LOS ANGELES — Organic to Go, an all-natural and organic cafe and corporate meal delivery service, is the first fast-casual restaurant and retailer to receive organic certification by Quality Assurance International (QAI). QAI is a third-party certification agency in the organic foods industry accredited to the National Organic Program by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). QAI has certified brand-name retailers such asLund's Byerly, Cub Foods, Native Sun, Sunflower Market, Capers Wild Oats and Whole Foods Markets.
"From farm to desk, our products are guaranteed to be of the highest quality without compromise," said Jason Brown, chief executive officer of Organic to Go.
Since the USDA began regulating the organic foods industry in 2002, independent third-party certification of organic food systems has been the quality assurance foundation of domestic and international organic food trade. Obtaining certification by a third-party affiliate guarantees the promise of the organic claim.
"Organic certification is the cornerstone in ensuring that the organic integrity has been maintained through every link of the supply chain. Establishing an organic compliance plan is step one in this process," said Ellen Holton, QAI spokesperson. "Operators must develop proper sanitation and pest management protocols as well as implement a comprehensive audit trail as part of their organic compliance plan. For the retail establishment, staff training and clear in-store signage also need to be carefully considered."
A recent survey by Walnut Acres/Roper ASW concluded 72 percent of Americans say that if given a choice to purchase a food product with or without a USDA organic seal, they would purchase the labeled product. The trend continues with the younger Gen Ys (81 percent) and Boomers (76 percent) who are most eager to see the seal.
