MARIN COUNTY, CALIF (November 1, 2005) – The royal visit of the Point Reyes Farmers Market, operated by Marin Organic, and organic farms in West Marin, scheduled for November 5th, focuses a world spotlight on efforts of Marin Organic and many other organizations in Marin County working to promote and protect sustainable agriculture.

"We are working to create the first all-organic county in the nation. A county in which residents and eaters recognize their mutual interdependence," says Helge Hellberg, Executive Director of Marin Organic. "And the visit of The Royal Highness and his wife is such an amazing honor and confirmation that our work here is of critical importance far beyond our county line," says Hellberg.

Marin County has been an innovator in sustainable agriculture for more than 30 years, and has become a model county for its agricultural efforts. Marin Organic is part of a group of several organizations and governmental agencies in Marin that work collaboratively to keep agriculture in this county alive and thriving. Marin County, which in November of last year became one of the first counties in American to ban Genetically Engineered crops, is home to internationally acclaimed pioneers in organic foods and farming.

"Marin County is unique because it has some of the best organic producers," says Hellberg. Marin Organic's members include such well-known names as Warren Weber's Star Route Farms, the oldest continuously certified organic farm in California; Sue Conley's Cowgirl Creamery, home of award-winning organic cheeses; and Straus Family Creamery, the first organic dairy west of the Mississippi - among many others.

Marin Organic just released the first-ever Marin Organic Farmer Calendar, featuring some of the many faces of sustainable agriculture in Marin County. "The story of why the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are visting Marin County is in this calendar. As a society, we have forgotten what the lives of the people who grow our food look like. This calendar really tells the story of the organic farmers in this county," says Hellberg.

Cow Track Ranch Vegetables, Winegrapes, Nursery crops, Lavender Products ... more Cow Track Ranch Liz Daniels 5730 Nicasio Valley Road Nicasio, CA 94946 (415) 662-2321 Fax (415) 662-6945 lizzzy42@aol.com