Organic System Plan Wild Crops

Transcription

1 Organic System Plan Wild Crops Office Use Only Received: Fill out this form if you are requesting organic certification of wild crops. A separate Organic System Plan Crops must be filled out if you are growing other organic crops for sale. Use additional sheets if necessary. If you are a new applicant, attach a completed General Information form. Wild Crop (as defined in 7 CFR 205.2): Any portion of a plant that is collected or harvested from a site that is not maintained under cultivation or other agricultural management. Wild-crop harvesting practice standard (a) A wild crop that is intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be harvested from a designated area that has had no prohibited substance, as set forth in , applied to it for a period of 3 years immediately preceding the harvest of the wild crop. (b) A wild crop must be harvested in a manner that ensures that such harvesting or gathering will not be destructive to the environment and will sustain the growth and production of the wild crop. Section numbers refer to National Organic Program regulations (7 CFR, Part 205). SECTION 1: General Information Contact Information: Today s date: First Name: MI: Last Name: Phone: Fax: Address: City: State: Zip code: Website: Collection Area Information: Area Name: Collection Area Address: City: State: Zip code: Is there anyone, other than the person(s) named above, who is authorized to discuss your certification with PCO? (This may be a spouse, employee, company representative or anyone else you designate): Legal Status: Sole Proprietor (owner) Partnership Corporation Non-profit Trust association Please check any of the following countries to which you intend to export organic wild crop or wild crop products in the next 18 months: Canada European Union Taiwan Japan If you intend to export any of your organic products to Japan, Taiwan, the European Union or Canada, complete Section 8 of this form. SECTION 2: Operation Profile Complete this table for all species requested for certification. Wild Crops Requested Location Total Area Per Crop Projected Yields for Certification Page 1 of 8

2 1. Are all areas requested for certification located at the main address? If no, provide address of additional location(s): 2. Is the collection area owned by you? Yes No If not, explain: 3. Have you managed all collection areas for 3 years or more? Yes No If no, include Prior Land Use Form (available from PCO), or equivalent document signed by the previous manager(s). 4. Describe the type of natural environment for each harvest area (i.e. Deciduous Forest, Coniferous Forest, Grasslands): 5. Are there any areas in transition that you want to certify in the future? Yes No If yes, provide a list of these areas and the exact date of application of prohibited materials. Area Prohibited Material Date of last application of prohibited materials 6. Please describe your production system (i.e. crop origin) in as much detail as necessary to provide the inspector with a sufficient understanding of it: SECTION 3: Wild Crop Management Practices A. CONSERVATION PRACTICES USED 7. How do you maintain or improve the sustainability of the harvested species? Harvest from stable populations Minimize disruption of priority species/sensitive habitats Avoid erosion Allow re-establishment Other, describe: 8. Describe how you monitor the health of the wild crop population and how often monitoring is performed: 9. Are there any rare, threatened, or endangered terrestrial or aquatic plants or animals that occur in the harvest area? If yes, list all such organisms: If yes, describe methods used to prevent any negative impacts to these plants and/or animals, and describe how you monitor to verify lack of impact: 10. Do you have additional people acting as collectors of the wild crop? Yes No If yes, describe how you ensure that all additional collectors are informed of your harvesting practices and monitoring procedures: B. PROTECTION OF THE COLLECTION AREA 11. Are there any potential sources of contamination in or near the collection areas? Yes No If yes, please explain and indicate how contamination is prevented: 12. Describe how the boundaries of organic collection areas are marked or otherwise indicated to collectors (i.e. tree lines, streams, signs): Page 2 of 8

3 13. Do you maintain buffer zones around the collection areas? Yes No If yes, what type? (Buffer zones must be identified on the collection areas maps.) 14. What additional measures do you use to prevent accidental contamination? Explain: SECTION 4: Water (a)(6) 15. Do you use water? Yes No If yes, for what purpose? 16. What are your sources of water? On-site well Municipal river/creek/pond Spring 17. What is the date of your last water test for coliform bacteria and nitrates? 18. Were results satisfactory? Yes No 19. If you use additives in the water, list them and attach copies of labels: No additives used SECTION 5: Harvest and Post Handling (a)(1-6) and (b) A. HARVEST 20. Provide a specific description of how you harvest each crop. Describe your harvest methods and any equipment used: 21. Describe how you monitor the wild crop population to ensure long-term viability of the species: 22. How do you ensure that harvesting practices are not environmentally detrimental to the wild crop habitat? 23. Describe the steps you take to protect organic products from commingling and/or contamination during harvest: B. POST HARVEST HANDLING General 22. Do you do any post harvest handling of your crops? Yes No If yes, describe the type(s) of post harvest handling you do (e.g. drying herbs)? 23. What types of crops are handled post harvest? Storage 24. Describe your facilities (if any) for storing crops after harvest. Include size, capacity and capabilities: 25. If both organic and non-organic crops are harvested and stored, describe the methods used to prevent commingling: 26. Do you use any off-farm storage? Yes No If yes, describe off-farm storage and methods used to prevent commingling. Give locations and distance from the farm: Page 3 of 8

