Lesson 1: The certification process
Overview
Completing this course will give you a big head start on the certification process, but you'll still have to follow the basic steps required of anyone seeking to produce and sell certified organic products:
1. Obtain and review application documents from one or more certifiers
2. Read the NOP Standards
3. Document land-use practices and create a farm map. Get soil and water tests, if needed.
4. Develop an Organic System Plan (including an Organic Livestock Plan and/or Organic Handling Plan if necessary)
5. Submit your complete application packet, including payment
6. Go through the initial inspection
7. Correct any non-compliances as requested by your certifier
8. Renew your certification annually by updating your Organic System Plan, paying your fees and getting re-inspected
In this lesson we'll review key elements of the NOP Standards, consider the different factors that go into choosing a certification agent and outline the organic farm inspection process. We'll suggest ways to make your first inspection go smoothly and discuss procedures for complaints and other issues within the certification regulation.
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Certified Growth
How many organic farms are there in the United States? The USDA Economic Research Service reported 8,493 certified operations in the United States in 2005. Data suggest there may be an equal or slightly greater number of non-certified organic operations, for a total of perhaps 20,000 organic farms nationwide.
If you haven't yet done so, now is a good time to read through the NOP Standards. You can access the full text of the Standards, along with the Organic Foods Production Act itself (with amendments), by visiting the NOP webpage. To read or print the Standards, choose "View Regulatory Text Only"--this is the heart of the Standards as they relate to production and marketing. It comes to about 60 pages, including lists of approved and prohibited substances.
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