Organic Farming 101   >  Organic Certification

Organic Farming 101: Organic Certification

What Organic Certification Means

"Certified organic" refers to produce grown on farms that have been inspected by an independent, third-party certifier. The certifier ensures that a certified organic farm complies with the strict National Organic Program standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

To earn certification, organic farms must:

• Have long-term soil management plans


• Establish buffers between their fields and nearby conventional farms


• Meet specific requirements for labeling and record keeping


• Use no chemical herbicides, fumigants, or synthetic fertilizers, and no unapproved pesticides on soil or produce


• Keep detailed records of all the materials used in their growing operations


• Observe a 3-year transition period for fields that have been farmed conventionally (during this time, the field must be farmed organically, and produce grown on this land may not be labeled "organic" until the 3-year transition period is completed)

Annual certification inspections enforce the USDA's strict guidelines, so consumers have the security of knowing exactly what goes into their certified organic food.

Earthbound Farm's fields and packing plants are certified by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).

 

• Fertilization
• Weed Control
• Disease Control
• Pest Control
• Organic Certification
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