Organic Certification Organizations

Ccof is a nonprofit organization that advances organic agriculture for a healthy world through organic certification education advocacy and promotion.

Organic certification organizations. In the united states certified organic means that a nonprofit state or private certification organization such as qai which has been accredited by the united states department of agriculture usda has verified that products labeled as organic meet strictly defined organic standards. All online vendors of organic goods must also be certified regardless of revenues. Organic certification allows a farm or processing facility to sell label and represent their products as organicthe organic brand provides consumers with more choices in the marketplace. We are new yorks leading nonprofit organization providing programs and services to promote sustainable local organic food and farmingour coalition of farmers gardeners consumers and businesses join together to create a food system thats ecologically sound and economically viable.

Farmers ranchers and processors may choose to work with any usda accredited certifying agent. In general any business directly involved in food production can be certified including seed suppliers farmers food processors retailers and restaurants. Nearly 80 agents are currently authorized to certify farms and businesses to the usda organic regulations. Historical annual lists of certified organic operations and monthly snapshots of the full data set are available for download on the data history page.

The usda protects consumer options by protecting the organic seal. Listings come from usda accredited certifying agents. Most usda accredited certifying agents are allowed to certify farms and businesses anywhere in the world. Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products.

Only certified operations can sell label or represent products as organic unless exempt or excluded from certification. For more information read the usdas what is organic certification sheet. Top 10 organic certificates worldwide certifications are designed to regulate and expedite the production and sale of organically raised food to consumers. Organic certification addresses a growing worldwide demand for organic food.

Over 1400 certified farms and businesses with the usda certified organic label. 1446 as of july 1 2016. Farmers gardeners and consumers working together. In many cases certification is the law if you plan to grow process or sell your own organic products.

Each individual certification has a distinct service mark and organic businesses often use their certifications to their marketing advantage.