In 2001, when we moved Mountain Rose Herbs from California to Pleasant Hill, Oregon, we made the move to be closer to our farm partners, wildharvesters, and processors. But another key factor in our decision was Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO), a Corvallis, Oregon nonprofit that was reimagining how the world’s food systems could work better for people and the planet. Founded on the fundamental belief that our food and agricultural systems should be sustainable and equitable, Oregon Tilth has spent nearly fifty years working for organic food and farming.
Within a year of moving to Oregon, Mountain Rose Herbs became a certified organic processor through OTCO and began a relationship that we have cherished now for two decades. From the beginning, our experience with OTCO has been invaluable. Working hand-in-hand with this outstanding organization has enabled us to create alliances and sustainable systems that are the bedrock of our business. Their expertise and dedication have helped us put in place the tools and relationships we need to provide our customers with the finest organic botanicals—from our state-of-the-art onsite laboratory and quality control department to long-lasting working contracts with certified organic farmers and wildharvesters that we know we can trust. We would not be able to do what we do today without OTCO’s half-century of experience.
Their core initiatives include organic certification and advocacy. As an Accredited Certifying Agent for the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP), they provide organic certification for farms, crops, wildharvested botanicals, livestock production, beekeeping, and what is called “handling production”—the processing, handling, and marketing of organic materials.
Regarding handling production, OTCO provides Mountain Rose Herbs, with clarification on federal regulations and they help us navigate an increasingly complex global network of suppliers and regulatory agencies. They audit our facilities and processes annually so we can maintain our organic certification and protect the organic integrity of our products and systems. We are certified through OTCO in two ways. As well as overseeing the organic certification for our products, they also help us maintain our Organic System Plan which outlines the steps we take to ensure that all aspects of our company operate in compliance with NOP regulations. We invite you to read our OTCO Certification Acknowledgment and System Plan Summary for more details about the oversight Oregon Tilth offers us in regard to handling production and organic certification.
Oregon Tilth also focuses on a robust education program for farmers, gardeners, legislators, and the general public about sustainable agriculture, soil health, natural resource conservation, and practical ways to produce a clean, healthy food supply that benefits people and the planet at the same time. It is only through this kind of cooperative education and action that we can make fundamental changes to our failing food and agricultural systems. We must form strong alliances to bring about sustainable alternatives and to put the health and wellbeing of people and planet at the forefront. As Mountain Rose Herbs marks our 20th anniversary of supporting and working in close alliance with OTCO, I am profoundly grateful that there is an organization of this caliber advocating for all of us.
I want to personally encourage you to join me in becoming an individual member of Oregon Tilth. In doing so, you will become a part of one of the oldest and most vibrant sustainable agriculture organizations in the country and you will join 1,800 other members who are envisioning a brighter future for our food systems. Together, as we put people and the planet before profit, we can bring about real change and equity in our food system.
Onward!
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