New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
											Guide to US Organic Certifiers
										

									

										

							


						

					
					
				
				 
					 
					 
						
												

							

								
									

										

											
											 
											 
										

									

										
							

							

								
									

										
 
											
											
											
											
											
											
										

										
 
											Browse All Certifiers
											Search Certifiers by Attributes
										

										
 
											Compare 2 Certifiers
											What's in a Profile?
										

										
 
											How to Use This Guide
											Certification Forum
											For Certifiers: Add/Edit Entry
										


									

										
							

						

											
					 
				
				
					 
					
					 
				
				 
					 
					
						
						
	


	

		
 
			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services
						Pendleton, SC, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services
					

					

						511 Westinghouse Road
						Pendleton, SC 29670		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 864-646-2147
						Email: kspring@clemson.edu
					

					

						Fax: 864-646-2178
						Website: http://fscs.clemson.edu/Organic/Organic.htm
					

					

						Contact Person: Kelly Lange Springs
					

				



				Year Founded: 2002				
Business Type: Not-for-profit

				
Geographic Range:

				

					

						Activity in: U.S.
					

																			

						South
						NC, SC
					

															

						Midwest
						MN
					

															
								


				



				

					

						Activity in: Global Regions
					

										

						Americas
						North America
					

																									
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

						Top 3 crops:
						1. mixed vegetables, including herbs
						2. grain crops and forages
						3. tree fruits and vines, nut crops
					

					

						Top 3 livestock types:
						1. None Listed
						2. None Listed
						3. None Listed
					

				



						
Inspections and certifications
						

						

						Inspections and certifications by type of clients (total number):
						

						
						

							

								 
								Production Only
								Production & Processing
							

							

								Crop farms
								7
								1
							

							

								Livestock farms
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								Not listed
								0
							

						

						

						Inspections and certifications by type of clients (total number):
						

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								1
								1
								1 (greenhouse)
							


							
Farm inspections and certifications by size (percentage of certifier's farm total):

							

								

									<5 a
									5-49 a 
									50-179 a
									180-499 a
									500-1000 a
									>1000 a
								

								

									1%
									6% 
									Not listed
									1%
									Not listed
									Not listed
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Production volume, Acreage								
Application fee: 
									$500																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									$250
									
Maximum:
									$400
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											
Application fees are $500.00.  Inspection fees for farms are based upon acreage: $100 for 10 acres or less, more than twenty acres is an additional $5.00 per acre. Processor/ Handler, livestock, and poultry inspection fees are based upon gross sales: <$15,000/year is $100, $15,001-40,000 is $200, >$40,000 is $300

									
								
Fees published: Yes									
Format: 
									Posted on website, Downloadable PDF files, Printed outlines								
								
Customer can estimate fees from publication:  Yes									


								
Refund Policy:
										

											Application fee refunds are issued on a case-by-case basis. Inspection fees are refunded if the inspector has not already left to perform the inspection.										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					Types of Certification
							
State organic registration: No							
Other:  Not Listed							

				Other accreditation groups recognized: 
				None Listed



				
Professional organizations
					
IOIA, OMRI, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association


					Newsletter/Periodical: Not Listed					
					
					
		Publications
		 - None Listed
							Conferences/Events
		 - None Listed
							Other Services
				
    
			
  1. Marketing information (such as market or buyer listings)

  2. Supplier information

  3. Organic production information

  4. Research (trials, support, publicity, reports)

  5. Consultant referrals

  6. Farmer-to-farmer networking services/opportunities
		

									Other Resource Referrals
		 - None Listed


					Other   - Not Listed						
					
Cooperating partners?
								
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Clemson University's Sustainable Agriculture Program
						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								ASAP 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? No					
Member able to complete/access records online? No
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
All of our information is available on-line.

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. All applications, recordkeeping forms, fees, standards, and certification manual is located on-line.

  2. We will determine whether any product, material, or ingredient is approved for use in certified organic production in order to make it simpler for farmers/ producers.

  3. We have a cooperative relationship with another agency to whom we refer all questions we are not able to answer as we are restricted by the National Organic Program.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. We have inspectors employeed full-time who are positioned throughout the state

  2. In-state applicants do not have to pay travel fees for inspectors

  3. Our staff cares about organic agriculture and are friendly and helpful

  4. We are available to answer questions any time

  5. Our agency's aim is to make the certification process as painless as possible
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Dept. of Fertilizer and Seed Certification Services 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time5
						

						

							Part-time0
						

						

							Independent Contractors0
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff5
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 2				
Inspector employment status: 
				State employees
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
IOIA Inspector Training and number of inspections performed.

				
Most recent update by certifier: 01/31/04



					
		

	
	


	
						

						

Disclaimer: The certifier profile data shown on this site is for informational purposes, based on data submitted by participating certifiers. The Rodale Institute® does not specifically endorse any certifier, nor guarantee the accuracy of the information. Please contact certifiers to verify information that is critical to decision-making. If you have comments about any of the listings, or listings to add, please contact our guide coordinator