Quick Facts About OCIA

Year Founded: 1985
Year Incorporated: 1988
Publications: Newsletters entitled the Communicator and OCIA Outlook

OCIA is one of the world’s first, largest, and most trusted leaders in organic certification.

Mission Statement:

As providers and consumers of certified organic production, we are committed to environmentally sound stewardship.

Description:

The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA International) is a nonprofit, member-owned, organic certification organization and an accredited world leader in the certified organic industry. OCIA provides certification services to thousands of organic farmers, processors and handlers from over 20 countries in North, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

OCIA Certified Organic Agricultural Land in the USA and Worldwide:

  • Approximately 500,000 acres of certified organic farm land in the United States
  • Over 2 million acres of certified organic farm land worldwide

Member-Owned, Member-Controlled:

  • Over 1,700 chapter members worldwide
  • Over 600 direct associates worldwide
  • Community Grower Groups consisting of approximately 30,000 farmers

Global Market Access with Accreditation by:

  • USDA for the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP)
  • International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM)
  • Japan to meet Japanese Organic Agricultural Standards (JAS)
  • Conseil des Appellations Réservées et des Termes Valorisants (CARTV)
  • Costa Rica Ministry of Agriculture (MAG)

Verifications:

Assisting growers/producers, processors, brokers, and traders to verify organic products to:

  • European Union 2092/91 organic regulations
  • BioSuisse organic regulations in Switzerland
  • Switzerland Agricultural Ordinance