Our story begins in the fields of central Pennsylvania,
long before “organic” became a household word.
Photo credit: Spiral Path Farm
Our story begins in the fields of central Pennsylvania, long before “organic” became a household word.
In 1985, a small but committed group of organic farmers in Lancaster County, PA, came together with a shared goal: to protect the integrity of organic farming and support one another in doing it right.
PCO Staff at the 2005 Annual MeetingThey formed a Pennsylvania chapter of the Organic Crop Improvement Association, providing certification services to fellow farmers for the next 15 years. As the organic movement grew, so did the realization that Pennsylvania’s organic community needed an organization rooted right here at home.
That belief took shape in 1997, when members of the chapter incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and gave it a name that reflected both pride and purpose: Pennsylvania Certified Organic.
PCO Certified Organic started humbly, with just 27 members. By the end of that first year, it had certified 54 crop and livestock farms. Momentum followed quickly. Dairy certification was added in 1998, and over time, PCO expanded to serve processors, handlers, distributors, brokers, and producers of mushrooms, maple products, poultry, and more. By 2004, PCO was certifying about 315 Pennsylvania-based operations. That same year, it took a big step outward by offering certification to neighboring states, including Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.
Today, PCO Certified Organic certifies more than 1,600 operations and serves organic businesses across the entire contiguous United States.
We are a USDA-accredited organic certifying agency for growers, processors, and handlers of organic crops, wild crops, livestock, and livestock products.
PCO is also proud to be an accredited certifying agent for OPT Certified Grass-Fed Organic Certification, which is a separate program that builds on organic standards to recognize excellence in grass-fed production.
From its headquarters in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, in Centre County, PCO has grown in both reach and people. What began in 1997 with a single employee is now a dedicated team of 43 staff members and more than 40 inspectors. Each brings a connection to organic agriculture, whether through farming, inspection, or academic training, and all are united by a shared commitment to integrity, transparency, and the future of organic.
What started as a small group of farmers with a big vision has become a trusted national partner in organic certification, still grounded in the values that sparked it all.
PCO Certified Organic is a proud affiliate of…
