MOSA provides our clients with much more than just certification.

Joe Pedretti

MOSA Client Services Director

Three Tips for Preparing for Your Organic Inspection

Three Tips for Preparing for Your Organic Inspection

By Rebecca Anderson, Mary Capehart, and Mark Geistlinger

“The best thing I learned to do to prepare for my MOSA inspection was read my initial review letter,” said Jesse Veek, owner of Upbeet Produce in Evansville, Wisconsin. Jesse is in his fourth year of growing organic produce and is certified by MOSA.

Jesse picks a rainy day before his inspection to prepare the items identified in the Initial Review letter. “The reviewer lets me know what questions I need to be prepared for and there’s a handy checklist at the bottom of the Initial Review letter that tells me what I need to have on hand. I know that the longer the inspection the more it will cost so I've reduced the inspection time by having my records ready."

The Organic Standards require an on-site inspection each calendar year. The “Initial Review” kicks off the inspection cycle and your Initial Review letter is a window into what the inspector will be asking you. It’s a great place to start and doesn’t take long to read through. The other Review letter to read carefully and address before the inspection is the Final Review letter from the last certification cycle.

A second thing organic producers can do is have all of your receipts for purchases and sales handy. What seeds, inputs, livestock, feed, ingredients did you purchase since your last inspection? What organic crops, livestock, finished goods did you sell? If you aren't a super organized person—use a box. Write the year on it. Throw receipts in the box so at least you have them nearby for inspection.

While you are at it, have your annual records and activity logs— equipment cleaning log, field activity notebook/calendar, seed table, crop plan, production logs, livestock lists— ready for the inspection, too. Again: see the checklist provided with your Initial Review Letter.

Lastly, have your inputs, seeds and other supplies ready and accessible for the inspector to see when they are on-site. If you have to drive to the back barn to get the seed bags/tags it adds time to inspection. Bring the bags back with you before inspection, along with the hand saw you left there and the socket wrench you left out there last week (you’re welcome!). Efficiency starts with little changes.

Want help preparing for your organic inspection? Give MOSA a call (844-637-2526) or email (mosa@mosaorganic.org) and let us help you prepare for your best organic inspection yet!