Choosing an Organic Certifier
A farmer’s certifier is a key relationship for organic production. It’s rare that one certifier is clearly “better” than another; rather, each has their strengths and weaknesses that need to be compared. How can farmers identify the best certifiers for their operation and then clearly evaluate those options?
We’ll speak with two guests who have deep and unique perspectives on certifiers so that advisors can learn what the certifier landscape looks like and how certifiers differentiate their services. We’ll explore the pros and cons of different criteria – including cost, response time, and reputation. Come away knowing where to find a certifier and how to explore multiple certifiers to find the right fit.
This is a free Zoom Event!
SPEAKERS
Johanna Phillips
Johanna Phillips is a recognized expert in organic certification and regulatory affairs with over 30 years of experience in the food and agricultural sector, including 18 years focused on enforcement, oversight and organic policy and enforcement support. Her expertise spans the entire organic supply chain from farm production to processing and handling. Early in her career, she directed the Idaho State Department of Agriculture's Organic Program. Johanna has also held key technical leadership roles at major certifiers, including serving as Technical Director at Ecocert USA. Today, she serves as Director of Business Development and Technical Affairs at Strengthening Organic Systems, LLC, delivering technical, educational, and business growth content.
Amy Bruch
Amy Bruch is a 6th generation farmer, agricultural & biosystems engineer, and owner of Cyclone Farms in East Central Nebraska. She and her husband Tyler have converted nearly 2,500 acres of highly productive farm ground to growing organic blue and white corn for tortillas and chips, organic seed corn, soybeans for tofu, small grains, pulses including yellow field peas, and oilseeds. Amy has 20 years of experience in agriculture. Her career highlights include establishing sustainable farming systems in South America and Africa, Co-Founding Agri-Secure, which helped growers transition over 70,000 acres of farmland into organic production, and being a Senior Systems Engineer with General Mills. She serves as a farmer representative and Chair of the USDA National Organic Standards Board and was awarded Organic Farmer of the Year honors by the Organic Trade Association in 2021.
Sam Oschwald Tilton, Facilitator
“I have worked with organic farmers all over the US and Canada to understand production systems and solve weed management issues. This past season, on farms and in winter conferences, I spoke with as many farmers and ag professionals as I could to understand the questions that organic producers have, and the experts that they’d like to learn from. Those conversations helped me identify the topics and guests for this series. I am excited to bring together a wide range of farmers and ag professionals from many backgrounds, all of whom have an experienced perspective to share. In each call I look forward to having an intelligent conversation with the guest that introduces the topic to those who are unfamiliar and also dives deep to bring further understanding and clear tips to listeners. After the conversation, we’ll take questions from listeners, so that they can communicate directly with each guest to get the answers that they need. My goal for this call series is to provide crucial information on topics facing organic and transition-curious farmers, in an approachable conversation that listeners can easily listen to during their lunch hour.”
“Choosing an organic certifier is a key relationship for organic farmers. Farmers benefit by choosing a certifier that matches their crops, location, organic experience, and personality. Join us to talk through these considerations with a pair of organic veterans. ”