About Caitlin Slay

Specializations and Experience

    • Certification program management and systems development 

    • Standard analysis and interpretation

    • Certification office hour facilitation

    • Accreditation compliance and collaboration 

    • Adverse action processes including appeals and mediation

    • Developing Regenerative Organic System Plans (ROSPs)

    • Developing OCal System Plans

    • Inspection preparation

    • Record-keeping requirements, including creation of customized record keeping templates, and documentation of social compliance policies and procedures

    • Responding to certifier requests for information

    • Standard Deviation Requests

    • Regenerative Soil Health and Land Management practices

    • Regenerative Farmer and Worker Fairness practices

    • Living Wage calculation and wage gap assessments

    • Contracted labor social compliance and risk assessment

    • Certification Services Manager-Program Manager for OCal and Regenerative Organic Certified®

      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2021- Present

    • Investigative Analyst

      USDA National Organic Program, 2020-2021

    • Interim Investigations Supervisor
      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2019-2020

    • Senior Farm Investigation Specialist
      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2016-2019

    • Farm Certification Team Leader
      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2016-2017

    • Farm Certification Specialist 

      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2015-2016

    • Farm Certification Service Specialist

      California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), 2013-2014

    • Presenter: Can Cannabis be Organic?
      California Cannabis Exhibit, Cal Expo & State Fair, 2023

    • Presenter: OCal Overview, Bacanna-2021, Origins Council-2021

  • SA8000 Training, ECOCERT Academy, 2022

    Social Fairness Training, Equitable Food Initiative and Regenerative Organic Alliance, 2021

    Staff Research Associate, UCSC Environmental Studies Department, 2014-2015

    Organic Crop Inspection Training, International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), 2014

    Integrated Pest Management Intern, Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 2009-2013

    Farm Intern, Fog Line Farms, 2012

    Speaking Tour Coordinator, Semillas, 2011-2012

    Farm Intern, La Semana Farm, 2008