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NBSPA BECOMES MULCH & SOIL COUNCIL
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On July 1, Mulch & Soil Council (MSC) became the new name for the former National Bark & Soil Producers Association (NBSPA). This latest change is the second time in 29 years that the association has updated its identity to match its expanding membership and growing market audience. Founded in 1972 as the National Bark Producers Association (NBPA), the non-profit trade group originally focused on promoting the interests of companies processing and marketing horticultural mulch products. As the industry expanded in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, more companies became involved in producing consumer and commercial potting soils in addition to mulch. In 1987, the NBPA became the National Bark & Soil Producers Association (NBSPA). The Association continued to grow along with a the burgeoning markets for mulch and soil products. The MSC's current name change grew from the development of a voluntary national product certification program in 1997 as part of its on-going efforts to promote product quality. After defining product quality guidelines and uniform industry labeling practices, the Standards and Certification Committees recommended that a name change would help build public recognition for the organization and its members. In selecting its new name, the Board of Directors broadened "Bark" into "Mulch" in order to recognize the variety of quality products available in the current horticultural mulch market. The Board of Directors also discontinued using the word "Producer" to give better recognition to the many different member interests serviced by the organization. Finally, "Association" was replaced with "Council" to emphasize the public information function of the group. National Certification Program The first project of the MSC will be the launch of its national voluntary product certification program designed to provide third-party assurance of product compliance with industry-accepted labeling and nomenclature. The certification program is being launched in July of 2001. Certified products are expected to appear in the marketplace beginning in the fourth quarter of 2001, prior to the spring rush for gardening in 2002. According to a MSC President Ron Adams of Ball Seed Company, the Council’s national certification program is the first step in assuring both retailers and end consumers that product labeling presents a fair representation of the actual product in the bag. |
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Serving Industry Since 1972
Mulch and Soil Council 10210 Leatherleaf Ct., Manassas, VA 20111-4245 TEL: (703) 257-0111 / FAX: (703) 257-0213 info@mulchandsoilcouncil.org |
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Website created by Ryan LaGasse 2004
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