New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
											Guide to US Organic Certifiers
										

									

										

							


						

					
					
				
				 
					 
					 
						
												

							

								
									

										

											
											 
											 
										

									

										
							

							

								
									

										
 
											
											
											
											
											
											
										

										
 
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			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency
						Fallbrook, CA, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency
					

					

						5464 8th Street
						Fallbrook, CA 92082		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 760-731-0496
						Email: heermans@tfb.com
					

					

						Fax: 760-731-0498
						Website: http://www.goca.ws/
					

					

						Contact Person: Charlie Heermans
					

				



				Year Founded: 2000				
Business Type: For profit

				
Geographic Range:

				

					

						Activity in: U.S.
					

									

						All 50 States
					

								


				



				

					

						Activity in: Global Regions
					

										

						Americas
						North America, South America, Latin America
					

															

						Africa
						North Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa
					

															

						Europe
						Western Europe, Eastern Europe
					

															

						Asia & Oceania
						Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, North Asia, Southeast Asia, South Pacific
					

										
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

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

					

						Top 3 livestock types:
						1. beef
						2. beef
						3. beef
					

				



						
Inspections and certifications
						

						

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

						
						

							

								 
								Production Only
								Production & Processing
							

							

								Crop farms
								295
								5
							

							

								Livestock farms
								Not listed
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								5
								Not listed
							

						

						

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

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								40
								10
								5 (Livestock/beef)
							


							
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
								

								

									40%
									25% 
									25%
									5%
									3%
									2%
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Acreage								
Application fee: 
									$0																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									$200
									
Maximum:
									$3,000
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											
Fee structure will be emailed upon request.

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


								
Refund Policy:
										

											Not Listed										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency 
					

					

						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
					
NA


					Newsletter/Periodical: Not Listed					
					
					
		Publications
		 - None Listed
							Conferences/Events
		 - None Listed
							Other Services
		 - None Listed
							Other Resource Referrals
		 - None Listed


					Other   - Not Listed						
					
Cooperating partners?
								
More information to come.
						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								We try to respond as soon as we can, in no longer than 48 hours. 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? Yes					
Member able to complete/access records online? Yes
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
We use educational promotional material and have an informative website.  We also have meetings where farmers are.  So, we use promotions, have speaking engagements, and have an informative website.

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. We're providing user-friendly application forms, included on website (electronic or manual).

  2. We have a user-friendly manual and electronic Organic Systems Plan Package.

  3. We have user-friendly samples of forms.  Applicants can use these as a model if they wish, so they know what kind of information is being requested.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. We are a refreshing new face in organic certification.

  2. The staff and owners are veterans of the organic industry.

  3. We have great customer respect and service.

  4. We have competitive and fair pricing.

  5. We  provide international service in all scopes.
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time4
						

						

							Part-time4
						

						

							Independent Contractors0
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff8 positions (not people)
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 10				
Inspector employment status: 
				Independent
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
We have a whole policy on this.  To sum it up, qualifications include people skills and industry experience.  Training is internal.  We require a resume and conflicts of interest statement from each one of our inspectors.

				
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