California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited organic certifying agency and trade association, located in Santa Cruz, California. Formed in 1973, CCOF was the first organic certification entity in the United States.[1][2]
CCOF includes three legally distinct entities.[3] CCOF, Inc. is governed by a board of directors, and provides infrastructure for the certification, advocacy, and Foundation programs, and also supports a regional chapter system for its members.[3] CCOF Certification Services, LLC, governed by the LLC management committee, is a USDA National Organic Program (NOP)-accredited organic certification agency. The CCOF Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that includes educational programs, grants for students and teachers, consumer education campaigns, and hardship assistance for organic farmers.[3]
CCOF Certification Services, LLC offers organic certification to the USDA NOP standards to farms, livestock operations, processors, private labelers, brokers and retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Klonsky, Karen (2000). "Forces impacting the production of organic foods". Agriculture and Human Values. 17 (3): 233–243. doi:10.1023/A:1007655312687. S2CID 56461987.
- ↑ Guthman, Julie (1998). "Regulating Meaning, Appropriating Nature: The Codification of California Organic Agriculture". Antipode. 30 (2): 135–154. doi:10.1111/1467-8330.00071.
- 1 2 3 Our Structure, California Certified Organic Farmers
- ↑ "List of USDA-Authorized Organic Certifying Agents by State of Operation". www.ams.usda.gov. US Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 4 March 2015.