| Agripedia: Marketing and certification |
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| Direct marketing, roadside stands, and farmers' markets |
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Farmers' markets and roadside stands are becoming increasingly popular in Oregon. Market participants need to stay aware of guidelines or requirements regarding food safety and measuring.
Technical assistance
Current information related to food safety
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
Phone 503-986-4720
Fax 503-986-4729
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD
Guidelines related to weighing and measuring
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Measurement Standards Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
Phone 503-986-4670
Fax 503-986-4784
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/MSD
Marketing assistance
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Development and Marketing Division
1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 104
Portland, OR 97209-2832
Phone 503-872-6600
Fax 503-872-6601
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/ADMD
On site prepared foods inspection
Local County Health Department
Web http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/lhd/lhd.shtml
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| Field inspections for export seed certification |
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Who must comply?
Many states and foreign countries require a Phytosanitary Certificate for the importation of seed crops. Often, regulations require a growing season inspection by an official certifying agency in the country of origin, and the results of the inspection must be recorded on the Phytosanitary Certificate. Inspectors at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Commodity Inspection Division, are qualified to carry out these inspections.
Application
Growers or companies producing seed for export who require Phytosanitary Certificates for their crops, should contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Commodity Inspection Division, 503-986-4620, to request an application for field inspection of seed for export or visit http://oregon.gov/ODA/CID/PLANT_HEALTH/applications.shtml. The application should be submitted as soon as possible after planting (in the case of bean seed in Malheur County, no later than May 20.)
Fees
Inspection charges are currently $5.00 per acre with a $40.00 per field minimum. Contact the Commodity Inspection Division for more details.
Reports
Inspection reports are currently issued at the request of the grower or company. Reports can generally be issued within 48 hours of request.
Technical assistance
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Seed Field Inspection Program
Dr. Shawn Meng 503-986-4661
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/CID/PLANT_HEALTH/applications.shtml
US Department of Agriculture
Federal Phytosanitary Certificates
Portland, OR
Phone 503-326-2814
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| Food processing |
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Definition
Food processing means the cooking, baking, heating, drying, mixing, grinding, churning, separating, extracting, cutting, freezing, or otherwise manufacturing a food or changing the physical characteristics of a food. Food processing also means the packaging, canning, or otherwise enclosing of such food in a container, but does not mean the sorting, cleaning, or water-rinsing of a food.
Who must comply?
If your activity is making a food product and offering it for sale, for your personal profit, then you must be licensed. Licenses are issued for bakeries, food processors, domestic kitchen, etc.
Technical assistance
Contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division if you would like to operate as a food processor in Oregon.
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
Phone 503-986-4720
Fax 503-986-4729
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/FSD
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| Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices(GAP/GHP) |
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USDA federal-state audit program
Oregon Department of Agriculture continues to offer GAP/GHP audits under the USDA, Federal-State Audit Program. These audits, based on the Food and Drug Administration's "Guidelines to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables," is a nationally recognized cooperative partnership between USDA, the state of Oregon and other federal/state inspection services.These auditing services are performed on a voluntary basis. This service gives the consumers of Oregon's produce confidence that they have not only purchased the best quality produce and tree nuts available, but they were cared for and handled in a manner to reduce the potential of contamination.
Producers and handlers that have completed the GAP/GHP program are listed on the Federal/State National Auditing Alliance Web site for their customers and future customers to review. Producers or handlers wanting more information about the program should contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Technical assistance
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Commodity Inspection Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532
Phone 503-986-4620
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/CID/ghp_gap.shtml
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| Grain inspection |
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Who must comply?
The US Grain Standards Act was passed by Congress on August 11, 1916 for the purpose of establishing a third-party, uniform inspection system for use in marketing grain. Although no actions are required of the farmer pertinent to the official inspection or weighing of farmers' grain under the FGIS standards, it is against the law to deliberately adulterate grain, e.g., add fumigant or insecticide for the purpose of masking musty or sour or commercially objectionable foreign odor.
Further, it is against the law to deceptively load a truck or trailer with inferior quality grain on the bottom so as to prevent the inferior grain from being included in the probe sample obtained by official inspection personnel. There are other prohibited grain handling practices too numerous to include, but which can be explained by FGIS or Oregon Department of Agriculture officials. Other Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws must be adhered to when pertinent. Offenses are subject to general penal statutes and could result in fines and/or imprisonment.
Some states are officially delegated to perform export inspection and weighing services, but at this time Oregon is not operating in this capacity. The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) operates in export locations where state delegated agencies are absent. The US Grain Standards Act establishes and maintains official US standards for barley, wheat, corn, canola, flaxseed, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, triticale, and mixed grain.
Technical assistance
For information regarding the Grain Standards Act, regulations, and grading standards, contact FGIS, Portland Field Office, 503-326-7887. Groups of farmers (12 minimum to 20 maximum), county elevator operators, and other interested parties may request grain grading seminars to be conducted by FGIS field office personnel at the Albers Mill location.
US Department of Agriculture, GIPSA
FGIS Portland Field Office
1100 NW Naito Pkwy.
Portland, OR 97209-2818
Phone 503-326-7887
Fax 503-326-7896
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| Organic food production |
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Background
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) requires that all products labeled "organic" must be certified by a USDA accredited certifier. Producers whose organic gross sales are $5,000 or less, are exempted from organic certification, but must still follow USDA NOP standards. Contact the USDA for further information, including a list of accredited certifiers.
Technical assistance
US Department of Agriculture
National Organic Program
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Rm. 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268
Washington DC 20250
Phone 202-720-3252
Fax 202-205-7808
Web http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm
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| Weed-free Forage Program |
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Weed-free Forage Program
There is increasing demand in Oregon, and throughout the West, for certified weed-free hay, straw, and mulch. This voluntary, fee based program will provide industry the ability to certify products free from weeds listed on Oregon and North American Weed Management Association lists of noxious weeds. The certification standards are designed to limit or reduce the spread of noxious weeds.
Effective January 1, 2007 all Region 6 (Pacific Northwest Region) US Forest Service Wilderness areas required that only weed-free forage and mulch be used for outfitter guide, recreation, and fire rehabilitation. Effective January 1, 2009, all of Region 6 administered lands will require weed-free forage, mulch, and rehabilitation products.
Technical assistance
Growers wishing to participate in the program should contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Commodity Inspection Division, 503-986-4620 or our Web page below.
Certification standards and general information
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Commodity Inspection Division
Phone 503-986-4620
Web http://oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/weedfreeforageprogram.shtml
North American Weed Management Association
Web http://www.nawma.org
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