4 Packaging Not applicable 27. Describe your methods to dry/cool, wash and pack crops. Include packaging materials and post-harvest treatments: Transportation 28. Describe how organic crops are transported and who is responsible: 29. What steps are taken to protect the integrity of the organic crops during transport? Use of dedicated organic transportation vehicles Documented cleaning of vehicles prior to loading C. LABELING / MARKETING 30. Do you market your organic products? Yes No If yes, check all that apply: Farmers market Wholesale Direct to retail Wholesale to processor CSA/subscription service Contract to buyer On-farm retail 31. Do you use a label on products or packing materials? Yes No N/A If yes, attach a sample of each label. (Retail labels must identify Pennsylvania Certified Organic as the certifying agent.) a) Do your labels identify Pennsylvania Certified Organic as the certifying agent? Yes No b) Do you use or plan to use the PCO logo on the label? Yes No c) Do you intend to use the USDA logo on the label? Yes No *Enclose samples of existing or intended labels/ marketing materials using the term Organic or Pennsylvania Certified Organic or PCO or the USDA Organic seal, and note whether they will be used for retail, non-retail, or export packaging. Labels must be approved by PCO prior to using. Submit any updated/new labels/marketing material (if not already submitted to PCO). SECTION 6: Facility Pest Management Complete this section to describe pest control practices and materials used in any facility where organic wild crops or wild crop products are produced and/or stored. 32. Does this operation use any facilities in the production or storage of organic wild crops or wild crops products and have pest problems? Yes No (If No, skip to section 7) 33. Describe the facilities and wild crops produced or stored in those facilities: 34. What type of facility pest management system(s) are used in the facilities? In-house: Name of responsible person: Contracted pest control service (name, phone no.): 35. Check all pest problems in any of the facilities you generally have: Flying insects Crawling insects Spiders Mice Birds Rats Page 4 of 8

5 36. Check all facility pest management practices that apply. Note: All materials used for facility pest management must be listed on your Materials Used Form. Good sanitation Cleanup of spilled product Sticky traps Cats Dogs Screened windows, vents, etc. Removal of exterior habitat/food sources Physical barriers Mechanical traps Mowing Electrocutors Ultrasound/light devices Repair of holes, cracks, etc. Synthetic substance consistent with Synthetic substance NOT on the Non-synthetic substances consistent with the National List (e.g. vitamin D3 bait) National List (e.g. most commercially the National List (e.g. pyrethrum) available rodent bait)* *If you want to use a synthetic substance not on the National List, you must receive authorization from PCO prior to use. 37. Describe monitoring (including frequency) used to determine the effectiveness of management practices above: *Attach facility map showing location of pest traps and monitoring devices. 38. If pest control materials are used where are they stored? Map Attached 39. What records do you maintain to document pesticide use and measures taken to prevent contamination of organic crops? SECTION 7: Record Keeping System (a) A certified operation must maintain records concerning the production, harvesting, and handling of agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as 100 percent organic, organic or made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)). (b) Such records must: (1) Be adapted to the particular business that the certified operation is conducting; (2) Fully disclose all activities and transactions of the certified operation in sufficient detail as to be readily understood and audited; (3) Be maintained for not less than 5 years beyond their creation; and (4) Be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the Act and the regulations in this part. (c) The certified operation must make such records available for inspection and copying during normal business hours by authorized representatives of the Secretary, the applicable State program s governing State official, and the certifying agent. 40. How long do you keep your records? (Must be at least 5 years): 41. Which of the following records do you keep for organic production? Collection area maps Collection area activity log(s) Collection area history records (previous three years) Documentation of previous land use for rented and/or newly purchased land Equipment cleaning records Harvest records showing collection areas, date of harvest, harvest amounts Labor records Storage records showing storage identification, field numbers, amounts stored, cleaning activities Clean transport records Sales records (purchase order, contract, invoice, cash receipt journal, sales journal, etc.) Shipping records (scale ticket, dump station ticket, bill of lading) Transaction certificates Audit control summary 42. Do you keep records for conventional production? Yes No N/A If yes, check all that apply: Collection area maps Collection area activity log(s) Storage records Shipping records Sales records Harvest records Input records Page 5 of 8

6 SECTION 8: International Export: Canada, European Union, Taiwan, Japan Please provide the following information even if you do not currently intend to export any organic products to Canada, European Union, Taiwan, or Japan in order for PCO to review this information. This will expedite any export verification needs you or your customers may have in the future. However, this information is not required for your Organic System Plan to be considered complete. A. CANADA N/A 43. Are any wild crops produced hydroponically or aeroponically? Yes No 44. Has Chilean nitrate (sodium nitrate) been used on any of the collection areas? Yes No If Yes, in which collection area and on what date(s) was it applied? 45. Are you using any labels for exported products other than labels already approved by PCO? Yes No N/A If yes, attach labels for PCO to review. *Note: The 100% Organic Label is not permitted in Canada. Labels must be bilingual (English and French). Wild Crops Requested to Ship to Canada Location Total Area / Crop Projected Yield to Export to Canada B. EUROPEAN UNION N/A 44. Have antibiotics (streptomycin and/or tetracycline) been used to produce any wild crops? Yes No 45. Are you using any labels for products exported to the European Union other than labels already approved by PCO? *Note: The 100% Organic Label is not permitted in the European Union. Yes No If yes, attach labels for PCO to review. Wild Crops Requested to Ship to the European Union Location Total Area / Crop Projected Yield to Export to the European Union C. TAIWAN N/A 46. Are any wild crops intended for export produced using any materials prohibited by the NOP National List? Yes No If yes, list. Wild Crops Requested to Ship to Taiwan Location Total Area / Crop Projected Yield to Export to Taiwan D. JAPAN N/A 47. Do you use crop inputs that contain: a. Alkali-extracted humic acid? Yes No b. Lignin sulfonate (used as a flotation agent)? Yes No Wild Crops Requested to Location Total Area / Crop Ship to Japan Projected Yield to Export to Japan Page 6 of 8

