CCOF growers must keep complete yield, harvest and sales records, undergo at least two inspections prior to certification and, thereafter, annual inspections to verify that they meet CCOF requirements. To see if a producer is organic, you can ask the grower or the retailer to show you a current certificate. Produce sold as organic in California must carry the labeling Grown in accordance with the California Foods Act of 1990 . This labeling simply means that the grower is registered with the State as an organic producer. Registered producers are not necessarily certified, and may not ever have been inspected to verify their organic claims.
Certification protects consumers from fraud.
Consumers who buy produce with the CCOF sunflower seal know the growers of the produce meet stringent standards of production and record keeping. Although growers may claim their produce is organic without certification, the extra step offers you assurance that the grower has been required to document and demonstrate the organic claim. CCOF can provide back-up documentation on many aspects of its members growing practices. CCOF isn't the only certifying organization. However, until that law is implemented, standards will vary among certifiers.