Executive Director's Report

Hope all is well with you in these late summer days. As we head into fall, MOSA’s certification staff is in the thick of final reviews. Our work generally reflects the seasons of our clients, and like yours, it’s a 365-day operation. For our producer and farmer clients, we are more likely to inspect operations during the growing season, while inspections for processors and handlers may occur at any time during the year as those operations are generally not as calendar-driven. And we are constantly reviewing materials for use on organic operations.

No matter the type of operation, the NOP requires that every certified operation be reviewed and inspected annually. Sometimes after an inspection, we hear from a client who is surprised about how an inspection proceeded; maybe the inspector asked questions no past inspector ever asked, or maybe it was a new request for records. That could happen for a number of reasons. The NOP may have made this mandatory, or MOSA may have directed inspectors to request particular information, or it may be that the inspector has a specific focus. Regardless, these are all dictated by the National Organic Standards. And we hear you - there’s a lot to keep track of!

That’s why it is so important that we all - certifiers, inspectors, organic operations, and the general public - hold up our end of the partnership with the NOP. Right now, you can submit your written feedback on the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) proposed rule in the Federal Register. This is a 60-day comment period, so don’t delay! Elsewhere in this newsletter, Kristen Adams talks about the importance of communicating with them, especially when they ask for it!

As always, if you have any questions or comments about anything in this newsletter or about MOSA please feel free to contact me at cori@mosaorganic.org or 847-637-2526. Thank you for reading, and thanks for your continued commitment to organic integrity.