CCOF is a nonprofit organization of organic farmers, processors, handlers and retailers. Founded in 1973, CCOF is one of the largest and oldest organizations of third-party organic certification in the US. CCOF is the only full-service certification agency and trade association. CCOF certifies, educates, advocates, and promotes organic through its premier organic certification program, through programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic products and to expand public support for organic agriculture, and through advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic food and agriculture. CCOF certifies more than 2,160 organic operations throughout the world.