I grew up on an organic grain farm in western Canada. After earning my degree I trained in the United States to become an Advanced Organic Farm and Process Inspector. I inspected over 500 organic farms, processing facilities and broker/traders across North America over five years.

I was never comfortable with how organic crops and livestock are certified on a pre-announced inspection based entirely on an honor system. It doesn’t matter how many forms, affidavits and farm records are required, there’s simply no guarantee.

So, in 2003, my wife and I married our skills and started Is It Organic?, the world’s first and only organic field and livestock testing service.

We test for what's NOT supposed to be there (herbicides, pesticides, synthetic growth hormones, etc) and for what IS supposed to be there (vital microbiology, increased fertility and nutrition, etc).

Would you put motor oil in your car that wasn't tested? 

If the organic industry can't prove what IS and ISN'T in organic crops and livestock, why should consumers pay more?

Many honest organic farmers already test for what IS and ISN'T in their organic crops. We help them by providing third-party testing.

Mischa Popoff

Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA)/Enviro-Test Labs Field Sampling for Pesticide Residue, Moose Jaw SK, 2003 

Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) Inspector Training, Moose Jaw SK , 2003

IOIA Advanced Process Inspector Training, Moose Jaw SK, 2003

OCIA /National Organic Program (USDA), Farm/Process Inspector Training, Regina SK, 2002

American Institute of Baking/IOIA Advanced Inspector/HACCP Training, Brooklyn MI, 1999

IOIA (European Union) Livestock and Process Inspector Training, Brooklyn MI, 1999

IOIA (EU) Farm and Process Inspector Training, Hiawatha IA, 1998

Bachelors of Arts Degree (Honours), major in history from the University of Saskatchewan (1991); Renaissance to 20^th-Century History of Science and Technology in Agriculture and Health. Thesis: "The Development of Nitrogen for Fertilizer and Gunpowder".

I'm also the author of an upcoming book titled, Is it Organic? Are we getting our money's worth out of the fastest-growing niche market in the food sector? Due out fall of 2009.

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Sherry Popoff

Red River Community College: Business Accountancy Certificate, June 1995; Honours Graduate.

Red River Community College: Computer Analyst Programmer courses, 1992 to 1993; Honour Roll.

University of Manitoba: Bachelor of Science degree, Four Year Major - Mathematics, April 1991. University Gold Medal.