"Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products."
Explore the process and requirements of organic certification standards, which ensure that organic farmers and producers meet national and international organic standards.
Certification Organizations: Overview of certifying bodies like USDA, ECOCERT, etc. which certify organic farms and products.
Standards & Regulations: Overview of the organic standards and regulations that must be followed to receive organic certification.
Organic Farming Practices: Detailing practices like crop rotation, soil health, controlling pests and diseases without synthetic chemicals, and other practices that are important for organic farming.
Organic Farming Techniques: How to implement organic farming practices in conventional, industrial agriculture systems or small-scale subsistence or homestead systems.
Organic Certification Process: A step-by-step explanation of the organic certification process, necessary documents and fees involved.
Organic Product Labeling: The various labeling and marketing strategies available for organic products that meet certification standards.
Organic Marketing Strategies: Effectively marketing your organic product to the right target consumers, including various channels like online, direct marketing or wholesale.
Transition from Conventional Agriculture to Organic Farming: Information and resources for farmers making the transition from conventional to organic farming and how organic certification may impact your farm’s financial performance.
Legal Considerations: Legal considerations related to organic certification, including organic labeling and fraud protection.
Organic Trade Associations and Resources: List of organizations, trade magazines and other resources that support organic certification and organic agriculture.
USDA Organic: This certification is managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and guarantees that crops are grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals. Producers must also avoid genetic modification and soil erosion.
EU Organic: This certification is essential for any products sold within the European Union (EU), and all products must meet specific criteria such as a ban on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and synthetic pesticides.
Soil Association Organic: This is the UK's largest organic certification body and oversees the certification of organic products that meet strict criteria for animal welfare, non-GMO ingredients, and environmental sustainability.
Certified Naturally Grown: This certification is similar to USDA Organic, but its primary focus is promoting small-scale, local agriculture. It is a grassroots alternative to the government-managed certification.
Demeter: This certification is unique as it focuses on biodynamic farming practices that seek to promote soil health and ecological sustainability. It goes beyond organic farming standards and includes spiritual and cosmic elements.
Fairtrade Organic: This certification ensures that farmers are paid fairly and that their products meet strict environmental standards. It is governed by the Fairtrade International organization.
"In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers, and restaurants."
"A lesser-known counterpart is certification for organic textiles (or organic clothing) that includes certification of textile products made from organically grown fibers."
"Requirements vary from country to country and generally involve a set of production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging, and shipping."
"avoidance of synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives), irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge"
"use of farmland that has been free from prohibited chemical inputs for a number of years (often, three or more)"
"adhering to specific requirements for feed, housing, and breeding"
"keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail)"
"maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products"
"Certified organic producers are subject to the same agricultural, food safety, and other government regulations that apply to non-certified producers."
"Certified organic foods are not necessarily pesticide-free, as certain pesticides are allowed."
"in the European Union more commonly known as ecological or biological products"
"In some countries, certification is overseen by the government."
"avoidance of synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives), irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge"
"use of farmland that has been free from prohibited chemical inputs for a number of years (often, three or more)"
"adhering to specific requirements for feed, housing, and breeding"
"keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail)"
"maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products"
"Certified organic producers are subject to the same agricultural, food safety, and other government regulations that apply to non-certified producers."
"Certified organic foods are not necessarily pesticide-free, as certain pesticides are allowed."