His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visited Northern California this past week. Heir to the British throne, Charles apparently showed a surprising empathy for the homeless of San Francisco and a significant understanding of agriculture, according to media reports.

On November 5th, the royal couple and entourage attended the Point Reyes Farmer’s Market as part of a visit arranged by Marin Organic, a cooperative association of organic food producers in Marin County, just north of the city of San Francisco.

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

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," said 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 the area. "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," explained Hellberg.

About Marin Organic

Marin Organic is an association of organic producers in Marin County whose livelihood is based on a respect for nature and a sense of place. As the primary link between farmers and eaters, Marin Organic is committed to creating the first all-organic county in the nation; a county in which growers and the people who rely on them recognize their mutual interdependence.

Founded in 1999, Marin Organic’s mission focuses on the environmental soundness and economic viability of farming and ranching in Marin County.

In addition to promoting local organic agriculture, Marin Organic has many projects that address environmental issues. These include Salmon Safe certification and a popular farmer education workshop series, as well as a variety of programs which focus on community health, such as its Organic School Lunch Program and a CSA box program in an underserved community in Marin.

By restoring ecological and social values to agriculture and realigning traditional expectations of farming with a holistic understanding of ecology, Marin Organic aims to re-empower local communities, foster environmentally sound agriculture and celebrate local food production. Marin Organic is at the forefront of a movement, which is creating a healthy, sustainable, and safe environment for all beings, today, and for generations to come. For more information on the organization or to learn more about its calendar, visit www.marinorganic.org.