USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Releases New List of Certified Organic Operations
Figures released over the weekend place CCOF Certification Services, as the largest certifier of organic products in the U.S. CCOF represents 2,321 certified operations domestically– 13% of USDA organic certified operations. In addition to the premier organic certification program, the non-profit CCOF (California Certified Organic Famers) is among the nation’s most influential advocates on behalf of organic and is the founder of Going Organic, an educational program that supports conventional producers seeking to convert their operations to organic. A list of operations certified by the National Organic Program (NOP) may be found at http://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/.
“CCOF certifies the most crops and the most operations of any certification program in the US,” says Executive Director/CEO Cathy Calfo, “which is good news for consumers who are looking to ensure that they are buying high-quality organic products.”
In California, the nation’s largest state producer of organic products, CCOF represents nearly 56% of certified operations. CCOF certified operations include 66% of organic crops, along with nearly 37% of organic processors and/or handlers in the state, far more than any other certifier in the state.
“CCOF is distinguished by our commitment to organic integrity and to making certification understandable for organic producers,” said CCOF Chief Certification Officer Jake Lewin.
The following is a compilation of the figures just provided on the NOP website, organized by certifier and primary scope of certification.
|
Certifying Agent
|
# in US
|
% of US Total
|
Livestock
|
% of total
|
Crops
|
% of total
|
Handling
|
% of total
|
Wild Crops
|
% of total
|
|
CCOF Certification Services
|
2321
|
13%
|
127
|
6%
|
1636
|
15%
|
558
|
11%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Midwest Organic Services Association, Inc
|
1402
|
8%
|
4
|
0%
|
1257
|
12%
|
140
|
3%
|
1
|
13%
|
|
Oregon Tilth
|
1218
|
7%
|
266
|
13%
|
402
|
4%
|
548
|
11%
|
2
|
25%
|
|
Quality Assurance International
|
1152
|
7%
|
42
|
2%
|
91
|
1%
|
1019
|
20%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Washington State Dept of Ag
|
1105
|
6%
|
87
|
4%
|
649
|
6%
|
369
|
7%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Organic Crop Improvement Association
|
827
|
5%
|
2
|
0%
|
676
|
6%
|
149
|
3%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
International Certification Services, Inc.
|
786
|
4%
|
70
|
3%
|
494
|
5%
|
222
|
4%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Organic Certifiers, Inc.
|
758
|
4%
|
23
|
1%
|
507
|
5%
|
228
|
5%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
|
700
|
4%
|
306
|
15%
|
325
|
3%
|
69
|
1%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
Global Organic Alliance, Inc.
|
655
|
4%
|
13
|
1%
|
533
|
5%
|
109
|
2%
|
0
|
0%
|
|
NOFA New York, LLC
|
617
|
3%
|
272
|
14%
|
274
|
3%
|
71
|
1%
|
0
|
0%
|
*The figures above were compiled from figures available at http://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/.
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, handlers, 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 2,321 organic operations in 34 states and three foreign countries and serves over 350 supporting members – consumers, suppliers, businesses and individuals – interested in supporting its work.
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