); 600 certified organic farmers in Canada in 1989; organic courses introduced into colleges/universities; in 1989, definition of organic in Consumer and Corporate Affairs Food Labelling Guidelines; 1st edition of National Directory of Organic Agriculture co-published by COG/Humus.

1990s: "Study of Potential Market Niches for Canadian Organic Producers" prepared by COG for Agriculture Canada in 1990; Canadian Organic Unity Project (COUP) meetings held; proposals for national standards and accreditation system submitted to Agriculture Canada in 1992; Canadian Organic Advisory Board (COAB) established in 1993; 1575 certified producers in Canada in 1995 and many more in transition or practising organic methods, with national farm gate receipts estimated somewhere between $50 and $70 million; demand for organic products exceeds supply; community shared agriculture (CSA)

projects as alternative to trade become more widespread (Note: in COGnition January/81, Alex Caron was well ahead of his time when he offered to grow produce for consumers under contract, with a small deposit required before planting!)

2010s: 50% of all Canadian farmers organic; degree and diploma programs in organic agriculture in all major agricultural colleges; extension agents specializingin organic agriculture in all regions; universal availability of organic food; organic food purchased preferentially by institutions; all sectors of organic movement and organic industry working together to achieve goals.