New Farm - Organic Certifiers Database














	

		
				
 
					
				

				
 
					
					
					
				

				
 
					
					
						

						
										
 
											Guide to US Organic Certifiers
										

									

										

							


						

					
					
				
				 
					 
					 
						
												

							

								
									

										

											
											 
											 
										

									

										
							

							

								
									

										
 
											
											
											
											
											
											
										

										
 
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			Certifier Profile
		

		
 
			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS)
						Gainesville, FL, U.S.
					

				

					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		


		

			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS)
					

					

						PO Box 12311
						Gainesville, FL 32604		
					

					

						 
					

					

						Phone: 352-377-0133
						Email: qcs@qcsinfo.org
					

					

						Fax: 352-377-8363
						Website: http://www.qcsinfo.org
					

					

						Contact Person: Angela Caudle
					

				



				Year Founded: 1989				
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
					

															

						Asia & Oceania
						Southeast Asia
					

										
				

					
		


	
		
 
			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
				

					

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

					

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

				



						
Inspections and certifications
						

						

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

						
						

							

								 
								Production Only
								Production & Processing
							

							

								Crop farms
								133
								5
							

							

								Livestock farms
								4
								Not listed
							

							

								Crops and livestock
								17
								2
							

						

						

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

							

								Processing
								Handling
								Other
							

							

								69
								14
								24
							


							
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
								

								

									43%
									33% 
									12%
									6%
									1%
									5%
								

							


						
						



						
					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
							Process highlights for new applications
							 - Not Listed							

							Cost structure
							
							

							Fees set by: Acreage, Assessment fees are due within 6 weeks of June 30 and December 31st.  These fees are 0.5% of applicant\'s gross sales (handlers subtract cost of organic inputs).								
Application fee: 
									$200-$375																
								
Annual Fee:
									
Minimum: 
									Not Listed
									
Maximum:
									Not Listed
									


								


								
Overall charges statement:

											
Information included in fee schedule, accessible through our website.  www.qcsinfo.org

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


								
Refund Policy:
										

											See fee policy found in our website.										


					
		

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

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

				Other accreditation groups recognized: 
				ISO-65



				
Professional organizations
					
Organic Trade Association, Accredited Certifiers Associaiton,          IFOAM,         IOIA supporting organization,          National CAmpaign for Sustainable Agriculture


					Newsletter/Periodical: Quarterly					
					
					
		Publications
		 - None Listed
							Conferences/Events
				
    
			
  1. Florida Organic Farming Workshop

  2. Host: Southern Sustainable Agriculture W

  3. Participate in All Things Organic

  4. Presentations at regional, state, int\\\
		

									Other Services
				
    
			
  1. Organic production information

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

									Other Resource Referrals
		 - None Listed


					Other  
    

Other certification services-local food program, Bird Friendly Coffee, social justice certification, EUREPGAP (forthcoming), organic aquaculture, grass fed beef, working on other standards development.						
					
Cooperating partners?
								
Florida Organic Growers (FOG)(Mother Organization)          Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG)
						
					
Full-time receptionist? Yes
					
Response Time Commitment: 
							
								Same day response on all questions regarding certification 
							
						
					
Member records available by email? No					
Member able to complete/access records online? No
					
Transparency steps for farmers/public?
					
Through published policies and procedures, informing certified entities of any changes and having outside accreditation program audit -ISO 65 requirements

					
					

							Farmer Friendly Services
				
    
			
  1. A very complete informative website with information regarding all aspects of organic certification, including on-line applications.

  2. Full time staff who can communicate with farmers via telephone and/or email to answer any question regarding organic certification of crops, livestock and/or processing. operation

  3. Multi-lingual staff with solid expertise in organic agriculture.
		

									Top Five Strengths
				
    
			
  1. Great deal of experience

  2. Very competent staff

  3. Customer service and responsiveness

  4. Multi lingual and multi cultural staff

  5. Sense of humor
		

							
		


	

	
		
 
			
				

					

						Quality Certification Services (QCS) 
					

					

						Essentials
						Clients
						Fees
						Services/Affiliations
						Staff/Inspectors
					

				

					
		

		

			
					

						

							Executive/management/support staff
							
						

						

							Full-time4
						

						

							Part-time7
						

						

							Independent Contractors2
						

						

							Other Staff0
						

						

							Total Paid Staff13
						

					


				
Inspectors used in 2002: 38				
Inspector employment status: 
				Independent
				
Qualifications/training for inspectors: 

					
IOIA Training or equivalent Amount of previous inspectors

				
Most recent update by certifier: 05/11/05



					
		

	
	


	
						

						

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