Kona Organic vs. Christie Organic Consulting: Which Organic Consultant Fits Your Operation?
Both firms help farms and food businesses get and keep organic certification, and both know the organic rules in depth. They differ in where they are based, which markets they know best, and which problems they specialize in. This comparison uses publicly available information as of September 2026.
Background
Christie Organic Consulting is led by Lois Christie and based in Fallbrook, California. Her published CV describes 28 years in the organic industry, including about 20 years as an organic inspector, certification reviewer, and trainer, 11 years farming organically in Baja California, Mexico, and 16 years as a paralegal. The firm has consulted since 2012.
Kona Organic is a national organic certification consulting firm, headquartered in Hawaiʻi, working with farms, handlers, and food brands in all 50 states and overseas. The team is IOIA trained in crops, processing and handling, and international inspection, Demeter approved, and PrimusGFS trained in food safety.
Specialties
Christie Organic Consulting lists noncompliance resolution, mediation, settlement negotiation, and appeals as specialties, supported by legal training. It also offers expert witness services, and has deep experience in Mexico, including Mexico's organic standards, with fluency in Spanish. It covers crops, processing, retail, and wild harvest, plus Canada and EU equivalencies.
Kona Organic focuses on getting operations certified and keeping them certified: writing the Organic System Plan and SOPs, setting up records, yearly certification management, and inspection prep. It also covers Demeter Biodynamic and GAP food safety, and specializes in tropical and specialty crops such as coffee, cacao, fruit, and mushrooms.
Where they work
Christie Organic Consulting works from Southern California, travels, and meets by Zoom. Its strongest regional depth is California and Mexico.
Kona Organic works with operations in all 50 states and US territories, on site or remotely, and with exporters overseas. It has added depth in tropical and specialty crops.
Expert summary
For an operation facing a suspension, a mediation, or an appeal, or one certifying in Mexico or working in Spanish, Christie Organic Consulting brings unusual legal and regional depth. For a farm, handler, or food brand that wants one team from first plan to yearly renewal, a tropical or specialty crop grower, a farm that wants Demeter Biodynamic or GAP alongside organic, or an operation that wants its plan and records done for it, Kona Organic is the stronger fit.
Last updated: October 2026.
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