California Organic Fertilizers

What California Organic Fertilizers does

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc. (COFI) is a privately held, founder-led manufacturer of certified organic fertilizers headquartered in Hanford, California (Kings Industrial Park), founded in 1990 by Tim Stemwedel. The company develops and produces liquid and dry organic fertilizers across multiple proprietary product families — Phytamin (liquid, including the 100% ammoniacal nitrogen Phytamin Pure), Phyta-Grow (dry), Phyta-QC (crop quality), Phyta-Boost (lawn & garden), Phyta-Guard, Phyta-Green, and BioSecure — all registered by CDFA as Organic Input Materials and compliant with USDA NOP regulations.

COFI's core technical differentiator is its patented Natural Ammonia platform (U.S. Patent No. 11,518,720), a biological nitrogen conversion process that converts protein into ammonia via fermentation under a nitrogen-dominant (low C:N) regime, suppressing methane generation and isolating ammonia into clean aqueous compositions for agricultural use. The company recently moved this platform from pilot to commercial-scale production, announcing expanded Phytamin Pure output in March 2026.

The company sells exclusively through a 35+ year authorized dealer network, supported by direct phone/email order desk operations and agronomist-led technical support for commercial organic growers managing thousands of acres. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers must contact COFI or an authorized dealer for quotes. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales of liquid and dry fertilizer SKUs, with the larger commercial-organic segment serving certified organic farms in California and the Western U.S., and a secondary lawn & garden retail line (Phyta-Boost). The company is privately held, has no disclosed institutional capital, and has not undergone any acquisition, merger, or restructuring.

Name

California Organic Fertilizers

Legal name

California Organic Fertilizers, Inc.

Website

https://organicag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Organic Fertilizers (COFI) is a Hanford, California-based manufacturer of CDFA-approved organic liquid and dry fertilizers serving certified organic farms in the Western U.S. via its patented biological Natural Ammonia platform and a 35+ year authorized dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agricultural Fertilizers

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Ammonium Nitrate/Sulfate) (AFABABAA), Specialty Nitrogen Products (Urease/Nitrification Inhibitors, Enhanced-Efficiency N) (AFABACAG), Bio-based Fertilizers, Soil Amendments & Biostimulants (Digestate-derived, biochar-based inputs) (EUAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Organic fertilizer manufacturing
• Biological nitrogen conversion
• Certified organic inputs
• Liquid plant nutrition
• Dry organic fertilizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Organic Fertilizer Products: COFI develops and manufactures high-performance organic fertilizers including liquid (Phytamin line) and dry (Phyta-Grow line) products. Products are sold exclusively through authorized dealers. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing determined by product type, NPK ratios, and volume.
2. Natural Ammonia Platform: Patented biological nitrogen conversion technology producing Natural Ammonia products at commercial scale. Products include Phytamin Pure (100% ammoniacal nitrogen) and JumpStart formulations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

California Organic Fertilizers (COFI) manufactures and sells liquid and dry organic fertilizers under the Phytamin, Phyta-Grow, Phyta-QC, Phyta-Boost, and Natural Ammonia product lines, all approved by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as Organic Input Materials for certified organic crop production. Its core differentiator is a patented biological nitrogen conversion platform (U.S. Patent No. 11,518,720) that converts protein into plant-available ammoniacal nitrogen via fermentation and extraction, sold exclusively through an authorized dealer network across the United States.

