LEARN MORE

Is certified organic 

right for your farm?

Learn about the organic 

regulations, how to apply 

for certification, and the 

support available for 

organic farms, including 

a list of accredited 

certifying agencies at:

www.usda.gov/organic This product was developed by the Notheast Organic Farming 

Association of Vermont with support from the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service, 

National Organic Program. 

Graphic design and cover photo: Cattail Creative.

Interior photos: Left, Michael Sacca; Right, Kimball Brook Farm; 

Background, NOFA-VT Files
WHY BECOME CERTIFIED?

1 Seal of Quality

The certified organic seal 

guarantees certain safeguards 

to your customer, verified by a thirdparty: no GMOs, ionizing radiation, 

or sewage sludge. 

The regulations also require annual 

compliance inspections, have a strict 

list of approved materials, require 

documentation of organic practices, 

and provide guidelines for protecting 

the soil ecology and water quality. 

For consumers concerned about 

this level of traceability in their 

food, certified organic provides that 

important assurance. 

2 Access to Markets

As a certified organic 

grower you have many 

choices about where to sell your 

product. Many buyers, including 

many supermarkets and distributors 

and most cooperatives, seek out and 

promote organic products because 

of the increasing demand for organic 

foods. 

Whatever your marketing goals, there 

are many opportunities when you sell 

as certified organic.

3 Premium Price

in Marketplace

Food labeling can be 

confusing and misleading, which is 

why certified organic is an important 

choice for consumers. 

Consumers are willing to pay a 

premium for food that carries the 

USDA organic seal, or that contains 

organic ingredients. 

Acre for acre, growing produce 

organically has been shown to 

be more profitable than growing 

conventionally, and organic dairy 

prices are also higher and more stable 

for the farmer.

4 Environmental 

Stewardship

As every organic 

farmer knows, organic 

production is more than just the 

avoidance of synthetic fertilizers, 

herbicides and pesticides. It is a whole 

system of soil management and 

nutrient cycling to maintain ecological 

balance, protect water quality, and 

enhance biodiversity. 

Organic practices have the power to 

increase productivity of the land over 

time, building fertility and biodiversity 

for the next generation. 

5 A Growing 

Movement

Join the growing number 

of people who address erosion, 

pollution and reduced soil health 

through holistic practices of soil, stock, 

and crop management. Through 

this choice you will join a supportive 

network of innovators who continue 

to advance organic methods and grow 

the success of the movement through 

their shared purpose. 

Being certified organic is the fullest 

way to demonstrate the best practices 

and careful stewardship you have 

put into your product. Farmers cite 

many reasons to be certified organic, 

among them clear economic, social, 

environmental and family wellbeing 

benefits that come with organic 

methods and the organic seal. 

With its third-party verification of 

quality and purity, certified organic 

holds value in the marketplace and 

may command great prices as a result. 

Beyond profits, organic methods also 

provide clear benefits for farm families, 

their land, and their communities. 

“It costs too much.”

Although there is a fee to be part of the 

program, a significant portion of your 

certification fee can be reimbursed 

through a federal program.

“There’s too much 

paperwork.”

“Keeping good records required by 

my certification makes me a better 

farmer,” is something we hear regularly 

as we ask organic growers about their 

experience with paperwork. 

Efficient, regular note taking can 

help refine decision-making, improve 

management, track profitability by crop, 

and be an important part of food safety. 

“The Organic brand 

doesn’t represent me.”

Certification is not for everyone. 

However, organic pioneers demanded 

and defined the core practices 

we follow today, and the USDA is 

committed to making sure farmers’ 

voices continue to be heard at the 

national level on all aspects of 

certification. 

Addressing 

your concerns

about certification