State of California. CDFA

What State of California. CDFA does

DFA of California is a non-profit trade association founded in 1908 that serves California's dried fruit and tree nut processors through commodity inspection, food safety services, and member advocacy. Originally established as the Dried Fruit Association of California during the 1907 financial crisis, the organization rebranded in 1966 to reflect its expanded scope into tree nuts, and now represents 70+ member companies across almonds, walnuts, pistachios, figs, prunes, and raisins, including major processors such as Blue Diamond Growers, Diamond Foods, Sunsweet Growers, The Wonderful Company, and Sun-Maid Growers.

The organization operates three core service lines: third-party Commodity Inspection Services graded to USDA or custom standards for both incoming grower-payment and outgoing buyer-certification transactions; laboratory testing and food safety training through its Safe Food Alliance division (including aflatoxin analysis and Pre-Export Checks for EU-bound almonds); and member programs such as the Red Seal quality certification, Arbitration Services, the Export Trading Company (ETC), the Pinnacle Club recognition program, and the DFA Scholarship Foundation. Its technology stack centers on a StarLIMS-based Laboratory Information Management System providing customizable Certificates of Analysis, enhanced sample submission, and real-time tracking, along with the proprietary DFA Moisture Tester method recognized by CODEX since 1982.

DFA's business model combines recurring annual membership dues with fee-for-service inspection, laboratory testing, and training revenue, distributed through three California offices (Sacramento headquarters, Yuba City, and Fresno). The association derives additional non-dues revenue from its annual Safe Food California Conference and from cross-border export certification work spanning 10+ countries. As a membership-governed non-profit, it has no equity backers or external funding rounds; governance rests with a board elected from member companies. The organization recently refreshed leadership (new CEO Brendan O'Donnell effective August 2024), expanded member benefits under its "New Day for DFA" initiative (October 2022), and formalized a global sustainability partnership with the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (March 2026).

Name

State of California. CDFA

Legal name

Dried Fruit Association of California

Website

https://dfaofcalifornia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DFA of California is a 117-year-old non-profit trade association serving 70+ California dried fruit and tree nut processors with third-party commodity inspection, laboratory testing, food safety training, arbitration, and export certification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Inspection and Food Safety Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Safety Certification Bodies (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF) (AFALAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Import/Export & Border Compliance Support (FSVP, Prior Notice, Health Certificates) (AFALADAE), Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Commodity inspection services
• Food safety training
• Laboratory testing services
• Dried fruit processing
• Tree nut processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from dried fruit, tree nut, and specialty crop processors providing access to all DFA services including inspection, training, arbitration, and member benefits.
2. Commodity Inspection Services: Third-party inspection services for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, figs, prunes, and raisins based on USDA standards or custom specifications. Services include incoming inspections for grower payments and outgoing inspections for certification.
3. Laboratory Testing Services: Laboratory testing services provided through Safe Food Alliance division, including aflatoxin analysis and other food safety testing. Members receive special rates on in-house testing.
4. Food Safety Training: Training and consulting services including HACCP, GMPs, Sanitation Fundamentals, PCQI courses. Members receive two complimentary registrations per training and discounted rates on additional services.
5. Export Trading Company Services: Support services for member firms engaged in exporting through Export Trading Company, facilitating commodity group collaboration and discussion of export market opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DFA of California is a non-profit trade association providing third-party commodity inspection, food safety services, laboratory testing, and training/consulting for dried fruit and tree nut processors. It operates the Safe Food Alliance division for laboratory testing, food safety training, and certification audits, and serves as a neutral arbiter between growers and processors with over 113 years of industry presence since 1908.

Product overview

DFA of California operates as a non-profit trade association offering a portfolio of inspection, food safety, and member services for the dried fruit and tree nut industry. The core offerings include third-party Commodity Inspection Services (for almonds, figs, pistachios, prunes, raisins, and walnuts), Safe Food Alliance division providing laboratory testing and food safety training/consulting, the Red Seal Program for quality certification, Export Trading Company support services, and Member Audit Programs. Additional services include Arbitration Services, the Pinnacle Club recognition program, DFA Advantage discount program, the annual Safe Food California Conference, and the Scholarship Foundation. DFA of California was founded in 1908 and serves as one of California's oldest agricultural trade associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Food Alliance: A division of DFA of California providing laboratory testing, training, consulting, and third-party certification audits for food safety.
• Safe Food Certifications
• Red Seal Program
• Export Trading Company (ETC)
• DFA Scholarship Foundation
• Safe Food California Conference

