How do you get certified to be organic?
Sunday, June 1st, 2008 at
10:04 pm
I’m thinking about selling veggies this summer. I was wondering if anybody can tell me how to get certified organic? If I use cow “presents” do the cows have to be organic too. How far back does the “organic” go?
Tagged with: Certified • Organic
Filed under: Organic Food news
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All I know is that “organic products” have to be at least 95% organic to be considered organic.
Call the Independent Organic Inspector’s Office 1-406 436 2301 and they should be able to help you.
Tell them where you are located and they should tell you who to call to come and inspect your garden.
You should be able to find some information here at least to get you started: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO&
You have to contact an organic certifying agency first. you can get the contact information form the USDA (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop).
In a nutshell it takes 3 years of transition to become organic. During this time you will manage your farm as if it is certified organic. You will fill out the USDA NOP forms that ask questions such as what is your 4+ year crop rotation plan, what is your fertility plan, where did you get all of your inputs (fertilizers, seeds, grain for live stock etc., etc..). You will keep daily records of what you did on the farm, you will have a farm map. You will get an annual inspection.
You will not use raw manure within 120 days of harvest of any crop. Your compost will have to be done in a certain way.
You will do all of this for 3 years and not be able to market your crops as organic. Only after the 3 year transition period can you call your crops organic