As the No. 1 brand in hydroponics nutrients, we know we can’t rest on our laurels. That’s why in May 2017 we announced the introduction of our Organic OIM line, starting with some of our most popular products (and more to come).

This includes two new products:

• Big Bud Organic^® OIM
• Bud Candy Organic^™ OIM

And two of our best-selling and most popular organic products:

• Iguana Juice Organic^™ Grow OIM & Iguana Juice Organic^™ Bloom OIM
• Ancient Earth® Organic OIM

Our founder and CEO Michael BigMike Straumietis explains…

“Many store owners and growers have been asking us for an expanded organics line and frankly, we held off releasing these products until I knew we could release the very best organic products AND ensure they met the highest standards available.

So, unlike many other companies who claim their products are “organic,” ours truly are organic and are certified Organic OIM by California’s Organic Input Material (OIM) Program.

The feedback we’ve received from growers on our beta team is outstanding. We believe our products will outperform any other “organic” line in the market, whether they’re truly organic or just using the word ‘organic’ as a marketing tactic.”

Today’s article will explain why this is such a big deal and how it benefits you, me and growers all over the world.

Why Organic OIM is Such a Big Deal…

California’s OIM program is largely considered the strictest organic certification there is.

And that means all growers—no matter where you live in the world—are guaranteed a better, cleaner, more pure nutrient with the Organic OIM line.

That’s because for every product that gets the Organic OIM label, Advanced Nutrients has to go through a multi-part, painstaking process for certification.

This process includes:

• Our on-staff PhDs and compliance experts list each and every ingredient used in our proprietary formulations.
• We provide detailed information on the purpose of that ingredient and why we included it (including our proprietary data and irrefutable proof of efficacy).
• We list the manufacturers of each and every ingredient (no small task when many of our products contain ingredients sourced from multiple locations).
• Each of our manufacturing partners submits the exact details directly to the State of California, protecting their trade secrets, on their entire manufacturing process for that one ingredient.
• We submit—in excruciating detail—every step of our manufacturing methods from start to finish, detailing how every ingredient enters our possession, where it’s stored, and how it’s used in our unique formulations. Of course we have to provide documentation and proof of each part of our manufacturing process.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as they say.

Once a company’s product receives OIM Certification, a host of regulatory compliance requirements follows the product for the life of the manufacturing process and the product’s life on the shelves.

The Need for Organic OIM Certification

A couple years ago, some very successful California fertilizer companies claimed they were producing organic fertilizers.

It turns out they were spiking their “organic” nutrients with disallowed substances like synthetic nitrogen.

They had been running this scheme for YEARS tricking farmers and watchdogs alike.

It was bad. Real bad. To quote one news article, it was like, “the Bernie Madoff of the organic farming world.” People were arrested, federal fraud cases were filed. Fines were paid. People went to prison. And the public was rightly outraged.

Organic farming is one of California’s top assets.

In fact, a USDA 2014 census report on organic farming revealed California has 2,805 organic farms with over 687,000 acres devoted to organic crops, making it the #1 state for organic farming. California alone accounted for 41% of all organic sales in 2014.

That’s why it was so important for them to protect it and maintain the highest standards.

California responded by passing more laws and establishing its own organic certification program now known as the Organic Input Material (OIM) program.

In short, instead of relying on third-party certifiers like the nonprofit Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), California developed its own certification program to determine which products sold in CA meet the standards of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

What About Other Advanced Nutrients Organic Products Not Labeled “OIM”?

You may be wondering if the other Advanced Nutrients organic products that don’t have the OIM label are produced to the same high standards… and the answer is yes.

Advanced Nutrients has always been one of the most trusted brands when it comes to 100% organic nutrients.

The only reason all our organic nutrients don’t yet carry the OIM label yet is “time”. As we’ve just discussed, it’s a long, painstaking journey to get through the certification process and it takes a lot of time.

In short, there just hasn’t been enough time to get through the entire OIM certification process yet. But we will.

So What’s The Bottom Line?

The bottom line is that being certified by California’s Organic OIM program is a big deal for businesses, consumers, and the environment.

Because California has so much at stake, it means you can rest assured that when we say Organic OIM we mean it and we can prove it…

So, why care about California’s standards, especially if you live in another state or even in another country?

When you use Advanced Nutrients’ Organic OIM line of products, you can be sure you’re benefitting from the absolute highest-standards in organic certification.

Growers can rest assured they’re feeding clean, pure, and potent organic nutrients to their crops… their gardens won’t be “spiked” with synthetics… and their customers can rest assured their crops are truly 100% Organic OIM.

As the #1 brand in hydroponics nutrients, we know that you expect nothing less from us and we’re proud to deliver.

Who Should Use The Advanced Nutrients Organic Products?

Any grower that wants to grow with 100% organic nutrients, should use the Organic OIM line.

Any one of these would be perfect products for beginners.

It’s important though, especially for beginner growers, to follow the proper feeding schedule to maximize success. Also, all the Organic OIM products can be used with the official Advanced Nutrients hydroponics grow app—BudLabs.

But the Organic OIM line is not just for beginner growers. Advanced growers, commercial growers and anyone else serious about guaranteeing they’re using 100% organic products should adopt this new line too.

In short, anyone who wants to grow Organic crops and wants the best insurance available that their crops are truly, 100% organic and natural.