News

Accreditation Will Assist Montana Organic Sales to Europe

February 5, 2007 /

MATR Sponsor (view all)

Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

The Montana Department of Agriculture has received
approval to certify organic products under guidelines accepted worldwide
and required for exports to customers in Europe.

Montana becomes the second state, after Washington, to receive USDA
accreditation under International Standards Organization Guide 65. The
department received written notice of the approval on Feb. 2, 2007.

"Montana is a nationwide leader in production of organic grains. The
ability to certify organic producers and handlers under ISO Guide 65 as
well as the USDA’s National Organic Standards enhances the department’s
organic program and will assist organic producers in exporting more
products," said Director Nancy K. Peterson.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, an organic farmer from Big Sandy,
offered his congratulations to the department. "I am pleased that my
family and other organic producers in Montana will have access to
important markets in Europe under this expanded accreditation," Tester
said.

Montana Flour & Grains of Fort Benton currently exports food products to
Europe. Owner and manager Andre Giles said until now the company has
received ISO Guide 65 certification from a private entity in California.

The Montana program received accreditation in 2002 to certify organic
producers under the USDA National Organic Standards. It was apparent
from the start that some overseas customers preferred assurance that
certified producers meet the previously established ISO Guide 65
standards, said Doug Crabtree, organic program manager. Accreditation to
meet the international standards was a multiyear process including a
program audit performed in December.

The department currently certifies 123 organic producers and handlers.
Montana leads the nation in organic grain production with 1.2 million
bushels of organic wheat grown on nearly 60,000 certified organic acres
in 2005, the last year for which numbers are available. For more
information on the program, contact Crabtree at (406) 444-3730 or at
[email protected].