Idaho Organic Farmers Gather at Grower's Own Conference

Annual event returns after 5-year hiatus to promote sustainable agriculture

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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After a five-year break, the Grower's Own Organic Farming Conference is back in Caldwell, Idaho, on February 21st. The conference, sponsored by the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, brings together organic farmers to share knowledge, encourage sustainable practices, and educate new farmers on topics like conservation grants, cover crops, and pest management.

Why it matters

The Grower's Own Conference plays a key role in supporting Idaho's organic farming community, which has grown in influence despite the rise of large-scale organic operations. The conference helps smaller and medium-sized organic farmers connect, learn, and advocate for practices that produce high-quality, flavorful food for local consumers.

The details

Longtime organic farmer Tim Sommer, the conference's keynote speaker, has been involved since its inception. He and other producers helped create Idaho's Organic Certification Program in 1990, which is still run by the state's Department of Agriculture. Sommer says the conference provides 'reassurance' and 'encouragement' for organic farmers, while also sharing knowledge to help a new generation of producers grow better food.

  • The Grower's Own Organic Farming Conference is taking place on February 21, 2026.
  • The conference is returning after a five-year hiatus.

The players

Tim Sommer

An Idaho organic farmer and keynote speaker at the Grower's Own Conference, Sommer has been involved with the event since it started and helped create the state's Organic Certification Program in 1990.

Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides

The nonprofit organization that is sponsoring the Grower's Own Organic Farming Conference, promoting sustainable agriculture and educating farmers on topics like conservation, cover crops, and pest management.

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What they’re saying

“This Grower's Own Conference became powerful in that way of giving us, one, some reassurance that we're all on the same path and giving us some encouragement, but also sharing knowledge.”

— Tim Sommer, Organic Farmer (Idaho Business Review)

“There's a growing influence of organic agriculture as a good option for smaller farms particularly. Even though it's been co-opted by giant business, retailing and distributing, that still kind of works on marginalizing the small and medium-size farmer.”

— Tim Sommer, Organic Farmer (Idaho Business Review)

“People find that our food is better, has more flavor, it's fresher, it stays longer. Some of the reasons that food is fresher is that it's grown and sold in the area where people live. To me, the quality that we can produce sure speaks a lot to the validity of organic farming.”

— Tim Sommer, Organic Farmer (Idaho Business Review)

What’s next

The Grower's Own Organic Farming Conference will continue to serve as an important gathering for Idaho's organic farming community, providing education, networking, and advocacy for sustainable agriculture practices.

The takeaway

The return of the Grower's Own Conference underscores the resilience and growing influence of Idaho's organic farming movement, which has persisted despite the rise of large-scale organic operations. The event helps empower smaller and medium-sized organic producers to connect, learn, and promote the benefits of their high-quality, locally-grown food.