The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) started in 2003 was initially designed to create a standardized, trustworthy system for organic certification. What started as a sensible, cost effective program that standardized organic practices globally, has over the past 23 years become increasingly burdensome for many agricultural producers and processors. The annual increases in the complexity of the regulatory requirements, extensive documentation, and high certification costs pose significant challenges for many farms and processors that lack the resources to navigate the system. Many of these farmers and processors do not need the perceived benefits of a cumbersome global program to gain the benefits of a properly designed and defendable third party certification.
For this reason alternatives to the USDA NOP program can be a better investment of time and money for these disenfranchised producers. To be frank, the USDA NOP has always been housed under the agricultural marketing service arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The NOP program was designed as a marketing tool for producers and processors to relay to the final consumer that their products were produced and processed in a sustainable healthy manner. In many cases a large cumbersome global program may not be required to convey that message to a regional consumer base.
Compliance with the NOP requires detailed record-keeping, annual inspections, and adherence to stringent production standards, all of which demand time and money that many farmers cannot afford. Many small producers find themselves overwhelmed by the administrative burden, leading some to abandon certification altogether despite following organic practices.
There are real benefits from a marketing perspective, for a producer or processor to hold a certification that can be displayed onto the label of the final product. This labeling and information can provide the final consumer with the information they need to select these labeled products and to feel good that their consumer dollars are well spent.
As a result, many farmers and processors are seeking alternatives to the USDA NOP that offer credibility without excessive regulatory burdens. Programs like the Best Practices, Regenerative, or Organically Managed certification programs provide a more flexible, community-driven approach. These alternatives allow farmers and processors to maintain a connection with consumers while avoiding the costly bureaucracy of the NOP.
With over 60 years in agriculture and over 22 years building and defending agricultural certification programs, the Law Office of Chris Van Hook offers globally available, specialized services to assist regional agricultural producers and processors in developing legitimate and defendable certification programs tailored to their unique needs.
With over 60 years in agriculture, 15 years as a USDA-accredited certifier and 17 years of legal practice, the Law office of Chris Van Hook has extensive experience in USDA NOP compliance and agricultural law. From this extensive background in widely accepted global certification programs, the law office can assist in the development of customized procedures and policies tailored specifically for a particular agricultural crop, region or national program.
By leveraging this expertise, the Law Office of Chris Van Hook can guide regional producers and processors in establishing their own certification programs that are both credible and defendable, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Not every crop, region, country or grouping of countries needs a global certification program, nor do they need the expense of a global certification program. If a region’s production is not being sold onto the global organic market, but instead being marketed regionally or to buyers that do not need a global organic certification the existing organic global certifications may not be necessary.
Two examples are the Caribbean, and across the South East Asian countries. Here regionalized production in less affluent areas might not be going to the global organic market, but might be going to the region’s expanding international tourist areas. For example, Caribbean products grown in poorer areas might just be transported across the island or to a neighboring island and sold to the expensive hotels and tourist areas. These more affluent, international tourists often prefer an organic or sustainably or regenerative label. Seeing these claims on product labels makes the more affluent buyer more comfortable with their purchase decision. A restaurant in a more affluent international tourist area would do well to advertise their foods as “Certified Organic” or “Organically Managed” or “Regeneratively Farmed” or “Best Farming Practices” grown. Yet they or the more affluent, sophisticated consumer are not specifically looking for a USDA NOP certification.
The same marketing opportunities are available across south east asia. Beautiful crops grown in less developed parts of a country are often sold to the expanding, more affluent, sophisticated, international tourist hotels and restaurants. Again, these more sophisticated visitors look for and are comforted by the claims of sustainably produced or organically managed.
Over the past 23 years the large recognized global organic certifications have simply become too expensive and cumbersome for many producers and processors. There are now gaps between the need for a legitimate, defendable third party certification program, and these cumbersome international programs. This is where the Law Office of Chris Van Hook, a California office with decades in both agriculture and certification programs, can help. The twin goals of an agricultural certification program is to a). assist in the marketing of those certified crops and processed products while b). providing comfort to the final consumer. They want to know their consumer dollars are supporting farmers and processors making solid contributions to a more sustainable world. Alternative agricultural certifications can do just that.
Contact the Law Office of Chris Van Hook to discuss your needs and the next steps to building a certification program that will help expand your products in the market place and build consumer satisfaction.
Chris Van Hook is a California attorney who has worked in agriculture his entire life. Mr. Van Hook understands the effort it takes to produce a crop or livestock product and the need to get the best price possible for that product. No farm production is too small or too large. Call, text or email today.
Available globally, virtually or in person.
Mr Van Hook can be reached by Telephone: +1 (707) 218 1069 (call or text)
email: [email protected] or website: www.cvanhooklaw.com