eNEWS
March 2010 > Florida organic producers eligible for reimbursement of certification costs
The 2008 Farm Bill provided funding for the USDA AMS National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. USDA AMS enters into agreements with state departments of agriculture to administer the program within each department’s state. Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) operates the program for Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Certified
organic growers and handlers in Florida have until Oct. 15, 2010, to apply
for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of
certification costs, or a maximum of $750.
Reimbursement for certification costs paid between Oct. 1, 2009, and Sept. 29, 2010, will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
To qualify for the organic certification cost share reimbursement, an operator must have certified organic farm or production facilities in Florida, must hold an organic certificate issued by a USDA accredited certification agency issued during the period specified, and must not have received any duplicate reimbursement.
The Certification Cost
Share Program assists growers in recovering some of the
cost associated with being certified organic, hopefully encouraging more growers to adopt organic production practices.
For more information contact Florida Organic Growers at 352.377.6345, email fog@foginfo.org or visit www.foginfo.org/certcostshare.