What certified kind does

Certified Kind LLC is a third-party organic certification body serving the legal cannabis industry, founded in 2014 to fill the gap left by federal cannabis prohibition, which prevents USDA-accredited certifiers from operating in the space. The company certifies cannabis growers, processors, and manufacturers against standards modeled on IFOAM, USDA National Organic Program, EU, Canada, and Mexico organic frameworks, with its certification mark marketed as the closest equivalent to a federal organic seal available to cannabis operators.

The company's service portfolio spans grower and processor certification, a Material Review Service that evaluates input products for organic compliance, and an Organic Farming Education program supported by operator-facing content such as the Hemp Russet Mite Pest Guide and The Big Green List. Its internal materials database includes more than 4,000 reviewed inputs, accumulated over a decade of operation and supported by a team with over 40 years of combined USDA Organic certification experience. Distribution is direct-to-operator through an application process that includes on-site inspection, with content marketing and educational resources used to attract prospects.

Revenue is generated through recurring annual certification fees: $3,000 per year for standard growers and processors, $2,000 per year for a micro-tier aimed at smaller operators, and ancillary fees tied to material review and educational services. Certified Kind operates as a privately held, bootstrapped LLC with no disclosed funding rounds, leadership hires, or acquisitions, indicating a small, founder-operated organization with limited disclosed scale.

Name

certified kind

Legal name

Certified Kind LLC

Website

https://certified-kind.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Certified Kind is a third-party organic certification body founded in 2014 that certifies cannabis growers, processors, and manufacturers against standards modeled on USDA NOP, IFOAM, EU, Canada, and Mexico organic frameworks, serving legal cannabis operators in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Cannabis Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traceability & Chain-of-Custody Certification (Mass Balance, Segregation, Identity Preserved) (AFALAMAK), Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI)

Keywords

• Organic cannabis certification
• Cannabis farm certification
• Cannabis processor certification
• USDA organic equivalent
• Organic input materials

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: Annual certification fees for growers and processors. Fees include inspection and certification administration combined into one flat rate. Annual renewal required with onsite inspection to verify continued compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Certified Kind provides third-party organic certification and supporting education for legal cannabis producers. It certifies farms (indoor, outdoor, greenhouse), post-harvest processors, manufacturers, and distributors against its proprietary Certified Kind standard, which is modeled after IFOAM Norms, USDA NOP, and organic standards of the EU, Canada, and Mexico, and is positioned as the industry's only true equivalent to USDA Organic for cannabis. Certification is delivered through an annual subscription process that includes onsite inspection and compliance review, with tiered flat-rate pricing for Standard Farms ($3,000), Micro-tier Farms ($2,000), and Processors/Manufacturers/Distributors ($3,000).

Product overview

Certified Kind offers a unified certification ecosystem for the organic cannabis industry, centered on its third-party certification program for growers, processors, and manufacturers. The company provides certification services for farms (indoor, outdoor, greenhouse), post-harvest processors, and manufacturers, with an equivalent standard to USDA Organic. Supporting the certification core are complementary services including Organic Farming Education, Material Review, and educational resources such as pest control guides and The Big Green List reference document. All services are governed by the Certified Kind standard, which is modeled after IFOAM Norms, USDA NOP, and organic standards of the EU, Canada, and Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cannabis Grower Certification Third-party certification program for licensed cannabis growers (indoor, outdoor, greenhouse) that verifies crops are produced to the Certified Kind standard, equivalent to USDA Organic certification. Successful certification grants use of the Certified Kind logo to promote organically produced product.
• Cannabis Processor/Manufacturer/Distributor Certification Annual certification for cannabis extractors, edibles processors, manufacturers, and distributors that verifies post-harvest activities (sorting, packing, extracting, preparing, cooking) meet Certified Kind standards and addresses contamination and commingling requirements.
• Organic Farming Education Educational program delivered alongside certification that teaches organic farming and processing principles, including building living soils, organic pest management strategies, and contamination/com mingling prevention in processing.
• Material Review Service Review service that verifies soil fertility and pest control materials against OMRI, WSDA Organic Program, and CDFA Organic Input Material program lists, covering more than 4,000 approved inputs for Certified Kind farming.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Tilth: Oregon Tilth is a leading USDA-accredited organic certification agency based in Certified Kind's home state of Oregon, with deep expertise in organic standards and inspection. Comparable in operating model but serves non-cannabis organic producers; potential future competitor if cannabis certification opens.
• Quality Assurance International (QAI): QAI is a major global USDA-accredited organic certification body providing certification across food, supplements, and personal care. Like CCOF and Oregon Tilth, it represents an incumbent that could move into cannabis certification if regulatory barriers change.
• Demeter USA: Demeter USA certifies biodynamic farming and processing operations to standards that go beyond USDA Organic. Comparable as a premium-tier third-party certification in the natural products space, though focused on biodynamic rather than strictly organic cannabis.
• SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is a long-established third-party certification and auditing firm providing services across sustainability, organic, food safety, and cannabis. Comparable as a multi-standard certification provider that already operates in the cannabis sector.
• OCIA International: OCIA International is one of the oldest organic certification agencies in North America, providing USDA NOP and international organic certification. Comparable as an established organic certifier with similar standards-based expertise that could extend to cannabis.
• California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): CCOF is one of the largest USDA-accredited organic certifiers in the U.S., certifying crops, livestock, and processors across many categories. While it cannot certify cannabis under federal rules, it represents the type of established incumbent that could enter the space if cannabis is rescheduled.

Direct peers

• Sun+Earth Certified: Sun+Earth Certified is a nonprofit certification for sun-grown and sustainably cultivated cannabis using regenerative and organic standards. Competes directly with Certified Kind for the organic/sustainable cannabis cultivator segment, particularly outdoor and craft growers.
• Clean Green Certified: Clean Green Certified is the most established cannabis-specific organic certification program in the U.S., offering third-party verification of organic and sustainable cultivation practices for legal cannabis. Direct competitor to Certified Kind in the cannabis organic certification niche.

Others

• OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute): OMRI reviews and lists input materials for use in organic production under USDA NOP. Not a direct competitor but an enabling partner for Certified Kind, which references OMRI's approved materials list as part of its material review service.

Emerging players

• OneCert: OneCert is a USDA-accredited organic certification agency that has explored adjacent categories including cannabis. Comparable in offering third-party organic certification services with similar pricing and inspection-based delivery models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certified-kind-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 certified kind