CCOF, Oregon Tilth Announce Plans to Merge

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.CCOF and Oregon Tilth have announced plans to merge.

The merged organization, which the companies said will strengthen the voice and visibility of organic agriculture,  will operate under the name CCOF Tilth to promote certifications and development of the organic sector of U.S. agriculture. Members of both organizations will be asked to ratify the merger before Oct. 31, 2012.

CCOF executive director Cathy Calfo, said CCOF Tilth will be supported by a trade association of nearly 4,000 certified farmers, ranchers, and processors and a robust educational foundation."

The two organizations have a history of collaboration, including their formation in the 1980s of the Western Alliance of Certifying Organizations to ensure reliability and consistency in organic certification. In the 1990s, they  helped form the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), which determines allowable use of input products in organic production and processing.

A new CCOF Tilth label will be released this fall; farmers and food processors who currently use CCOF or Oregon Tilth labels on their product will be allowed to continue to do so.