About Us

Before The Organic Consulting Firm

The Founders of The Organic Consulting Firm, Karen Troxell and Shannon Murphy, have a wealth of ‘hands-on’ experience within the farming and organic industry. Both Karen and Shannon have been deeply involved in the organic industry for over twenty five years.    Growing up on small family run properties in California their experience encompasses everything from planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables to raising pigs, chickens, horses and cows. They know firsthand how much work goes into organic farming.

Karen and Shannon have worked in a variety of fields within the industry, from raising organic crops and livestock, operating an organic co-op, to managing organic processing plants.  In 2001 both Karen and Shannon began working full time as independent organic inspectors and certification reviewers. From 2001 through 2007 they averaged over 300 organic inspections per year.  The large number and variety of inspections and reviews provided Karen and Shannon with immeasurable knowledge into a wide range of organic production practices.

The cumulative experience of The Organic Consulting Firm as growers, processors, and inspectors created an awareness of the difficulties in understanding the National Organic Program (NOP) and certification obstacles. As active participants in the organic certification process, they understand how to overcome those obstacles. Unfortunately, as an agent of the certification agency, they were unable to offer advice or share knowledge during the review process. In accordance with the USDA NOP, certifiers and their staff may not help clients overcome certification barriers. The Founders were frustrated with the inability to help within the certification process, knowing the answers yet prevented from helping due to NOP restrictions. This frustration led Karen and Shannon to launch The Organic Consulting Firm.

Birth of The Organic Consulting Firm

In 2008 Karen and Shannon combined their experience and knowledge to form The Organic Consulting Firm. Their industry knowledge and consulting services have helped hundreds of clients, ranging from small growers to large corporations, attain and maintain organic certification.

The Organic Consulting Firm works with all sizes of growers, packers, and processors.    They use a four-step process of evaluation, development, training, and verification to design organic system plans that overcome certification obstacles in a time-saving matter that gets your organic products out to the consumer as quickly as possible.

Members of The Organic Consulting Firm continue to update their education, allowing The Organic Consulting Firm to provide clients with the most up to date information and methods, ensuring ongoing organic compliance.

The cumulative experience of The Organic Consulting Firm as growers, processors, and organic auditors created an awareness of the difficulties companies have in understanding the National Organic Program (NOP) and overcoming organic certification obstacles.   This awareness provides The OCF with a wide range of options to offer companies seeking help with organic certification.

The Organic Consulting Firm has specialists in all areas of organic production, including crop, livestock, processing, personal care, cosmetics, and many international organic standards. They guide their clients through each step of organic certification, simplifying the process every step of the way. The Organic Consulting Firm will integrate organic compliance into existing procedures to create a complete Organic Systems Plan with the least disruption to your current practices.

The Organic Consulting Firm is committed to staying abreast of new and innovative technology, organic compliance and consumer trends. They’re ongoing training and education includes seminars, organic industry events and food/livestock certification.