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Organic Certification ServicesQUICK LINKS
Introduction MCIA is a USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Accredited Certifying Agent (ACA) for the provision of organic certification services in Minnesota and the surrounding states. MCIA currently conducts inspections and certification for organic producers, handlers, processors and wild crop collectors. The USDA/AMS has deemed MCIA compliant to the ISO Guide 65 Assessment for U.S. Organic Certifying Agencies. Operations certified organic by MCIA may display the NOP Certified Organic seal on qualified products. Organic certification is a process oriented system covering production, harvest, handling, processing, packaging, labeling and transportation. Operations certified by MCIA include food handlers, distributors, retailers, agricultural handling facilities, wild crop collectors, and farm and garden producers. Products currently certified by MCIA range from soup to nuts, including coffee roasting, maple syrup, poultry slaughter, seed, fruit and vegetable production, soups, whole grains, wild rice and others. Certified organic products have been grown and processed according to strictly stipulated standards. Compliance with these standards is verified annually by independent third party ACAs, such as MCIA. Certification requires inspections by trained MCIA inspectors of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, proper labeling and review of inputs to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the NOP standards. The MCIA Organic Certification Services Committee holds meetings annually, with membership nominated from current clients. These committee meetings are open to all MCIA members and guests. This committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for actions governing organic certification. Information about the current organic certification services committee can be found here. For more information, contact Michelle Menken, Organic Account Coordinator at 800-510-6242 or email at michelle.menken@mncia.org.
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| 1900 Hendon Avenue, St. Paul MN 55108 Toll free: 1-800-510-6242 Phone: 612-625-7766 Fax: 612-625-3748 mncia@umn.edu |
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