Your Path To Organic Certification

Learn more about the certification process in this video!

To become certified organic, a farmer, processor, or handler must create and follow an Organic System Plan (OSP). This plan explains how the operation meets organic standards. That’s where PCO comes in! Our team will provide clear guidance, helpful forms, and support to walk you through each step of building your plan.

After we review and approve your OSP, we schedule an on-site inspection with a qualified organic inspector. The inspector visits your operation to ensure your practices align with your plan. We then review the inspection report and all related documents to decide if your operation meets organic requirements. Once you are certified, you will update your plan and complete an inspection each year to keep your certification active.

Organic certification does not guarantee that a product is higher quality or completely pure. Instead, it shows that your operation follows strict organic standards. These standards focus on building healthy soil, protecting the environment, treating animals humanely, and avoiding most synthetic substances.

The total process takes 22-24 weeks, and the PCO team is your guide along the way.

PCO certifies operations in accordance with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, a set of rules for the production, handling, and labeling of organic agricultural products in the United States. The NOP also maintains a handbook of additional guidance and instructions for those who own, manage, or certify organic operations to assist in complying with the regulations. Additional resources and information about organic certification can be found on the USDA AMS website

Two people holding hands in a wheat field under a cloudy sky.

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Farms

Organic crops (including pasture, hay, row crops, produce, transplants, sprouts, microgreens, cut flowers, etc.) must be harvested from land that has been free of substances prohibited in organic production for at least 36 months. Thorough records of seed and input purchases, input applications, planting, harvest, storage, sales, etc. are often an essential part of any certified crop production operation.
Dairy animals, slaughter-stock, fiber animals, and poultry may be certified organic under the “livestock” scope. Poultry must be managed organically from the second day of life. All other non-dairy animals must be managed organically from the last third of gestation to be eligible for organic certification. Dairy animals may transition to organic certification by being managed organically for 12 months. All livestock producers must have a sufficient animal identification system and maintain thorough records of purchased animals and feed, outdoor access, health and medical treatments, production and sales, etc.
Guide for Organic Crop Producers
Guide For Organic Livestock Producers
The USDA Organic Integrity Database can be used to search for a specific certified organic farm or business, or search for an operation with specific characteristics. If you plan to source organic products or ingredients from specific suppliers, this website can be used to verify the current organic certification status of each supplier.

Operations planning to produce organic crops will need to obtain certification under the “crops” scope. Similarly, those producing organic livestock products will need certification under the “livestock” scope.

To become certified for organic crop and/or livestock production, PCO will work with you to verify that your products are produced and handled in accordance with National Organic Program standards.

Processor/Handler

Most operations that sell, process, package, or label organic products will need to obtain certification under the processor/handler scope. To become certified, PCO will work with you to verify that your products are produced and handled in accordance with National Organic Program standards.

Processing facilities can apply for certification at any time, as long as they are able to meet all organic requirements—regardless of when non-organic products were last handled or processed. For operations that handle both organic and non-organic products, PCO will review your practices to ensure there are effective measures in place to prevent contamination or commingling.

Maintaining clear and thorough records—such as ingredient sourcing, production activities, sales, equipment cleaning, and pest management—is an important part of operating a certified organic processing or handling facility.

This Guide for Organic Processors provides an overview of requirements for organic processors and handlers.
The USDA provide an overview of the rules and regulations on Organic Labeling.
The USDA Organic Integrity Database can be used to search fora specific certified organic farm or business, or search for an operation with specific characteristics. If you plan to source organic products or ingredients from specific suppliers, this website can be used to verify the current organic certification status of each supplier.
Check out PCO’s resources for Processor/Handlers!

Learn more about the Organic System Plan (OSP) in this video!

Flowchart illustrating the organic certification process with steps: Request, Discuss, Submit, Screening, Review, Final Review, Inspection, and Certification, each represented by icons and descriptive text.

Your Path To Organic Certification