Marin Organic Certified Agriculture Receives National Award

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Marin County's organic certifiers who inspect agricultural lands are among the best in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) recently recognized the work of select accredited organic certifiers across the nation, and the six-member team from Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA) took home a top honor.

MOCA, which is based out of the county's Department of Agriculture in Novato, monitors farming producers who seek initial or continuing certification to the NOP regulations. The team provides organic certification services to 50 operations, mostly all of which are based in Marin.

Producers of organic crops and dairy are the leading categories of agricultural products certified by MOCA. MOCA certifies about 32,835 acres of productive land and open space within the county's borders. This acreage represents 3,077 acres of fruits and vegetables and 29,758 acres of pasture and rangeland.

The awards were presented at the annual NOP Certifier Training for organic inspectors from around the world, held in San Antonio, Texas. Emmett Brady, Chris Cook, Johanna Good, Susan Ventura, Dann Walters and Raoul Wertz received the award.