TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture reminded organic producers the deadline to apply for a federal grant to reduce organic certification costs is approaching.
Through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program, each qualified producer of organic products is eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of its costs of certification not to exceed $750. Certification costs include fees and charges levied by the certifying agent for certification activities.
To qualify for reimbursement under this program, an organic producer must have been certified or incurred expenses for the continuation of certification during the period of October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. Certification must be through a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
In the event that demand exceeds the amount of funds allocated to New Jersey, applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Operations may receive one reimbursement per certification or category of certification per year.
Applications must be received by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture no later than November 19, 2013. Applications and more information about the program are available online at www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/organiccostshare.html.
Please contact Debra McCluskey with any questions at (609) 984-2225 or Debra.McCluskey@ag.state.nj.us.
To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA1.
Source: New Jersey Department of Agriculture
