New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
											Guide to US Organic Certifiers
										

									

										

							


						

					
					
				
				 
					 
					 
						
												

							

								
									

										

											
											 
											 
										

									

										
							

							

								
									

										
 
											
											
											
											
											
											
										

										
 
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			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC
						Richmond, VT, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC
					

					

						P.O. Box 697
						Richmond, VT 5477		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 802-434-4122
						Email: vof@nofavt.org
					

					

						Fax: 802-434-4154
						Website: http://www.nofavt.org/
					

					

						Contact Person: John Cleary
					

				



				Year Founded: 1971				
Business Type: For profit

				
Geographic Range:

				

					

						Activity in: U.S.
					

														

						Northeast
						VT
					

																									
								


				



				

					

						Activity in: Global Regions
					

										

						Americas
						North America
					

																									
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

						Top 3 crops:
						1. mixed vegetables, including herbs
						2. grain crops and forages
						3. ex. maple syrups
					

					

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

				



						
Inspections and certifications
						

						

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

						
						

							

								 
								Production Only
								Production & Processing
							

							

								Crop farms
								200
								8
							

							

								Livestock farms
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								103
								Not listed
							

						

						

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

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								46
								46
								0
							


							
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%
									10% 
									70%
									19%
									0%
									0%
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Gross sales								
Application fee: 
									See 12c.																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									$250
									
Maximum:
									$650
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											
We have one fee, not a separate fee for application vs. inspection.  The fee is the same for renewing or if new certification.  Fees cover everything.

									
								
Fees published: No									
Format: 
									Posted on website, Printed outlines, Newsletter								
								
Customer can estimate fees from publication:  Yes									


								
Refund Policy:
										

											If a farmer withdraws before the inspection, we provide a full refund except for $50.  If withdrawal occurs after the inspection, we keep $50 plus the cost for inspection and refund whatever is left.										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC 
					

					

						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
					
Organic Trade Association          Independent Organic Inspection Association (IOIA)


					Newsletter/Periodical: "NOFA Notes," quarterly					
					
					
		Publications
				
    
			
  1. Standards Booklet

  2. Directory of Organic Farms

  3. Host of other resources
		

									Conferences/Events
				
    
			
  1. Annual Winter Conference

  2. Annual Summer Conference
		

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

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

  3. Supplier information

  4. Organic production information

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

  6. Consultant referrals

  7. Farmer-to-farmer networking services/opportunities
		

									Other Resource Referrals
		 - None Listed


					Other  
We provide business planning and other variations of technical assistance.						
					
Cooperating partners?
								
1)  NOFA-Vermont          2)  Vermont Organic Farmers LLC certification program is owned by NOFA-VT.
						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								As soon as possible 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? No					
Member able to complete/access records online? No
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
Through conflict of interest policies.          Farmers vote on budget every year and approve any changes.

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. Everything we do, we strive to be as farmer friendly as possible.

  2. We are flexible and available.

  3. We work one-on-one with farmers.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. Ability to have practical and farmer friendly program
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time2
						

						

							Part-time1
						

						

							Independent Contractors0
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff3 on certification side of organization
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 6				
Inspector employment status: 
				Independent
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
We consider Independent Organic Inspection Association training for hiring in conjunction with our own.  We look for general agricultural production experience too.

				
Most recent update by certifier: 01/31/04



					
		

	
	


	
						

						

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