Fees for Producer Certification

Certification fees are calculated according to who is making and  benefiting from the certification claim. There are three basic  categories:

• Independent Farms and Ranches
• Cooperatives and Other Producer Groups
• Contracted Farm/Ranch Suppliers
  

Using the category descriptions below that best fit your business, you can estimate your certification cost. If you have any questions about how fees are calculated, don't hesitate to contact us.

Independent Farm and Ranch Fees
Independent farms and ranches pay an annual fee, based on a percentage of gross sales of certified products, on a sliding scale that  declines as sales increase. The annual fee includes the cost for the certification inspection, which happens every three years.

Independent farms and ranches  pay a $400, non-refundable deposit when they apply for certification. Food Alliance will invoice the client for any applicable balance after the certification has been completed.

 Cooperatives and Producer Groups
Cooperatives and other producer groups who jointly market products from multiple producers pay an annual fee based on a percentage of the group's gross sales of certified products. Individual members pay a flat fee of $810* every three years to cover inspection costs for their farms.  

In order for a cooperative or joint marketing group to be certified:

• The group must submit an estimate of annual gross sales of products to be certified.
  
• The group must identify all of the farm and ranch members who will be providing certified products for sale.
• Food Alliance must receive completed certification applications and the above fee for each of the appropriate members. 

Contract Producers
Producers growing for contracts which require Food Alliance certification pay a flat fee of $810* for the 3-year certification. In this case, producers must meet all Food Alliance criteria for the product in question, but are not allowed to label products or assert Food Alliance certification claims about products outside of the specifying contract. 

Either the contracting business or the contracted producer is responsible for paying annual certification fees on the value of certified product.  The responsible party must be identified at the time of application.  If the contracting business is a Food Alliance Certified packer, processor, manufacturer or distributor, please refer to the Food Alliance Certified Handler Program.

* Food Alliance may provide a customized estimate for inspection costs when 1) inspections are taking place in regions where we do not yet have local inspectors trained, and/or 2) like producers located in close proximity may be inspected in a single trip by the same inspector.