Thank you for your interest in Pennsylvania Certified Organic's USDA-accredited certification program. PCO is a non-profit organization that educates and certifies organic operations based in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Our mission is to "Assure the Integrity of Organic Products in the Marketplace." Day in and day out we help people understand the organic certification requirements. We've put together this page of information to help you get started on your way toward organic certification. We hope it will answer some of the most frequently asked questions such as:

1. What does “Organic Certification” mean?
2. How do I know if I qualify?
3. How long does it take?
4. How much does it cost?
5. What's the first step?

Although you will find some of the answers on this page, a lot depends on the type of operation you have. No two farms are exactly the same! Our list of Frequently Asked Questions About Organic Certification may also be helpful.

The United States Department of Agriculture requires that anyone who produces, processes or handles organic agricultural products must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifier in order to sell, label or represent their products as "organic." To become certified, an organic producer, processor or handler must develop, implement and maintain an organic system plan. That's where PCO comes in. We provide the information needed to develop an organic system plan.

Once an organic system plan is approved, we send a qualified organic inspector to perform an onsite evaluation of the organic operation. Then, based on review of the organic system plan, inspection report and related documents, PCO will determine whether the operation meets the requirements of organic certification. A certified operation must update its organic system plan and be inspected annually.

PCO's certification program is accredited by the USDA for compliance with the National Organic Program and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide 65.

Organic certification is not a guaranty of quality or purity of the product. Rather, it is evidence of the operation's adherence to a prescribed system of agriculture and food production that involves the building and enhancing of the soil naturally, protection of the environment, humane treatment of animals and avoidance of toxic synthetic substances.

PCO invites comments and questions on organic topics from consumers, growers and anyone interested in organic agriculture. We also encourage you to become involved! PCO is a grass-roots organization. Our committees are made up of volunteers bringing their diverse backgrounds, expertise and ideas together to help PCO work for the organic producers of Pennsylvania. Look on the Membership page of this site for ways you can connect with PCO and organic agriculture.

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The summary of the USDA organic standards, found on the Information Request page under General Information, provides an overview of what is required for organic certification. The full standards and requirements can be found on the USDA - National Organic Program website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop. PCO publishes its own Materials List that can be used to help you decide whether something you are using— fertilizer, biological treatment, feed supplement, etc.— is permitted for use in organic production. The Materials List will be included in your Application Pack.

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The length of time between application and certification may be between 3 and 6 months, depending on the time of year you apply, the completeness of your application and the inspector's schedule for your area. New applicants can apply at any time, though we ask that you apply as early as you can and complete your application in full to avoid delays in processing.

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Click Here for a Complete List of Certification Fees

Certification fees are made up of 3 components:

1. Basic Certification Fee is due with the application.
2. Type of Operation Fees & Sales Assessment - Upon review of the application, it will be determined whether additional fees are due based on the type of operation to be certified. Applicants will not be billed for a Sales Assessment in their initial year of certification. It is calculated in the following year and based on the previous year's gross organic sales.
3. Inspection Fees will be billed to the applicant after the operation is inspeced, for the actual cost of inspection.

Cost-Share Funds may be available to help pay for certification fees through your state’s Department of Agriculture. Click here to download the Cost Share Guidance sheet for more information.

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If you would like more information on certification, see our Information Request Page for an Information Packet.

If you’re ready to apply for organic certification you can order an Application Pack by mail or online.

• To complete the form online, click here.
• To download the Order Form to mail in, click here.

Feel free to contact PCO if you need further information or assistance. We look forward to working with you to achieve organic certification!

If you are not ready to apply for certification, but would like to receive PCO materials and regular updates on organic issues, see the Membership Page for PCO membership information.

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This page last updated 06/29/2010