07 November 2014
Organic Certification Cost Share
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 1!
It’s back! Certified organic growers and handlers in Florida can now apply for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification costs, or a maximum of $750 per scope of certification.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently received 2014 National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) funds from the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS). These funds will be used to reimburse certified organic growers, livestock producers, handlers, and processors for a portion of certification costs for USDA Organic certification obtained between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014.
FDACS has partnered with Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) to provide assistance to organic farmers in applying for reimbursement under the NOCCSP.
For more information on how to apply, please contact FOG at (352) 377-6345 or via email to costshare@foginfo.org, or you can visit their website here.
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05 November 2014
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has announced that a hardship assistance fund is available to ALL certified organic growers nationwide. CCOF has raised $25,000 to provide for certified organic growers who have experienced hardship over the 2014 calendar year. Hardship could be due to natural disaster (such as drought, flood, freeze, fire, pest), illness, or other related events.
The deadline to apply for this assistance fund is November 12, 2014. Awards will be based on operations’ 2014 certification costs and the application materials are attached.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact:
Jessy Beckett, Foundation Program Coordinator, CCOF
(831) 423-2263, ext.25, fax 831-423-4528, jbeckett@ccof.org
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15 October 2014
QCS is co-sponsoring an Auditor Workshop for GlobalG.A.P Harmonized Produce Safety Standard with United Fresh in Gainesville, FL on November 19 and 20th, 2014. Please register here.
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03 October 2014
Quality Certification Services (QCS) will host a free webinar, “QCS Aquaponics GAPs Food Safety Certification Program,” at 11:00 am (EST) on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Interested participants that respond by October 15, 2014, will be sent instructions as to how to join the webinar.
Webinar hosts Denise Aguero, QCS Operations Director, and Dr. Mario Velasco, QCS Food Safety Program Manager, will provide a 25 minute overview of the Aquaponics Certification Program and open the floor for 5-10 min of Q&A.
QCS is an industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in certification, offering a variety of accredited organic, food safety and ethical certifications. QCS developed and launched its own Aquaponics GAPs Food Safety Certification Standard in August, 2014. “The program was specifically developed to be both robust and affordable so that it is accessible to any producer,” said QCS COO Ramkrishnan Balasubramanian. “QCS has 15 years of experience in this developing sector and we are proud to continue to support its growth.”
Please use the QCS contact form to register.
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19 September 2014
Selovita LLC earned Integrated Farm Assurance certification for both vegetables and fish, becoming the first Aquaponic Facility in the world to Obtain this dual GLOBALG.A.P. Certification.
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13 August 2014
We are proud to announce the launch of the QCS Aquaponics GAPs Food Safety Certification Program! Resources and more information on this program can be found here.
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08 July 2014
ARECA obtained GLOBALG.A.P. Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM) certification from QCS for the production for its shrimp and tilapia feeds.
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27 June 2014
GLOBALG.A.P., one product certification scheme of QCS, has been endorsed by the International Accreditation Forum.
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18 June 2014
Backyard Farms, New England’s largest year-round grower of tomatoes, is the first hydroponic grower in the United States to obtain GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Safety Standard (PSS) certification for the production of its tomatoes.
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12 June 2014
The QCS Aquaponics Food Safety Certification Program will launch in August.
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29 May 2014
QCS is hosting an Auditor Training for Produce GAPs Harmonized Field Operations and Harvest Food Safety Standards in Gainesville, FL the 30-31 July 2014. Please submit the registration form to attend.
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22 May 2014
QCS Certified Organic client Selovita has obtained GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance certification with QCS as well.
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14 May 2014
QCS is proud to announce our GLOBALG.A.P. accreditation with ANSI!
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13 March 2014
We are happy to congratulate long-time QCS certified client Celia Barss and her farm Woodland Gardens for earning the Land Stewardship Award at the Georgia Organics Conference this year!
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4 March 2014
QCS is proud to announce our sponsorship of the Superior Food Safety Workshop on 8-9 May in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The workshop will provide knowledge, skills, and abilities required by Internal and External GFSI Auditors. There are only 30 spaces available and registration closes 25 April so please register early if you wish to attend. Full information here.
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16 January 2014
Happy New Year from QCS!
In December, QCS hosted a week-long food safety training in Haiti in a partnership with Auburn University, Minister Wilson Laleau of the Haitian Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Haitian Bureau of Standards. Press release
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14 November 2013
QCS is hosting an Auditor Training for Produce GAPs Harmonized Post-Harvest Food Safety Standards in Gainesville, FL the 15-16 January 2014. Please submit the registration form to attend.
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18 October 2013
Florida Organic Growers Executive Director Marty Mesh will be giving a presentation on organic certification at the One USDA Farm Field Day in Roberta, GA on 2 November. Flyer here.
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24 September 2013
The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new produce safety regulations that relate to organic producers, and these changes are currently in the public comment period. The proposed regulations would require a 9 month time period between the application of raw manure and harvest and a 45 day time period between applications of composted or processed manure and harvest. The National Organic Program regulations only require 90/120 days between applications of raw manure and harvest and no time requirement for the use of composted or processed manure.
To read more about the Food Safety Modernization Act, follow this link: sustainableagriculture.net/fsma/.
Comment on the Produce Rule.
Comment on the Preventive Controls Rule.
Please note that the deadline to submit public comment is 15 November 2013.
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9 September 2013
QCS GLOBALG.A.P. Certification Program featured in The Independent Florida Alligator.
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27 August 2013
QCS proudly announces its GLOBALG.A.P. approval!
Press Release
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08 August 2013
QCS is excited to co-host a Smithsonian Bird Friendly Training in Ecuador 21-22 August.
Press Release
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8 July 2013
QCS and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center will host a 2-day workshop geared toward organic inspectors who wish to qualify as Smithsonian Bird Friendly inspectors. The training event will be 21-22 August in Loja, Ecuador and it will be open to the public. Producers and technicians who would be in charge of keeping the parcels compliant are also welcome. Information on the Bird Friendly certification program can be found here. More details to follow.
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30 May 2013
QCS is hosting an Auditor Training for Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standards in Gainesville, FL on 4 June 2013. Please submit the registration form to attend.
QCS will also be participating in the GLOBALG.A.P. 2013 Tour in Quito Ecuador 27-28 June. Mario Velasco, QCS Food Safety Safety Program Manager (Aquaculture/Crops), will give a presentation on 28 June. Agenda here.
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10 December 2012
The National Organic Program released the following helpful guides as a part of their new Organic Literacy Initiative:
Guide to Organic Crop Production
Guide to Organic Livestock Production
Guide to Organic Processing
Guide to Organic Certification
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7 November 2012
QCS is hosting a free farmer workshop on organic crop production and organic certification in Oxford, NC on 12 January 2013. Press release here.
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1 October 2012
NOP Notice on Sodium Nitrate
NOP Press Release on DL methionine in Poultry Feed
NOP Press Release on Nutrient Vitamins and Minerals
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29 June 2012
USDA National Organic Program announces revised Program Manual: Intro & Summary of Changes