Hawaii Organic Farmers Association

Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) was founded, in part, to certify farms wanting to market produce as organically grown. HOFA strives to comply with:

the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 - the federal law that requires certification of organic operations, and

the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) Federal Organic Rule as enacted on December 21, 2000 .

Now that the final organic rule has been enacted, the federal regulations will be enforced nationally, requiring that all operations claiming to be organic and with annual gross sales of organic product over $5,000 be inspected and certified by an accredited agency. Producers grossing less than $5,000 annually fall under the Small Farmer Exemption in the Federal Organic Rule and may use a notarized affidavit system to sell product as organic, provided that all sales are direct-to-retail only.

Organic certification must be renewed annually. HOFA has independent inspectors trained under the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) guidelines. These inspectors reside in Hawaii. Following is the procedure to become "certified organic" by HOFA:

STEP ONE - The first step is to request a Certification Application Packet which includes the following: a Certification Application, a copy of the HOFA newsletter – Rural Connections, the HOFA Certification Handbook with a copy of the Federal Organic Rule, and OMRI’s Generic Materials and Brand Name Products List, The Certification Application Packet Fee costs $75 and payment must be received by the HOFA Office before sending out the Certification Application Packet. One year’s membership is included in the Certification Application Packet Fee. To receive a Certification Application Packet, please mail your request with $75 to the HOFA Office and specify which category of certification you are pursuing. If you have questions concerning the certification process, costs, or your eligibility, please call the HOFA Office.

Upon receipt of the Certification Application Packet, you should review the guidelines to determine if your operational practices fit within the organic guidelines. (Requirements of the federal standards are clear with regard to farming operations. No prohibited inputs are to have been applied within three years of the first organic harvest.) The Certification Application Packet Fee is non-refundable

STEP TWO - The next step is to review the Certification Application Packet and fill out the application form including a Producer's Affirmation Statement. The application requests detailed information about growing practices including pest, disease, and fertilization strategies, land use history, and a detailed map of the operation. The Certification Fee must be paid when the application is submitted. Once you enter the HOFA Certification Program, you will be sent an annual renewal application 10-12 weeks before your annual renewal date.

STEP THREE - The producer sends the completed Certification Application and the Certification Fee to the HOFA office. A certification number is assigned to the farm which will remain the same throughout the duration of the farm's organic certification history. From receipt of the grower’s forms by the HOFA Office to providing the grower with a certificate averages six to eight weeks.

STEP FOUR - The application is reviewed and, if the farm appears to be in compliance, an inspector is chosen to inspect the farm. The inspector is given a copy of the application to review and contacts the farmer directly to set up a time for the inspection. If during the interview it is apparent to the producer that they do not meet organic standards, they may choose to withdraw their application. Withdraw of an application during the inspection process will result in a refund of certification fees minus $200 for inspection and administrative fees.

STEP FIVE - After the inspector conducts an interview with the producer and any managers present, the completed inspection report including an exit interview which notes any potential non-compliances, is submitted to the HOFA Office for evaluation by members of the HOFA Certification Committee

STEP SIX - Two members of the Certification Committee are assigned to review the inspector’s report along with the grower’s application and reach a determination on the request for certification. Requests are either approved or denied certification. Approval may be conditional, i.e., additional documentation needed or certain practices improved.

STEP SEVEN - The producer is notified of the decision and, if there are no additional conditions to be met, a Certificate of Organic Certification is issued along with a copy of the inspection report. The producer may now market product as certified organic. All labels declaring products as “organic” must comply with Subpart D of the NOP and be approved by HOFA.

Categories for Organic Certification:

Crop certification covers farms producing agricultural and horticultural crops.

Apiary certification covers production, packing, and processing of bee products.

Livestock certification covers farms producing animal products such as meat, eggs, and milk.

Processing/Handling certification covers the production of processed organic foods and businesses participating in the distribution chain.

Transition Period

To carry a “Certified Organic” label, crops shall be produced on land that has received no unapproved materials for at least three calendar years prior to harvest of the crop.

Certification Fees may vary depending on a farm’s gross sales of organic product. The First Year Certification Fee for a farm with annual gross sales less than $70,000 is $425. Once certified, annual renewal costs are $425 for small farms. Farms grossing more than $70,000 per year will be charged one quarter of one percentage (0.25%) of their gross sales in addition to a base fee. Please contact the HOFA Office for a current schedule of fees for farms with gross sales greater than $70,000.

Due to the use of genetically engineered organisms in commercial agriculture, there are some instances where genetic integrity tests may need to be conducted to demonstrate compliance with organic standards.

You may consult the HOFA Certification Handbook for a complete description of the Certification Process. The HOFA Organic Certification Handbook is available for $15 and includes a copy of the Federal Organic Rule regulatory text. To purchase a copy of the HOFA Certification Handbook, please contact the HOFA Office.

HOFA is a member of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), the Organic Trade Association (OTA), and the Organic Certifiers Council (OCC). As a member of OMRI, HOFA can provide its certified clients with updated information on allowed inputs for certified organic production. HOFA maintains close contact with these organizations and actively participates in the industry and federal rule setting regarding certified organic production.

The Federal Organic Rule provides the basis for HOFA’s certification standards. The full version of the Federal Organic Rule, which includes the preamble and regulatory text, may be accessed on the Internet (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop).

HOFA promotes the development of a strong diversified agricultural sector as a sustainable economic base for Hawaii and represents Hawaii’s organic agriculture industry as a member of the Commodity Advisory Group (CAG). Other organizational purposes include research and education in organic and sustainable tropical agriculture. HOFA offers a Farm Apprentice Program for people interested in receiving hands-on experience in tropical organic farming.

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Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA)
P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 969-7789 Fax: (808) 969-7759
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Copyright 2002