7 SECTION 9: Conflict of Interest Have you used any organic production consultants for your operation in the last 12 months? Yes No (This does not refer to your inspector, certification specialist, or other PCO representative involved with your certification review.) If yes, list the name and contact information for organic production consultant(s) your operation has used in the last 12 months (7 CFR (a) (11) (ii): SECTION 10: Previous Certification 49. List current organic certification by other agencies and dates: If currently certified by another agency, submit a copy of your current certificate and verification of the items you are certified to produce/sell. 50. If currently certified organic, has your operation received a non-compliance(s) or been issued a proposed suspension or proposed revocation that has not yet been resolved? Yes No If yes, submit a copy of any adverse action notice of non-compliance issued to you and a description of any actions taken by you to correct the non-compliance(s) noted in the including: notification of noncompliance, notification of proposed suspension or proposed revocation issued to you and a description of any actions taken by you to correct the non-compliance(s) notes in the adverse action notice, including evidence of such corrections an resolution letter from certifier, if any. 51. If previously certified, list names of agencies, dates, non-compliances and reasons for surrender or termination of certification: 52. Have you ever been denied organic certification or has your organic certification ever been withdrawn, surrendered suspended or revoked? Yes No If yes, submit a copy of any adverse action notice, including suspension, revocation or denial of certification issued to you and a description of any actions taken by you to correct the non-compliances noted in the notification, including evidence of such corrections and resolution letter from certifier or the National Organic Program Administrator, if any. If certification was withdrawn or surrendered, provide reason: 53. Gross organic sales of organic crops in previous calendar year: $ If none sold, enter 0. Page 7 of 8

8 SECTION 11: Affirmation Information provided on this application is held in strict confidence and will be used only for certification purposes. I affirm that all statements made in this application are true and correct. To the best of my knowledge, no prohibited materials have been applied to any of my organically managed collection areas during the three-year period prior to planned time of harvest. I understand and agree as follows: 1. My operation may be subject to unannounced inspection and/or sampling for residues at any time as deemed appropriate to ensure compliance with the National Organic Program. 2. Acceptance of this questionnaire in no way implies granting of certification by the certifying agent. 3. Failure to comply with the applicable regulations, polices or procedures, or giving false information may result in denial, suspension, revocation or termination of certification. 4. Payment of all certification fees is a condition of certification. As required by the National Organic Program, and as conditions of certification I agree to: 1. Cooperate with the certification process by completing all documentation requested. 2. Make every effort to ensure that no prohibited products have been used, applied or otherwise allowed to compromise the integrity of the organic crops or products produced or sold by me. 3. Provide access to all areas and parts of my operation, including records, products and personnel. 4. Comply with the National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205) and Pennsylvania Certified Organic certification policies and procedures. 5. Make appropriate certification claims, which accurately reflect the type of certification granted. 6. Ensure that my certificate or certification report is not used in a misleading manner and does not harm PCO. 7. Only use certification claims, or the PCO name and logo, to indicate that products are in compliance with PCO standards, and use them correctly on advertising, marketing and packaging materials. 8. Discontinue use of certification claims, and PCO name and logo, upon surrender, suspension, revocation or termination of certification, and return any certification documents or materials required by PCO. 9. Notify PCO of any significant changes to my operation s organic system plan. 10. Notify PCO concerning any application, including drift, of a prohibited substance to any field, production unit, site, facility, livestock, or product that is part of an operation. 11. Comply with all conditions of certification listed on Certification Reports or other certification documents. I understand that failure to abide by the above requirements may result in denial, suspension or revocation of my organic certification, prosecution for fraud or misrepresentation, denial of service, or any other remedy allowed by law. I give permission for PCO to release information from my file to other recognized organizations for purposes of document review. I understand that PCO will obtain a confidentiality statement from the requesting certifier before releasing any information. PCO has my permission to obtain information, documents, or materials related to certification or de-certification from other certifiers. Your signature(s): Date: If applicable: Signature of Contracted Grower: Date: Submit this completed form with the following required attachments: General Information Form (if new applicant) Materials Used Form - Crops Field and Pasture Records (with prior land use statements, if needed) Sample Labels or Marketing Materials, if used Collection area maps (Include adjoining land uses, field numbers and acreage. Other map features may include woodlots, wildlife habitat, major drainages and waterways.) Page 8 of 8