Products and services

• Commodity Inspection Services Third-party inspection services for dried fruit and tree nut commodities including almonds, figs, pistachios, prunes, raisins, and walnuts, providing both incoming (grower payment determination) and outgoing (buyer certification) inspections graded to USDA standards or custom specifications.
• Arbitration Services Binding arbitration services for DFA members and non-members with written agreements to resolve product or services disputes through a panel of three neutral DFA member arbiters.
• Red Seal Program Product quality certification program enabling companies to display the Red Seal mark, indicating that facility food safety and product quality have been verified through assessment processes meeting agreed-upon standards that exceed baseline USDA grade criteria.
• Export Trading Company (ETC) Export support services for member firms engaged in exporting, including export committees for figs, prunes, and walnuts that discuss sales, marketing, export specifications, contract terms, expenses, and legislation affecting export markets.
• Member Audit Program Free member audits designed on FDA food safety requirements (21 CFR Part 117), helping members prepare for FSMA, HACCP, and GFSI certification with annual third-party audit certificates.
• Laboratory Services Full-service laboratory testing facility serving the dried fruit and tree nut industry since the 1950s, recognized as a reference laboratory offering aflatoxin testing, Pre-Export Checks (PEC) for EU-bound almonds, and quick turnaround on sample analysis.
• Training & Consulting Services Food safety training and consulting services including public, onsite, and web-based courses covering HACCP, GMPs, sanitation fundamentals, PCQI, and monthly member refresher training with on-demand recording access.
• Safe Food Alliance A division of DFA of California offering full-service food safety solutions including laboratory testing, training and consulting services, and third-party certification audits for food processors and manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aflatoxin testing for EU-bound almonds through Almond Board of California Pre-Export Checks program reduces port delays
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Partnership to support the INC Sustainability Certification program, reinforcing shared commitment to advancing responsible practices across the global tree nut and dried fruit industry. DFA of California's auditing group, Safe Food Certifications, was recognized as official auditing partners for the INC Sustainability Certification. Both organizations committed to transparency, measurable ESG excellence, and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.
• Safe Food AlliancecoreOthersSafe Food Alliance is a division of DFA of California providing comprehensive food safety services including laboratory testing, training, consulting, and certification audits. Safe Food Alliance operates the StarLIMS laboratory information management system and provides third-party testing services to the industry.
• Safe Food CertificationscoreOthersSeparate company from Safe Food Alliance providing third-party certification audits. Operates as auditing partner for the INC Sustainability Certification program in collaboration with DFA of California.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Pistachio Growers: Trade association for U.S. pistachio growers handling promotion, research, and standards work; directly comparable as a California-rooted tree nut commodity organization.
• California Walnut Board: Federal marketing order for California walnuts providing industry-wide research, grading standards, and export support; closely mirrors DFA's walnut inspection and handler services.
• Raisin Administrative Committee: Federal marketing order program for California raisins overseeing quality inspection and volume regulation; a direct peer for dried fruit inspection and grading services.
• Almond Board of California: Federal marketing order/check-off organization for California almonds; operates parallel inspection, research, and marketing functions for the almond industry and is a direct comparable commodity trade body.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: World's largest food testing laboratory network offering aflatoxin, contaminant, and microbiology testing with global reach; directly overlaps DFA's laboratory testing services.
• Mérieux NutriSciences: International food testing and certification company (subsidiary of bioMérieux) providing laboratory, audit, and consulting services to food processors globally.
• SGS: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification across food, agriculture, and commodities; competes with DFA's Safe Food Alliance lab on laboratory testing and certification for processors.
• Intertek: Total quality assurance provider with global agricultural commodity inspection, food testing, and certification services; a broad incumbent comparable to DFA's TIC offerings.
• NSF International: Global food safety certification body offering GFSI-recognized audits, HACCP consulting, and lab testing; competes with DFA's Safe Food Certifications audit division.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) company with agri-food and commodity inspection lines; competes with DFA on third-party agricultural commodity inspection.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dfa-of-california
• Instagraminstagram.com/dfaofca/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about State of California. CDFA