On December 29, 2023 Crookham Company received USDA Certification. Here's what this achievement means for you:
KEY BENEFITS
Quality Assurance: USDA certification assures that our results meet stringent standards for germination and physical purity testing and cover species contained within the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules for Testing Seed and Federal Seed Act.
Trust: When you see this seal, you can be confident in your choice, knowing that the product meets high standards. A USDA Certificate is receivable by all officers of all courts of the United States as prima facie evidence of the truth of the statements therein contained.
Transparency: The certification provides transparency about our practices and processes. It allows customers to make informed decisions about our products.
Recognition: The Crookham Company laboratory may represent itself as a USDA Process Verified Program, USDA Accredited Seed Laboratory. There are more than 200 labs in the U.S. that test agricultural seeds, but only 9% are accredited by the USDA's Seed Laboratory Program (ASL).
ASSP Program
Crookham Company's sampling program has also been recognized for its rigorous procedures and protocols, ensuring that every sample we test is handled with care and is representative of the seed lot being tested.
On March 7, 2024 the Crookham Company Lab was recognized as a Foreign Seed Testing Lab in Canada. This has the potential to bring advantages to your business:
KEY BENEFITS
Quality Assurance for Seed Certification: Crookham Company laboratory will generate traceable information for official seed certification, including labeling with a pedigreed grade name, and ensure that the seed meets the quality standards established in Seeds Regulations.
Accurate and Reliable Testing: Crookham Company facilities, and laboratory testing protocols, were subjected to rigorous assessment, to ensure accurate and reliable seed testing results. Seed lots tested by the Crookham Company laboratory can confidently enter the Canadian market.
Market Access and Trade Facilitation:
• This official recognition by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enhances the Crookham Company laboratory's credibility.
• Allows for seamless collaboration and acceptance of testing results across borders and provides confidence to customers when marketing seed.
• Crookham Company shipments will be accompanied by all necessary paperwork to expedite import and quicker release of the seed for resale in Canada without needing the customer to get Canadian tests.
Equivalence with Canadian Standards:
• Crookham Company laboratory is accredited to the USDA-AMS Accredited Seed Laboratory (ASL) Program and is considered equivalent to the Canadian Seed Laboratory Accreditation and Audit Protocol (SLAAP).
We are pleased to announce that Crookham Company Laboratory Manager Marija Topic, was accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as a Canadian Seed Grader. This achievement was effective on April 24, 2024.
KEY BENEFITS
1. Efficiency in Seed Trade:
• Accreditation helps streamline the US and Canada's seed trade process, potentially saving money and time.
• Ensures the seed meets Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) quality standards.
2. Access to Canada's Market:
• Crookham Company varieties will be assigned a Canadian grade name prior to entry into Canada without waiting to be graded by a Canadian grader.
• Allows companies to sell seed directly to a customer.
• Customers will potentially see a reduction in the time it takes to import seed.
3. Accreditation and Recognition
• This accreditation allows Crookham Company to grade seed in the U.S. for marketing seed in Canada.
• Accreditation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency enhances the credibility of Crookham Company.
From left to right: Hailey Osburn, Misty Vaughn, Sonia Padilla, and manager Marija Topic