Associated Food Stores DC Now Certified Organic

Associated Food Stores’ Farr West distribution center has become certified organic by the USDA and California Certified Organic Farmers, recognizing AFS’s ability to maintain the standards and regulations for properly handling and labeling organic products and meat. This includes ensuring that organic and conventional products are not comingled or misrepresented while all sanitation and pest control procedures are compliant with USDA requirements.

“The organic certification from CCOF and USDA verifies our distribution center complies with the USDA organic regulations and allows us to sell, label and represent our products as organic,” said Darin Larkin, the organic buyer for Associated Food Stores. “Our shoppers are increasingly interested in organic products and this certification allows us to spotlight those products through labeling and other merchandising efforts.”

To achieve the certification, AFS submitted an Organic System Plan to the USDA’s National Organic Program that detailed the substances used to produce or handle the products. AFS also verified that vendors were certified organic.