CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley Certification Standards

All Organic Valley and Organic Prairie finished products are certified organic by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) except for Orange Juice, which is certified by Quality Certification Services. Part of the OTCO mission is to promote local certification agencies wherever possible. For that reason OTCO encourages CROPP producers to certify with their local certification agency AS LONG AS THAT AGENCY IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM. This means that ultimately National Organic Program standards apply to all farm production.

For information about NOP accredited agencies a producer can contact the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services at 715.772.3153 or go to the USDA National Organic Program website located at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

To satisfy CROPP certification requirements new CROPP producers must submit a current organic certificate and sign an information release card so that the Certification Department can initiate any necessary review process with your certification agency.

National Organic Standards as well as the National List of Allowable Substances are dynamic changing documents. Your certifier is required to provide you with the most current version. In addition to the USDA/NOP and OTCO standards CROPP may have additional standards that producers are required to adhere to. For example, while your certification agency may have an Emergency Feed Clause, Organic Prairie labels claim that livestock is fed 100% organic feed and so do not allow any use of conventional feed without Board of Director approval. In order to be sure the practices and materials you use are approved ALWAYS TAKE ANY OFF-FARM LABELS AND CHECK WITH YOUR CERTIFICATION AGENCY.

The importance of clear communication cannot be emphasized enough. The integrity and reputation of the entire COOP can be impacted by the errant actions of any single producer.

Questions

If you have any questions please call Membership Services at 1-888-809-9297  (Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm Central) or email membershipservices(at)organicvalley.coop.