New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
											Guide to US Organic Certifiers
										

									

										

							


						

					
					
				
				 
					 
					 
						
												

							

								
									

										

											
											 
											 
										

									

										
							

							

								
									

										
 
											
											
											
											
											
											
										

										
 
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			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA)
						Lincoln, NE, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA)
					

					

						6400 Cornhusker Hwy, Suite 125
						Lincoln, NE 68507		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 402-477-2323
						Email: info@ocia.org
					

					

						Fax: 402-477-4325
						Website: www.ocia.org
					

					

						Contact Person: Jeff See, Executive Director
					

				



				Year Founded: 1985				
Business Type: Not-for-profit

				
Geographic Range:

				

					

						Activity in: U.S.
					

									

						All 50 States
					

								


				



				

					

						Activity in: Global Regions
					

										

						Americas
						North America, South America, Latin America
					

															

						Africa
						West Africa
					

															

						Europe
						Western Europe, Eastern Europe
					

															

						Asia & Oceania
						North Asia, Southeast Asia
					

										
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

						Top 3 crops:
						1. grain crops and forages
						2. coffee
						3. soybeans
					

					

						Top 3 livestock types:
						1. beef
						2. dairy
						3. poultry/eggs
					

				



						
Inspections and certifications
						

						

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

						
						

							

								 
								Production Only
								Production & Processing
							

							

								Crop farms
								1,015
								1,037
							

							

								Livestock farms
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								1,104
								1,133
							

						

						

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

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								176
								47
								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
								

								

									2%
									11% 
									33%
									34%
									10%
									10%
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Not listed								
Application fee: 
									Fees for certification through OCIA International  and its regional offices can be obtained upon request by email.  A list of regional offices and chapter offices with contact information is also available by email and will soon be available on the OCIA Web site.
																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									Not Listed
									
Maximum:
									Not Listed
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											 - Not Listed
									
								
Fees published: Yes									
Format: 
									Downloadable PDF files, Printed outlines								
								
Customer can estimate fees from publication:  Yes									


								
Refund Policy:
										

											Application fee is non-refundable.										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					Types of Certification
							
State organic registration: No							
Other: OCIA USA, OCIA Japan, OCIA Canada and OCIA Latin America are divisions of OCIA International. Each regional office can provide direct certification to a variety of programs including IFOAM (Int'l),  NOP (USA), JAS (Japan), CAAQ (Quebec, Canada).  Each office can also verify products to the European Union (EU) 2092/91, BioSuisse, the Switzerland Agricultural Ordinance and also offers JAS equivalency.

							

				Other accreditation groups recognized: 
				ISO-65, IFOAM, - JAS Accreditation (Japanese Argriculture Standards)

OCIA has RFCO status. That is, OCIA is a registered foreign certification organization in Japan.

- CAAQ accreditation (Conseil Des Appellations Agroalimentaires du Quebec, Canada)

- MAG Accreditation (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Costa Rica.)

Verify Products to:
- EU 2092/91
- BioSuisse
- Switzerland Agricultural Ordinance
- JAS Equivalency



				
Professional organizations
					
Organic Trade Association (OTA)



IFOAM



IFOAM - Accrediated Certifying Body



Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA)



Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA)







					Newsletter/Periodical: "Communicator," quarterly, also available online					
					
					
		Publications
		 - None Listed
							Conferences/Events
				
    
			
  1. Annual General Membership Meeting (AGMM)
		

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

  2. Marketing information (such as market or buyer listings)

  3. Organic production information

  4. Farmer-to-farmer networking services/opportunities
		

									Other Resource Referrals
				
    
			
  1. US EQIP Program
		

		

					Other   - Not Listed						
					
Cooperating partners?
								
OCIA USA, OCIA Japan, OCIA Canada and OCIA Latin America are divisions of OCIA International. Each regional office can provide direct certification to a variety of programs including IFOAM (Int'l),  NOP (USA), JAS (Japan), CAAQ (Quebec, Canada).  Each office can also verify products to the European Union (EU) 2092/91, BioSuisse, the Switzerland Agricultural Ordinance and also offers JAS equivalency.



OCIA/Custom Certification Services certifies inputs.



OCIA Research & Education's mission  is to provide information and education to organic producers and the general public regarding organic farming practices.  

						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								Within 24 hours 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? Yes					
Member able to complete/access records online? No
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
Information on certification standards and the steps to the certification process can be found on the OCIA Web site at www.ocia.org.  Farmers, processors and handlers can obtain lists of certified products and certified  members from the OCIA Web site. OCIA also has a Transaction Certificate (TC) system that verifies certification at the point of sale.  Members can have access to OCIA online TC system.

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. OCIA International has regional offices and  a chapter system that provides farmers access to information and certification assistance on a local level.

  2. OCIA continually reviews its certification process to reduce paperwork required by applicants. OCIA International's questionnaires and inspection documents cover the information needed for the certification programs offered. 

  3. OCIA's Transaction Certificate (TC) system allows OCIA's certified operations to verify their certification for their buyers at the point of sale. OCIA's TC system can be access by certified members online.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. Excellent Access to Global Organic Markets

  2. Accredited to certify and verify product to a variety of global certification programs

  3. Regional & Chapter offices through the world

  4. Member owned and controlled

  5. Longevity- 20 years in the organic certification industry
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Organic Crop Improvement Association International (OCIA) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time37
						

						

							Part-time5
						

						

							Independent Contractors0
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff0
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 110				
Inspector employment status: 
				Independent
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
Inspectors must complete training from the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) and apply to OCIA.

				
Most recent update by certifier: 05/17/05



					
		

	
	


	
						

						

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