Organic Transition Resources
The process of becoming certified organic can raise a lot of questions, from how to grow crops to understanding the rules. PCO is leading the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. This program helps farms that are switching to organic by offering support, information, and helpful tools.
TOPP doesn’t promote any one certifier—it gives neutral, reliable information about organic rules and certification.
Check out some of our favorite TOPP resources, along with other free tools made for farms that are new to the organic transition.
Deciding To Certify? Learn more with these helpful tools and articles:
Take the online readiness assessment from Midwest TOPP for Crops and find out! This assessment is formatted like a Cosmo Quiz and aims to give operations an overview of their own organic certification readiness by highlighting and calling out strengths and weaknesses in their practices. The assessment asks questions regarding different aspects of certification, including farm parcels, record keeping, soil & water management, seeds & planting stock, pest management, harvest and transport, handling, inputs, materials, and equipment.
Head over to the USDA AMS video series, which covers different perspectives on the organic certification process all the way through the decision to certify.
The process of certifying can be overwhelming, and operations may not know that they have the freedom to choose a certifier. (You don’t have to choose an agency solely because they are based in your state.) Check out this fact sheet on tips on choosing a certifier that includes important questions and considerations, you may not have thought to ask before reaching out.
Check out the Choosing a certifier fact sheet from MW TOPP, “Organic Certification & Tips for Choosing a Certifier.”Check out these oldie but goodie resources that give a clear overview of regulations. Follow the links to the guides by certification scope:
- Guide for Organic Crop Producers (ATTRA/USDA)
- Guide for Organic Livestock Producers (ATTRA/USDA)
- Guide for Organic Processors (ATTRA/USDA)
- Labeling Organic Products (USDA NOP/AMS)
Just For Handlers and Processors!
New here? Handlers and Processors, we understand. Check out this page just for you!
Organic Transition Resources for Handlers/ProcessorsExplore the Organic Regulations
Officially, 7 CFR Part 205. The Code of Federal Regulations housed online by the National Archives spells out what it means to be certified organic under the USDA’s National Organic Program. This may not be the first place to start when getting into organic, but bookmark this page for later in your computer search. (The regs are dense and full of legal language. Sometimes it can be hard to think through the applications of the law, just from reading the regulations alone. That’s why the NOP has a handbook and further explainers.) Keep in mind, organic guides, training, and your certifier will always refer to the regulations when describing organic practices and compliance, so you’ll find yourself here eventually.
NOP Handbook provides further clarification and guidance on how the organic regulations apply to operations. The Handbook is nonbinding and operators should refer to the regulations.
After you’ve covered the basics of the regulations, you’ll want to begin to think about how to record your practices so that you’ll be able to show your certifier evidence of your practices. See:
- The Trail of Records: Recordkeeping for Organic Crop Certification from NW TOPP.
- NW TOPP’s Trail of Records Video Series includes case studies and interviews with a variety of operations.
Curious about organic inputs?
Head over to this webpage dedicated to learn more.
Learn More About Organic Inputs
Other Resources
- Organic certification and Gap certification? How do they relate and overlap? Check out this resource from NW TOPP “Gap Vs. Certification What’s the Difference?”
- Worried about that treated lumber on your farm? Check this out from NW TOPP: The Certified Scoop: Treated Lumber.