WWW.DRINKWILDWONDER.COM BLOG REPORT
GETTING YOUR
products ORGANIC CERTIFIED
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Steven Chen is the Operations Manager for San Franciscobased Wildwonder. They make delicious, bubbly drinks that combine live probiotics with prebiotic plant fiber, superherbs, and fruit all in one bottle to support your gut health. Wildwonder is female and BIPOC-founded, and its mission is to create wonders in everyday life and for those under-voiced in our communities. The company’s drinks are all USDA organic certified and vegan.
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etting your products Organic Certified can be a confusing process, but with a little guidance, it can be done! Check out our learnings below that might help you get these important claims approved for your products.
ORGANIC VS. NON-GMO
ingredients and products to ensure they meet USDA organic standards. If self-manufacturing, the facility will need to get certified through a more intensive process that can take anywhere from 6 months to over a year. The USDA breaks down the steps to get your facility certified in this helpful article. The process is a bit easier if you are using a co-packer that already has an organic certification.
With all the labels and certifications out there, many consumers are still confused by the difference between USDA organic and Non-GMO. People are always surprised to find out that organic certified products are actually nonGMO and much more. USDA organic certification prohibits the use of GMOs, toxic chemicals, artificial flavors & preservatives, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and more. While “organic” has faced its own host of controversies over the years, the USDA organic seal is still a symbol of reliability, especially in packaged food and drinks. Organic-certified products uphold some of the highest standards of quality and sustainability in the industry.
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
GETTING STARTED
Once your co-packer agrees to sponsor your organic certification, either the co-packer or the organic certifying agency will ask you to provide a bunch of documents from your raw ingredient suppliers. Basically, the certifying agency needs to confirm that all the ingredients in your product are 100% organic, organic certified, or organic compliant (up to 5% of ingredients can
The process for getting your products organic certified differs when you’re self-manufacturing or using a co-packer. The USDA works with a network of ~80 accredited certifying agencies, which are basically organizations that can issue organic certifications, after reviewing a brand’s
For brands using a co-packer, it’s likely your co-packer already has an organic system plan and an organic certification in place. Ask your co-packer to “sponsor” your certification with their certifying agency, which means your product will be added into their existing set of organic certified products. While this process is much shorter, it can still take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the certifying agency.
MANAGING YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN
