(May 9, 2013) Santa Cruz, CA – CCOF announced today that its industry-leading tool, MyCCOF, has been expanded with new services for CCOF-certified entities and organic industry buyers. The updated MyCCOF includes the first online access to digitized Organic System Plans (OSPs) and certification records as well as the new MyCCOF: Supplier Management, which allows buyers to monitor certification statuses and access certificates in real time. The organization’s move to paperless systems is delivering new tools to CCOF-certified members, saving time for buyers and providing better services through new efficiencies.
“Just as healthcare providers have computerized their paper records to better serve their clients, CCOF is now offering essential certification management and information tools online,” said CCOF Chief Certification Officer Jake Lewin. “MyCCOF revolutionizes organic certification by helping the entire industry save time and be more efficient. MyCCOF: Supplier Management is the first tool of its kind to alleviate the need to track organic certificates and certification status within the supply chain.” Lewin adds: “Best of all, since we now provide OSPs to inspectors electronically, we have tripled frontline phone service, allowing CCOF to serve the organic community more effectively.”
MyCCOF is free to all CCOF certified members. Free trials of MyCCOF: Supplier Management are available by visiting www.ccof.org.
Going paperless required scanning more than one million pages of paper records for 2,500 CCOF-certified organic farmers, processors, handlers, packers, and retailers. The organization also completely redesigned and re-launched MyCCOF with new client tools, easier navigation, and expanded utility.
Online information available to members through MyCCOF now includes:
- Organic System Plans (their own)
- Listing of allowed materials
- Copies of organic certificates and the ability to track certificates
- Inspector contact information and reports
- Certification-related correspondence
“Putting the Organic System Plan online is a major advancement,” said Lewin. “These plans are the organic farmer’s and processor’s bible, with pages and pages of information detailing the farming procedures and materials they use in their organic operations. Constantly updated, organic inspectors consult the OSP to ensure it is being followed.”
An addition, buyers and distributors of organic product will benefit from the innovative MyCCOF: Supplier Management subscription-based service. This one-of-a-kind service provides all buyers the ability to track their suppliers’ CCOF certificates as soon as they are created, monitor current status in an intuitive red/yellow/green status, and receive immediate email notification if any certification status changes. MyCCOF: Supplier Management makes organic inspections easier for buyers while eliminating the need to chase down CCOF certificates from their suppliers.
For more information and/or interviews with some of those listed in this release, contact Robin Boyle, (831) 423-2263, ext. 27, rboyle@ccof.org.
About CCOF
CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1973 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest third-party organic certifying agencies. CCOF certifies, educates, advocates, and promotes organic through:
- A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, private labelers, and retailers.
- Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
- Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.
CCOF certifies more than 2,500 organic operations in 38 states and three foreign countries and serves over 240 supporting members – consumers, suppliers, businesses and individuals – interested in supporting its work.