Oregon To Certify Organic
October 23, 2009 The Oregon Department of Agriculture is now able to offer organic certification. The USDA has announced that ODA has become an accredited certifying agent for the National Organic Program (NOP). ODA inspectors can begin inspecting organic production and handling operations to certify they meet USDA standards. Oregon becomes the 16th state to offer certification under NOP, joining its neighbors Washington and Idaho.
“We believe our entire program of certification services has great integrity,” says ODA Director Katy Coba. “We have good people who are well trained. Along with other organic certifiers in the state, we look forward to ensuring that high quality services are available to Oregon’s organic producers.”
ODA is ready to begin performing audits for the organic program. Those interested in getting certified can apply anytime before the deadline of April 1, 2010 to be on the inspection schedule through the coming year. Producers and handlers will need to apply to ODA every year for certification
“For several years, we’ve had requests to provide organic certification as we perform other inspections to meet our customers’ needs,” says Jim Cramer, administrator of ODA’s Commodity Inspection Division (CID). “This is a natural fit for our program because we currently conduct a range of fee-for-service inspections. Our analysis indicates there are a number of growers and handlers that would like ODA to provide NOP certification during the course of other inspection work we conduct.”
Six ODA employees are trained and qualified to conduct organic audits. These individuals will add organic certification to the many other tasks they perform for Oregon agriculture. Inspectors will be located in all ODA district offices across the state to offer regional expertise and close proximity.
ODA has a rich history of providing certification. Over the years, billions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables have been certified through inspection at the shipping point. From fresh potatoes to hazelnuts to a variety of berries, ODA inspectors certify that products meet the grade or contract requirements as agreed upon by the grower and the processor.
Longstanding ODA certification efforts include nursery and Christmas tree inspection, and weights and measures inspection. In 2002, CID began offering a Good Agricultural Practices/Good Handling Practices (GAP/GHP) certification program for fresh fruits and vegetables that ensures steps to reduce microbial contamination. Oregon was the first state to implement such a program. ODA has long provided certification that potatoes are free of A2 late blight – the disease that brought on the Irish potato famine. Other “in the field” services offered by ODA include identity preserved certification that assures the product is what the grower or handler says it is.
The adoption of an organic certification program has more to do with efficiency and need than wanting to tread on someone else’s turf.
“It’s not to take away from Oregon Tilth or any of the other organic certifiers currently operating in the state,” says ODA Director Katy Coba. “But if we have a grower come to us asking for an audit on whether they meet the organic standards, and we are already on the property performing a GAP/GHP audit, for example, we want to be able to respond. If it’s a government standard, there is no question we can perform that audit function. It will still be the choice of the grower or processor. They don’t have to use ODA’s organic certification services. But if they ask for us and are willing to pay the fee for service, we can conduct the audit.”
Adding organic certification to the mix provides growers and handlers with something like a one-stop shop, with the ODA inspector doing the stopping at the farm or handling facility.
ODA is already getting phone calls from interested customers. Many of them were certified by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). However, WSDA is phasing out its organic certification services in Oregon, which creates an opportunity for ODA to fill the void. ODA has looked at WSDA’s program as a model and a source for good training.
“An ODA organic certification will look no different than an organic certification from Oregon Tilth, WSDA, or any other certifier participating in the national organic program.,” says ODA’s Cramer. “It involves national standards and the same requirements for training of staff.”
Part of Oregon’s allocation of federal Specialty Crop Grant funds last year was used to set up ODA’s organic certification program. The agency will focus on crops in the first year and will not conduct organic livestock certification, such as organic dairies, or certify organic wild crops, such as wild mushrooms.
Organic production still represents a small percentage of overall agricultural production in Oregon, but it continues to grow. According to the latest US Census of Agriculture- which is done every five years- organic production sales in Oregon increased nearly 900 percent, from about $9.9 million in 2002 to $88 million in 2007. More than 92,000 acres are now planted for organic production. With demand and supply of organic agriculture both expected to increase in the future, ODA is gearing up to help out where it can with certification.
“Whether it’s in the certification area, the regulatory arena, or as part of our marketing program, providing an organic certification program is another example of how the Oregon Department of Agriculture works with the industry to keep products moving forward into the marketplace in a way that consumers want,” says Gary Roth, administrator of ODA’s Agricultural Development and Marketing Program.
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