Organically Speaking

Written by: Chris Solt, PCO Certified Organic, Executive Director

Organic has always asked more of us than compliance alone. It calls for care, humility, and a long view rooted in the health of soil and water, the well-being of animals, and the dignity of the people whose livelihoods depend on the land. As I reflect on my first months serving as Executive Director of Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO), I continue to be struck by how alive those values are across our community and by the responsibility we share in stewarding them well.

In the previous issue of Organic Matters, I expressed the belief that certification is not a finish line, but the beginning of a much larger conversation. That belief has only deepened. Everywhere I go, on farms, at farmer-centric shows and conferences, in processing facilities, and around kitchen tables, I meet individuals who have chosen organic not because it is easy, but because it is right. I hear stories of farmers balancing soil health with economic realities, processors navigating evolving regulatory requirements, and businesses working to maintain integrity in complex markets. There is persistence in these conversations. There is creativity. There is conviction.

At our Fall 2025 board retreat, as Joe Dickson shared in his President’s Message, the Board reaffirmed two core commitments that will guide PCO’s next chapter: unwavering support for the principles of organic agriculture and a determination to deliver truly best in class service to those who entrust us with their certification. These priorities are not in tension. They reinforce one another. Organic integrity without strong service erodes trust. Service without rigor weakens the standard. Our responsibility is to hold both consistently, professionally, and with care.

Listening has been central to this season. Over the past months, I have made it a priority to engage directly with farmers and clients at farmer-focused shows and conferences across Pennsylvania and beyond. These are not symbolic visits. They are opportunities to hear candid feedback, understand emerging challenges, and see firsthand how certification intersects with day to day realities. What I have heard reinforces something simple and profound: farmers want integrity in the organic seal, and they also want clarity, predictability, and respect in the certification process.

That clarity matters. Regulatory complexity has increased. Market pressures have intensified. Expectations from buyers and consumers continue to evolve. In this environment, our role is not merely to administer compliance. It is to steward trust, trust in the organic seal and trust in the experience of working with PCO.

Strengthening how we communicate has therefore become a clear priority. Clearer, more transparent, and kinder client communication is not a soft aspiration. It is operational discipline. Transparency means explaining decisions in ways that are understandable and grounded in the standard. Clarity means setting expectations early and consistently. Kindness means remembering that behind every file number is a person, a farmer, a family, a team, working hard to do the right thing. We will always uphold the rigor of the organic standard. How we deliver that rigor matters just as much.

Beyond listening at the field level, I have also had the opportunity to advocate for federal legislation that centers the needs of organic farmers across the United States. Organic does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by policy decisions that influence market fairness, enforcement, research investment, and access to resources. When we advocate for measures that strengthen organic integrity or reduce barriers for producers, we reinforce the same principles that guide our certification work. The experiences shared by farmers at conferences and gatherings inform those conversations in Washington and beyond. Policy must reflect the realities on the ground.

This year also brings transition. As we prepare for the end of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) funding, we are taking a strategic look at how PCO can continue supporting education, outreach, and technical assistance in sustainable ways. TOPP has strengthened the organic pipeline and supported new and transitioning producers. Its conclusion requires thoughtful planning, assessing what we have learned, identifying what must continue, and stewarding our resources responsibly. Preparing for the end of TOPP is not simply a budgeting exercise. It is an opportunity to reaffirm how we invest in the future of organic and prioritize programs that deliver meaningful impact.

Equally important has been listening inward. Delivering best in class service externally depends on a strong internal foundation. Over the past months, I have worked to deepen my understanding of the needs of the PCO team, their workflows, pressures, ideas for improvement, and the systems that either support or hinder their effectiveness. Certification work is detailed and demanding. It requires technical expertise, sound judgment, and careful documentation. It also requires systems that are aligned, efficient, and clear.

Our 2026 organizational goals reflect this internal focus. We are clarifying priorities, refining workflows, and strengthening coordination so our teams can operate with greater consistency and confidence. When internal systems are strong, client experiences improve. When roles are clear, communication becomes more effective. When processes are streamlined, responsiveness increases without sacrificing rigor. Operational excellence is not separate from organic integrity. It is one of its pillars.

Organic agriculture will continue to face scrutiny, change, and opportunity. As markets evolve and enforcement expectations sharpen, certification bodies must demonstrate professionalism, credibility, and adaptability. At the same time, we must remain grounded in the foundational principles that gave rise to this movement: health, ecological balance, fairness, and care. These are not marketing phrases. They are commitments that shape decisions in the field, in the office, and in policy discussions.

The farmers and businesses we serve are innovators and stewards of biodiversity. They are economic anchors in rural and urban communities alike. They are proving every day that agriculture can be productive, resilient, and responsible. Our role at PCO is to support that work with credible certification, thoughtful guidance, meaningful partnership, and a client experience that reflects the values of the movement itself.

For me personally, this role continues to require humility and gratitude. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in PCO by more than 1,500 farms and businesses who allow us to be part of their organic journey. I am grateful for the leadership of our Board and the clarity of its direction. I am grateful for a staff whose expertise and dedication make this work possible. And I am grateful for the farmers and businesses who challenge us to be clearer, more responsive, more consistent, and more aligned with the realities they face.

Certification will never be the end of the story. It is a framework, a shared agreement about what we stand for and how we demonstrate it. The deeper story is about soil health restored, water protected, animals treated with care, and communities strengthened through fair and resilient agricultural systems. That story is still being written.

As we move through this year of alignment and preparation, strengthening systems, refining communication, preparing for the conclusion of TOPP, and continuing to advocate for policies that center organic farmers, my commitment remains the same as when I first stepped into this role: to show up, to listen deeply, and to steward both integrity and service with equal seriousness.

Organic asks much of us. It always has. Together, I am confident we can meet that responsibility with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the principles that brought us here.

Image Credit: Spencer Demera