This information is designed for companies seeking to learn more about what Kosher Certification is, its benefits, and the process and fees to obtain it. 

• What is Kosher?
• What is Kosher Certification?
• Why Obtain Kosher Certification?
• What is the Kosher Certification Process?
• What Costs are Involved?
• Why Choose EarthKosher for Certification? 
   

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What is Kosher?
 
Kosher is a dietary practice that is rooted in the written and oral traditions of the Jewish people (the Torah or Teaching). Kosher literally means "Fit" — a food fit for consumption by an observant Jew, for it is prepared according to the numerous laws that form the Biblical/Rabbinic system of Kosher. 

Here are some of the basics of Kosher law: 

• The Torah forbids the consumption of certain land animals, fowl, fish and the vast majority of insects.
• The Torah forbids the by-products and derivatives of a non-kosher animal.
• The Torah requires kosher land animals or fowl (Cow, Bison, Lamb, Deer, Chicken, Turkey, Duck…) to be slaughtered and prepared in accordance with a specific process.
• The Torah forbids the act of cooking or of eating meat and milk together or benefiting thereby.
• The Torah forbids wine that was used for Idolatry.
• There are also special rules regarding agricultural processes.

However, Kosher laws are not as simple as they appear. 

Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, beans and vegetables are generally considered kosher provided that they are reliably determined to be free of insects. However, there are limited circumstances when even these foods are not kosher. 

Over the ages, Rabbis, with the authority of the Torah, added rabbinic Kosher legislation to address issues of safety, intermarriage, and vulnerability in a hostile population. These laws touched on foods and drinks like: 

• Cheese and Milk
• Bread
• Wine
• Food cooked by Gentiles
  

What is Kosher Certification? 

Kosher certification is the process by which a company ensures that their food can be eaten by individuals who observe the above laws. 

Rabbinic certification and supervision over food production is important because kosher laws are often significantly more complex then they appear. In addition, for observant Jews, only individuals committed wholeheartedly to the Torah can be deemed reliable to enforce the rigorous standards it demands. 

Finally, modern technology has made food production, storage and transportation complicated and Kosher laws need to be addressed in this contemporary context. 

Why Obtain Kosher Certification? 

Obtaining kosher certification will expand your market potential. The major reason for obtaining it is if you can gain more customers than it costs you to obtain the certification. In light of this, we offer an economical and competitive fee structure. 

In addition to observant Jews, many other people, including Muslims, Seventh Day Adventists, vegetarians, vegans and health conscious individuals look to Kosher certification to ensure the quality of the food they consume. 

Reflective of this, the Kosher industry is a 30 Billion dollar market that is growing at 15% a year. Having Kosher certification is a competitive advantage in the ever challenging business environment of the modern food industry.   

What is the Kosher Certification Process?

There are 7 steps in the Kosher Certification process:

1. Request Application
2. Application
3. Application Review
4. On-Site Inspection
5. Contract Negotiation
6. Contract Signing
7. Continuous Monitoring

The details of each of these steps are described below.

Note that your company will not have to spend any money until you understand what you will be required to do and have been fully informed of the ongoing costs of the certification process.

1. Request Application.

Fill out the online application request form to give us your basic information. We will then send you a detailed application via email. 

2. Application.

As you complete the application, we make ourselves available for free ongoing phone consultations to answer any questions you have. This application will require you to provide us with an extensive amount of information some of which may be confidential. Note that we have already sent you our non-disclosure agreement as part of the application.

3. Application Review.

Upon receiving your application we review:

• Every ingredient that is used to manufacture your products.
• The cleansing agents you utilize on your machinery.
• The storage, transportation and production facilities you employ.
• The exact production processes you employ.

We then communicate to you the following:

• Which of your products will at present qualify for certification.
• Which of your products if any may need some changes in ingredients or production processes.
• What our fee structure and schedule will be.

These will be our preliminary assessments, pending the on-site inspection.

Note that you do not have to spend any money until you understand any changes required and the ongoing costs of the certification process.

4. On-site Inspection.

Once we have reviewed your application with you, if you choose to proceed, we will do a verification on-site inspection. This inspection will act as the first of a series of inspections that you will have each year. The inspection fee will be determined based on your location, the number of products and the number of facilities and will be communicated to you when your application is reviewed.

After the completion of the On-Site Inspection, we provide you with a 2-part report:

1. A confirmation of which of your products are already kosher and can readily receive certification.
2. A report of the procedural changes or ingredient substitutions necessary to obtain Kosher certification for products not in adherence with Kosher laws.

5. Contract Negotiation.

The general parameters of our contract are as follows:

• Contract shows a list of the products that will be under our certification.
• Contract details our licensing and inspection fees and schedule.
• Contract protects you from arbitrary fee increases and canceling of our Kosher certification.
• Contract provides guidelines for using our kosher trademark.

6. Contract Signing.

When the contract is signed and the fees are paid, you are immediately entitled to use our federally registered trademark to identify your products as certified kosher. We provide you with: our company logo, a letter of kosher certification, free advertisement on our website and provide customer support for any inquiries regarding the kosher certification status of your products.

7. Continuous Monitoring.

As you can see, the application and on-site review process is the most time consuming element of your certification process. The good news is that once you have received our certification it will be smooth sailing unless you make changes to the status quo.

Once you are certified, one of the benefits we bring you is our periodic unannounced site-inspections. The fact that we do these spot checks is one of the most important factors in maintaining the credibility of your kosher certification with the public that trusts that certification. 

What Costs are Involved?

Our fees are divided into two categories:

1. 1x Initial application fee.
2. Annual licensing fee.

We will quote your fee after we review your application.

In general, our annual Kosher Certification fees will range from $1,750-$3,500 per year it depends on each companies specifics. We do our utmost to make our Kosher certification a viable long term option for each of our clients. 

Why Choose EarthKosher for Certification?

• We specialize in the kosher certification of companies that meet exceptional health and environmental standards.
• We value health, environmental sustainability and compassion for animals.
• We deeply believe in what you are doing and want to help you accomplish your calling.
• We will earn your trust and will exceed your expectations.
• We will promote your company through our internet site to health conscious and educated consumers.
• We offer a service of true value for a reasonable fee.
• We are friendly people who you will enjoy working with.
• We pay attention to our clients and are highly responsive to their needs. 
• Our Kosher standards and procedures are respected in the world at large and in the Orthodox Jewish world.