About Us
If you use this website, or simply enjoy having fresh, organic food in the Bay Area, please support our programs that serve local, organic farms and the community. Om Organics is a project of San Francisco Foundation-Community Initiatives, and made possible by contributions from foundations and conscientious individuals like you!
Any amount helps!
You can make a tax-deductible donation:
- via Paypal.com: to donate [at] omorganics.org
- by credit card: via the SFF CI donation page
- by check: "Om Organics: Project of SFF CI", 354 Pine St., Suite 700, SF, CA 94131
(More on charitable contributions and claiming tax deductions.)
The mission of Om Organics is to increase the demand for sustainable agriculture in the San Francisco Bay Area by:
- educating the community on the health, environmental and economic benefits of local, sustainable food production,
- helping people appreciate and access sustainably grown products in the local region, and
- helping farms better meet the needs of the community.
Community Resource
The organic industry has grown so quickly, and many people are unaware of the deeper public health and environmental implications of the local and organic movements. Using our site, consumers, chefs, farmers and advocates can easily access educational information about organics and sustainability and transform that knowledge into action by using our comprehensive directory to find and use seasonal, sustainably grown foods...as well as attend hundreds of food and farming events around town.Programs for Local Distribution
Established in 2002, Om Organics began with a Farm-to-Restaurant cooperative network, where we assisted with sales and delivery direct from farmers to restaurant chefs.In addition, we provide a sourcing directory for wholesale buyers, so restaurants, retail stores and schools can find local purveyors of sustainably grown produce, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and seafood.
Because of the fantastic growth in the demand for local foods, we have now embarked on a collaborative project with local farmers market associations, growers collaboratives, city government offices, and wholesale buyers to develop a new tool for local food distribution -- here in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as other local-food communities across the country: FarmsReach.com. Check it out...
Practical Solutions
Through our website and direct marketing programs for local farmers, we provide practical solutions to help the entire community understand, access, and use sustainably-grown foods.Read more in our previous feature: Om Organics' Community Vibe.
Credits
Charter participants
Thanks to the first restaurant chefs and farms to participate in 2003!- Chefs: Alicia, Anthony, Brian, Daniel, Eric, Gaby, Luis, Mark, Robert, Sean, Thom, Tiny
- Farms: Balakian Farm, Capay Canyon Ranch, Capay Organic, Dirty Girl Produce, Eatwell Farm, Fairview Gardens, Gabriel Farm, Green Gulch Farm, Hazel Dell Mushrooms, Heirloom Organics, Knoll Farm, Lagier Ranches, Little Organic Farm, Lucero Farm, Small Potatoes, Swanton Berry Farm, Wine Forest Wild Mushrooms
Founder & Director
- Melanie Cheng - An avid environmentalist and fan of good food, Melanie sought a way to combine her appreciation of local cuisine with her deep respect for the earth and support for sustainable agriculture. While working as an editor and technical writer, she established relationships with both the farming and restaurant communities, and laid the groundwork for what became Om Organics.
Since then, her discovery of the ag sector has led to her founding FarmsReach.com (b-to-b marketplace for regional foods) and recently Catalyst Commons (coming soon) to unwind the tangled network of the ag industry. Melanie was recently named one of “Ten Most Inspiring People in Sustainable Food” by Fast Company. (For more info, contact her!)
Developers
- Brenton Cheng - All of the content in this site is published and maintained using Brenton's SpinFree content management system, developed using Open Source technology. Even non-techies like us can set up websites with it, as evidenced by some of the html code! (For more info, contact him!)
- Magda Diaz with PixPusher - Known for quick turnaround times and original, unique designs, Magda created the home page and look-and-feel throughout the site. (For more info, contact her!)
- DreamHost, our web host - Excellent prices, service and extra perks. Signing up through this link helps support us!
Meaning of Om
The word "om" is actually an ancient symbol (
) with an indefinite meaning. It is often described as encompassing all potentialities and possibilities, and the moment when petty affairs are set aside for more universal motivations.
In the context of Om Organics, "Om" represents the community working as one and consolidating efforts for a common goal, as well as sustainable farmers working together for the benefit of their whole. Essentially, Om Organics signifies us thinking and acting more universally about what we can do to sustain the world around us.