While consumer demand for all things organic is growing by leaps and bounds, less than 1 percent of U.S. farmland is certified organic. Organic certification for producers can be expensive. More expensive inputs, lower initial yields and the inability to benefit from premium pricing during the three-year transition period can be a costly deterrent for smaller farms. To help increase U.S. organic farmland and the sustainability of the organic market, QAI launched the Certified Transitional program to create consumer awareness and incentivize farmers to make the switch to organic growing methods. Kashi was the first brand to get on board with our program. Watch this video to learn more.

Some benefits to farms and companies receiving Certified Transitional certification include:

• Use of an on-package label if the product has 51 percent minimum Transitional content by weight (not including water or salt)
• Distribution of premium pricing down from retailer to farmer
• Increased financial stability for farms during the transition period
• Increased education and understanding of how to attain organic certification

Our Certified Transitional program can certify operations from farm to fork. Eligible product categories include:

• Food and beverage
• Dietary supplements
• Textile products

To ensure farms are progressing through the program, QAI uses unannounced audits and sampling, and sets increasingly rigorous requirements for Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 of the program. The goal is that transitional farms graduate out of the program in Year 3 by becoming certified to organic standards.

See our infographic about transitional certification to learn more about requirements and labelling guidelines.

For more information, contact us at transitional@qai-inc.com.