What is USDA Organic Certification?
The United States Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1990 to establish uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as "organic." The Act authorized a new USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to set national standards for the production, handling, and processing of organically grown agricultural products. All producers who use the "USDA Organic" label must undergo USDA inspection and certification.
Learn more about the USDA National Organic Program
In a nutshell, USDA-approved organic farms:
- must document an audit trail from farm to table
- must be inspected annually
- cannot use conventional (chemical-based) pesticides
- cannot use ionizing radiation
- cannot use synthetic (chemical-based) fertilizers
- cannot use sewage sludge
- cannot produce genetically modified plants
Organically raised animals:
- cannot consume antibiotics
- cannot consume growth hormones
- must eat organic food
- must have access to the outdoors
- cannot be genetically modified
In addition to the above high-level requirements, there are many, many more rules regulating production methods and materials that must be followed. Just to give a few examples: no treated lumber can be used near any vegetables or animals, compost piles must be turned on a specific schedule and must reach specific temperatures, farm equipment must be cleaned to specific standards, crops must follow specific rotation requirements and schedules, pests (e.g. insects, diseases, varmints, etc.) must be controlled via specific materials and methods, and nearly everything must be documented and audited.
