What does it mean to be an AKA Certified Farmer or Supplier?
If you’re a farmer or wholesale supplier of Kava, quality starts with YOU. It is your duty and responsibility to provide the public with nothing less than the very best Kava that you can grow or supply and to ensure that your product is free from yeast, mold, salmonella, heavy metals, and pesticides. It is also you responsibility to adhere to the FDA’s stringent cGMP regulations during the processing, drying, packaging and repackaging of your material. The best way to get into compliance is to become a member of the American Kava Association and adhere to its bylaws. We’re here to help you with registering your facility with the FDA, providing cGMP advice, and testing services! Becoming an AKA Certified Member allows you to join the ranks of a world class team of the leading academics, manufacturers, farmers, lobbyists, and other specialists who are working collectively to perpetuate the success of the Kava industry worldwide. By becoming a member of the only domestic Kava-centric trade organization, you play an active role in keeping the kava industry robust and healthy through its resurgence in the United States.
How does it benefit my company?
The American Kava Association seal lets your customers know that you are among an elite class of Kava suppliers who are trusted to sell kava of the highest grade, free from contaminants. Simply by complying with the AKA analytical testing requirements, you are able to certify to your customers that your kava is superior to other vendors and therefore worth a premium. Furthermore, by aligning your company with the ranks of top-level academics, expert growers, and other members of the Kava community, you expand your network into areas of the market that would otherwise be inaccessible to just any Kava business. The benefit to your company is apparent in many ways, not to mention your bottom line.
As a member you can:
- Place the AKA seal on your products, website, and other materials to let buyers know that you are a member in good standing with the AKA and adhere by the highest standards in the Kava industry.
- Participate in the formation or modification of the AKA bylaws.
- Participate in any action or activity that the Association takes.
- Benefit from the subsidized pricing on analytical testing and COA.
- Host your test results on the AKA site so that your buyers can verify your products’ potency and purity.
- Benefit from the business you gain from AKA Bars and Retailers.
How does it benefit my customers?
Your customers benefit by having access to excellent grade Kava, rather than mediocre mystery material. Additionally, your customers can begin to understand why they enjoy certain kavas more than others by looking at quantified chemotype and kavalactone data on your certificates of analysis. This data helps them determine which Kavas that they will be most satisfied with before they make a purchase. Happy customers equal more positive reviews on your company and less returns! Everyone wins.
How does it benefit the kava industry as a whole?
Customers prefer to buy from trusted, AKA certified vendors because they know that they are receiving a quality product. Through buying only from AKA certified vendors, it squeezes out the vendors who are in non-compliance with FDA and cGMP laws and others who pose a threat to the Kava industry. These irresponsible vendors will either drop out of the marketplace because customers will demand certified quality, or more optimally, they will see the advantages of compliance. Either way, AKA membership benefits the Kava industry by removing, or converting, non-compliant and irresponsible vendors through creating a strong consumer demand for quality.
What are my responsibilities as an AKA-certified wholesaler?
An American Kava Association approved Farmer / Supplier should:
- Specialize PRIMARILY in Kava.
- Sell noble varieties with a minimum 3 year harvest.
- Sell Tudei varieties as long they are explicitly labeled as such.
- Be registered with FDA or USDA and be in full accordance with cGMP or cGAP – whichever is applicable to their operation. This is to include but not limited to:
- Proper cleaning and drying of root material.
- The disposal of the above ground portions.
- Keeping meticulous records which include grow logs, harvest date, variety, date dried, date powdered, date packaged, batch numbers and shipping records
- Farmers and Vendors who package Kava for sale must also keep meticulous records in accordance with GMP requirements which include quarantine requirements, inventory records, batch numbers, analytical testing, and shipping records.
- Be able to provide current Certificates of Analysis on their Kavas before selling to wholesalers, retailers, Kava serving establishments, or end users.
- Not market kava as an alternative to any other substance or make health or drug claims as defined by FDA.
- Labeling shall include the name / origin / age of the root as well as the FDA / USDA reg number and contact info for the vendor.
Request Membership Today!
Get started by filling out this form. An AKA official will contact you by phone or e-mail to get the ball rolling and establish that you are serious about your dedication to the success of the kava culture and industry in the US market. Lifetime Wholesale membership is a one-time fee of $1000, payable by check, paypal or certain major credit cards.