SANTA CRUZ, CA—The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) released the final results and analysis of the USDA National Organic Program Proposed License Fee Survey. OFRF surveyed 54 organic industry members to identify industry response to a hypothetical license fee program as a means of providing industry-based support for the National Organic Program, which contracted the study.
The license fee scenario consists of a per-unit mill fee based on voluntary use at the organic food processing and/or grower-packer-shipper levels of the USDA Certified Organic seal on product packaging. OFRF project consultant Erica Walz called response to such a program “highly mixed,” adding that “any industry response to a fee structure will be highly dependent upon the quality of the upcoming Proposed Rule [for national organic standards].” Complete survey results are available from OFRF at 831.426.6606 or at research@ofrf.org.