Organic food processing company SunOpta Inc.’s Hope, Minnesota facility has become the first food manufacturing facility in the US to receive USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) verification for Non-Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)/Non-Genetically Engineered (GE) products.

USDA granted a 6-month approval for the company’s facility to produce PVP verified Non-GE/GMO food-grade soybeans and corn. SunOpta's soybeans and corn will be the first produced in the US to have the full auditing and verification of the USDA. The company will apply for a verification extension at the end of the initial six months and the company plans to expand the PVP standards at more facilities.

"Becoming the first PVP verified Non-GMO food manufacturing facility in the US is a great honor for SunOpta and consistent with our commitment to Non-GMO and organic food products which are in high demand with today's consumers," said Steve Bromley, CEO of SunOpta. "Having USDA verify that we are complying with our standards ensures that our customers can be confident that they are getting the highest quality Non-GMO soybeans and corn. We look forward to implementing the USDA PVP program at other SunOpta facilities across our vertically integrated platform."

 The USDA program verification makes it possible for SunOpta to label its food-grade soybeans and corn as non-GMO/GE.