How is a farm certified organic?

For a farm to be certified organic it must be managed without the use of prohibited fertilizer and pesticide materials for at least three years. An organic farmer is required to use an Organic Farm Plan that outlines all the elements of cropping, fertility, pest management, irrigation, and post-harvest handling. Farmers are responsible for ensuring that any farm inputs they use, such as fertilizers or pesticides, have been approved for use in organic production.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) oversees the National Organic Program, which administers the laws and regulations that govern organic certification standards. Any farm seeking certification is inspected by a USDA-accredited certification agent to ensure the Organic Farm Plan is complete, and all farm inputs, harvests, purchases, and sales are documented.
See our Certification Section for more details on organic certification.