New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
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			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
						St Paul, MN, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
					

					

						1900 Hendon Ave
						St Paul, MN 55108		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 612-625-7766
						Email: mncia@tc.umn.edu
					

					

						Fax: 612-625-3748
						Website: http://www.mncia.org
					

					

						Contact Person: Anne Costello
					

				



				Year Founded: 1903				
Business Type: Not-for-profit

				
Geographic Range:

				

					

						Activity in: U.S.
					

																								

						Midwest
						IA, IN, MN, ND, NE, WI
					

															
								


				



				

					

						Activity in: Global Regions
					

										

						Americas
						North America
					

																									
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

						Top 3 crops:
						1. grain crops and forages
						2. mixed vegetables, including herbs
						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
								28
								2
							

							

								Livestock farms
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

						

						

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

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								Not listed
								40
								Not listed
							


							
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
								

								

									13%
									30% 
									37%
									10%
									7%
									3%
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Organic sales								
Application fee: 
									$50 + $200 deposit																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									Not Listed
									
Maximum:
									Not Listed
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											
An application/membership fee, base fee, and final fees will be due for renewal operations.  New applicants must submit an application/membership fee and a base fee.  Travel costs will apply for operations located outside of MN.  Contact MCIA for more information.  

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


								
Refund Policy:
										

											
The application or membership fee is nonrefundable.  A portion of the base fee will be refunded, the amount depends on whether the applicant withdraws... 

										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					Types of Certification
							
State organic registration: No							
Other: Field Crop Seed Certification, Native Grass & Forbs Certification, Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage & Mulch Certification, Identify Preserved Grain Certification, Quality Assurance Seed Services, customized field inspections, laboratory testing services, Foundation seed services.							

				Other accreditation groups recognized: 
				ISO-65



				
Professional organizations
					
AOSCA - Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies          ASTA - American Seed Trade Association          OTA - Organic Trade Association, and OCC


					Newsletter/Periodical: "Minnesota Seed Grower," quarterly, also available online					
					
					
		Publications
				
    
			
  1. MCIA Seed Directory

  2. Producers Certified Organic through MCIA

  3. Handlers Certified Organic through MCIA
		

									Conferences/Events
				
    
			
  1. MCIA Organic Committee Meeting
		

									Other Services
				
    
			
  1. "Certified organic" marketing supplies (such as signage, stickers, twist-ties, etc.)

  2. Supplier information

  3. Organic production information
		

									Other Resource Referrals
				
    
			
  1. Library of books related to organic production available for check-out

  2. OMRI publications

  3. Links to other organic websites
		

		

					Other   - Not Listed						
					
Cooperating partners?
								 - Not Listed						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								ASAP, generally available at time of call. 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? Yes					
Member able to complete/access records online? Yes
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
MCIA has staff available to assist any applicant in understanding the certification process, fees, policies and procedures. A list of certified operations is available to the general public on the MCIA website, and hard copy mailings are available on request. The MCIA Organic Certification Handbook outlines MCIA's procedures.

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. Personal contact - administrative and field personnel are available by phone, cell or email.

  2. Documents and forms are available in hard copy, on MCIA's website, or by email.

  3. MCIA is an on-time service provider.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. Personal Contacts 

  2. Timely Service

  3. Long History of Independent Status

  4. Professional

  5. Unbiased
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Minnesota Crop Improvement Association 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time12
						

						

							Part-time40
						

						

							Independent Contractors0
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff0
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 5				
Inspector employment status: 
				Agency employees
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
IOIA training in appropriate category, work experience, education.

				
Most recent update by certifier: 03/05/07



					
		

	
	


	
						

						

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