Product overview

California Organic Fertilizers offers a comprehensive portfolio of liquid and dry organic fertilizers organized under multiple product lines. The core offerings include the Phytamin® liquid fertilizer family (featuring Phytamin Pure 5-0-0, Jumpstart 4-1-1, All Purpose, Express, Fish Concentrate, Plant Extract, Special, 413, 413P, and 700 variants) and the Phyta-Grow® dry fertilizer line (including Big Red 13-0-0, Bone Meal, Citrus Avocado Mix, Countdown, Phosphate, Kickstart, Leafy Green Special, Pre-Plant Plus, Salinas Veggie Mix, Super 8, Super N, and Veggie Mix). The portfolio also includes specialty lines: Phyta-QC™ crop quality products and Phyta-Boost™ lawn & garden fertilizers. The company has developed a proprietary Natural Ammonia™ Platform using patented biological nitrogen conversion technology protected under U.S. Patent No. 11,518,720, which produces 100% plant-available ammoniacal nitrogen through fermentation rather than synthetic processes. All products are CDFA-approved for certified organic crop production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Phytamin: Line of liquid products offering a range of NPK ratios including Pure (5-0-0), Jumpstart (4-1-1), All Purpose (3.7-2.7-3.7), Express (4-1-1), Fish Concentrate (4-2-0), Plant Extract (2.7-2-2), Special (4-1-1), Phytamin 413, Phytamin 413P, and Phytamin 700.
• Phyta-Grow
• Phyta-Guard
• Phyta-QC
• Phyta-Green
• Phyta-Boost
• BioSecure
• Natural Ammonia

Products and services

• Natural Ammonia Platform Patented biological nitrogen conversion platform that converts protein-derived nitrogen into plant-available ammoniacal nitrogen through fermentation followed by extraction, operating under a nitrogen-dominant biological regime that suppresses methane. Foundation for the company's Phytamin liquid products, available at commercial scale to certified organic growers and dealers.
• Phytamin Pure 5-0-0 Clear liquid 100% natural ammonia fertilizer registered by CDFA as an organic fertilizer, produced in Hanford, California via a patented process that converts protein into ammonia through fermentation and extraction to isolate a clean aqueous ammoniacal nitrogen solution.
• Phytamin Jumpstart 4-1-1 Expertly balanced liquid fertilizer formulated to promote steady, healthy growth and vibrant blooms without excessive foliage, combining a biologically active carbon source with 100% ammoniacal nitrogen to increase yields and quality.
• Phytamin All Purpose 3.7-2.7-3.7 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line offering a specific NPK ratio for crop-specific nutrient needs, containing both soluble and insoluble nitrogen for immediately available nutrients and longer-term nitrogen release.
• Phytamin Express 4-1-1 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line with NPK 4-1-1, designed for rapid nutrient availability and crop response.
• Phytamin Fish Concentrate 4-2-0 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line containing fish-based nitrogen-rich sources, providing both immediately available nutrients and longer-term nitrogen release.
• Phytamin Plant Extract 2.7-2-2 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line with NPK 2.7-2-2, providing plant-derived nutrients with both soluble and insoluble nitrogen components.
• Phytamin Special 4-1-1 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line with NPK 4-1-1, delivering high Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) with very low carbon-to-nitrogen ratios.
• Phytamin 413 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line designed for specific crop fertility applications with high PAN delivery.
• Phytamin 413P Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line, variant of Phytamin 413 with enhanced phosphorus availability.
• Phytamin 700 Liquid fertilizer within the Phytamin line designed for high-nitrogen-demand crops and critical growth stages.
• Phyta-Grow Big Red 13-0-0 Dry organic fertilizer providing concentrated nitrogen (13%) from bioavailable nitrogen and phosphorus blend with minerals and active microbial compounds, produced without raw manure or raw plant materials.
• Phyta-Grow Bone Meal 4-14-0 Dry organic fertilizer with balanced nitrogen and high phosphorus content (14%) for root development and flowering support.
• Phyta-Grow Citrus Avocado Mix 8-5-4 Dry organic fertilizer formulated specifically for citrus and avocado crops, providing balanced nutrition with NPK 8-5-4.
• Phyta-Grow Countdown 4-3-2 Dry organic fertilizer with NPK 4-3-2, designed for finishing applications and crop quality enhancement.
• Phyta-Grow Phosphate 0-10-0 Dry organic fertilizer providing high phosphorus (10%) for root development and flowering without nitrogen.
• Phyta-Grow Kickstart 6-1-2 Dry organic fertilizer designed for early crop development with NPK 6-1-2, supporting transplant establishment and early growth.
• Phyta-Grow Leafy Green Special 7-1-2 Dry fertilizer made entirely from plant materials with faster nutrient release than most protein-based fertilizers; supports root development and overall plant growth with minimal odor for urban or residential use.
• Phyta-Grow Pre-Plant Plus 7-5-7 Dry organic fertilizer with balanced NPK 7-5-7 for pre-planting applications, supporting early crop establishment.
• Phyta-Grow Pre-Plant Plus Blend 7-4-5 Dry organic fertilizer blend with NPK 7-4-5 for pre-planting applications with slightly reduced phosphorus compared to Pre-Plant Plus.
• Phyta-Grow Salinas Veggie Mix 8-4-4 Dry organic fertilizer formulated for vegetable crops in the Salinas Valley region with NPK 8-4-4.
• Phyta-Grow Super 8 8-1-1 Dry organic fertilizer with high nitrogen content (8%) and minimal phosphorus and potassium, designed for nitrogen-deficient soils.
• Phyta-Grow Super N 12-0-0 Dry organic fertilizer providing concentrated nitrogen (12%) with no phosphorus or potassium for targeted nitrogen supplementation.
• Phyta-Grow Veggie Mix 8-5-0.5 Dry organic fertilizer with NPK 8-5-0.5 formulated for general vegetable production with trace potassium.
• Phyta-QC Phyla-Cal QC Crop quality product within the Phyta-QC line designed to improve crop quality by enhancing nutrient uptake and stimulating photosynthesis.
• Phyta-QC Phyta-Molasses QC Crop quality product providing high levels of sugar and soluble carbon to promote microbial activity and boost soil respiration for healthier, more productive crops.
• Phyta-QC Phyta-Set QC Crop quality product designed to improve crop quality by enhancing nutrient uptake and stimulating photosynthesis.
• Phyta-Boost Plant Food

