Grow and GO Organic!
Helpful tips on organic livestock production (for PRODUCERS)
The following recommended check list was prepared by Mclean Organic Foods for Canadian meat producers facing challenges to grow certified organic livestock. The information provided serves as a rough self-evaluation process for producers and is for reference only. This Web article is not intended to be a substitute for a business plan. For more details on Canada’s organic regulations, visit Canada’s Food Inspection Agency website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/otfgtspbe.shtml
If you currently produce organic herbs, dairy products or other ready-to-eat foods and would like to discuss opportunities for business development with Mclean Organic Foods, please contact Michelle Neilson at 604-922-2180.
If you produce turkey, beef, pork or chicken and your farm is under transition to organic but you cannot make the label claim ‘Certified Organic’, Mclean Organic Foods will consider promoting your products under the Polo-Natro brand. Please call Michelle Neilson at 604-922-2180 for more information.
GROWING ORGANIC LIVESTOCK
#1: Are you ready?: Producing organic livestock is not as simple as switching to certified organic feed. If you are considering starting an organic farm or modifying your existing farm to be certified organic, we recommend that you do the necessary research and budget planning. There are a number of common capital improvement costs that are associated with bringing a farm up to organic standards. There are other startup costs associated with certification, plus in some cases there are costs related to third party audits.
We recommend that you learn as much as you can about the current organic food market in order to make the best production, pricing, and market decisions. Reading industry publications can be useful for finding out market trends and what prices buyers are willing to pay.
Lastly, have you sourced a buyer for your production? Will you create your own brand and market it yourself? Or are you looking for a contract with a buyer? Or do you want to sell through a broker? We recommend the Canadian Organic Trade Association as an industry resource for industry research, networking and marketing. For more information go to: http://www.ota.com/pp/canada.html
#2: Getting certified: In December 2008, Canada’s national organic program will be regulated and managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. At this time, companies wanting to sell products labeled as organic must comply with these standards and must be certified. Because of the size of Canada and the diverse range of organic agriculture, at least three different nationally accredited certification organizations are needed to help regulate the national standard. Currently, there are more than 40 small certification organizations that certify producers and processors in Canada. Contact a local certifier in your region. For a complete list of Canadian Certifiers visit: http://www.innvista.com/health/foods/organics/certcan.htm
What does it mean to "get certified"? Essentially, it means that you received confirmation from an approved third party (a certifying agency) that your farming practices meet all of the production, record-keeping, handling, storage and labeling requirements of the Canadian organic regulations.
If you are new to organic farming, the process will likely seem overwhelming. A stranger will actually be inspecting your farm and your administrative systems. You'll have to show record keeping for handling, segregation, pest control and hygiene. We recommend that you seek help from a consultant for a preliminary assessment and that you take a look at an actual application form so you know in advance what the inspector will be looking for.
#3: Hurdles to go organic: You may face challenges sourcing organic feed in your region. You may be required to introduce natural lighting in your barn or larger openings for access to outside. You may need to improve your fences for bio-security. Your land may also need to be tested to ensure that it is not contaminated from industry or pesticides. All of this takes time. If you are committed to producing certified organic foods, you may have a 1-4 year transition period.
Another potential hurdle is scheduling the audit with your local or regional certifier. Limited resources or industry growth can sometimes create delays. If you are experiencing delays, we recommend that you contact Quality Assurance International (QAI). This is a private US based organic certifying agency that offers excellent customer service for the certification of food and fiber products. QAI Organic Certification is recognized world-wide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, QAI maintains operations in Japan, Canada and Latin America with satellite U.S. offices in Minnesota and Vermont. For more information, call 858.792.3531.
#4: Alternatives to organic: If the hurdles are too high, we recommend that producers consider Certified Humane as an alternative to going Organic. The SPCA Certified program is an independent third party certification system. It is a certified assurance to consumers that food products bearing the program label comply with the farm animal welfare standards developed by the BC SPCA. For more information, visit: http://www.spca.bc.ca/farm/ .
If your farm is under transition but you cannot make the label claim ‘Certified Organic’, Mclean Organic Foods will consider promoting your products under the Polo-Natro brand. Please call Michelle Neilson at 604-922-2180 for more information.
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