Comparison of Three Organic Certification Agencies
| Organic Certification Agency | North Carolina Crop Improvement (NCCIA) | Quality Certification Services (QCS) | Clemson University Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Information | NCCIA OfficeDr. Daryl Bowman3709 Hillsborough StRaleigh, NC 27607-5464Phone: 919-515-2851 or919-513-3444Email: daryl_bowman@ncsu.eduFax: 919-515-7981Website: www.nccia.ncsu.edu |
QCS OfficeP.O. Box 12311Gainesville, FL 32604Phone: 352-377-0133Email: qcs@qcsinfo.orgWebsite: www.qcsinfo.org |
Christopher RayDepartment of Plant IndustryClemson University511 Westinghouse RdPendleton, SC 29670Phone: 864-646-2145Email: cry@clemson.eduWebsite: fscs.clemson.edu/Organic/Organic.htm |
Pricing (annual fees, unless otherwise noted) |
Organic farm:Application fee: $100 Application fee: $250 Inspection-organic farm: $150 for first 10 acres $8/acre after 10 acres
Organic handler/processor:$600 total |
First time applicant fee: $75 Standard Farm Certification: Inspection fee (is based on how far away farm is from inspector and how complex the operation is; can be anywhere from $150-500); Annual Certification Fee (based on acreage) :
Assessment fee: 0.5% of gross sales minus organic seed/seedling cost (max annual assessment $6000) |
Initial application fee: $500 (non-refundable) Annual renewal fee: $400 Inspection fee (based on acreage):
|
| Inspectors | All located in North Carolina. Do not have to pay inspector’s travel expenses unless farm is located outside of NC. | Inspectors located in Maconville, Pittsboro and Asheville. | None located in NC. Most at Clemson, with one in Columbia, SC and one on contract basis in Greensboro, NC. |
| Average turn-around time for applications | 60-90 days |
About 90 days | About one month |
| Other organic certification? | Yes, livestock, processors/handlers, crops | Yes, livestock, processors/handlers, crops, wildcrafting | Yes, livestock, processor, crops |
| History? | Certifying organic operations since summer 2002 | Certifying organic operations for 16 years (formerly Florida Organic Growers (FOG)) | Certifying organic operations since April 2002 |
| Activism? | Involved in state and federal level organic organizations. Mostly focused on NC. | Very involved in many state and federal level organic committees and advisory boards. Participates in regional, national, and international organic organizations and issues. | Involved with some local organic organizations, such as CFSA. |
Notes:
- The above three certification agencies are commonly used by NC organic farmers.
- If a farmer wants to market products outside of the US, certifying agencies with more international experience and involvement, such as QCS, Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), or Oregon Tilth should be considered.
- Farmers who want to work with a certifier that has more experience with conventional and/or large farmers often choose NCCIA.
- Farmers located nearer to Columbia or Clemson, SC sometimes chose Clemson University as a certifier.
- Turn-around time: It is recommended that farmer send in completed application to make turn-around time as short as possible. It is also recommend that a farmer back off from the date that certification is needed by the length of the turn-around time to turn in a completed application.
- To compare other certification agencies in the U.S. see The New Farm website's Guide to U.S. Organic Certifiers. It is a comprehensive guide to all U.S. organic certifiers, and allows you to browse all certifiers, compare two certifiers at a time or search for certifiers by specific criteria.
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