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% plant-available ammoniacal nitrogen delivery
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• True Organic Products: One of the largest organic fertilizer manufacturers in California, producing liquid and dry organic inputs for certified organic agriculture. Directly competes with COFI's Phytamin and Phyta-Grow lines across the same West Coast commercial-grower customer base.
• Suståne Natural Fertilizer: Manufacturer of organic and natural fertilizers including composted poultry-litter-based and aerobically composted products for organic agriculture. Direct competitor in the certified-organic dry fertilizer segment, with overlapping distribution into commercial produce growers.
• Down to Earth Distributors: Producer of natural and organic fertilizers with a broad SKU portfolio targeting organic growers and lawn/garden retail. Directly comparable to COFI's Phyta-Boost retail line and the smaller-scale commercial-grower use case.
• BioAg: Organic fertilizer and biological input manufacturer focused on certified organic crop production. Overlaps with COFI on liquid organic nitrogen and biological nitrogen-conversion technology, serving commercial organic vegetable and row-crop operations.
• BioFlora: Manufacturer of organic and sustainable fertilizers and soil amendments for agriculture and turf. Competitor in the organic fertilizer segment with comparable liquid product offerings targeting California and Western U.S. growers.

Broad incumbents

• AgroLiquid: Established liquid fertilizer manufacturer with a broad product portfolio serving conventional and specialty agriculture. While not organic-certified, AgroLiquid's liquid nitrogen technology and dealer-distribution model is structurally analogous to COFI's Phytamin platform.
• Wilbur-Ellis: Large U.S. ag-input distributor and formulator with a specialty crop and organic inputs business. Competitor for organic fertilizer distribution, dealer relationships, and shelf space with California and Western U.S. commercial growers.
• Brandt Consolidated: Major agricultural input company producing specialty fertilizers, crop protection, and biologicals. A broader incumbent whose organic-and-biological product lines increasingly intersect with COFI's biological nitrogen and crop-quality portfolio.
• Helena Agri-Enterprises: National ag-input distributor and formulator with significant presence in specialty and high-value crops. Overlaps with COFI as both a competitor and a potential channel partner through its extensive dealer network.

Emerging players

• Marrone Bio Innovations (now ProFarm Group): Biological crop input company producing bio-based fertilizers, biostimulants, and crop protection from biological processes. Compares to COFI's Natural Ammonia platform as a biological, patent-protected nitrogen-and-plant-health solution targeting sustainable agriculture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=california+organid+fertilizers%2C+Inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaOrganicFertilizersInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-orgainc-fertilizers-inc.
• Xx.com/OrganicXpert

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Organic Fertilizers