The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 is working policy toward a national standard for organic production. The goal of this act is to standardize organic production. Currently there are a number of certification groups with their own standards of organic production in the United States. Commercial organic producers are all certified by one verifying system or another. Certificates are necessary because it is impossible to market organic vegetables commercially without this certificate.
Wholesale buyers demand it.
Remember, in order to be certified, guidelines set forth by the organization must be followed. Home gardeners can practice organic production without certification. Most of the vegetables produced are consumed at home with a few marketed at farmers' markets for extra income. Growing Organic Vegetables Seed used in certified organic production must be free of chemical treatments. If a certain crop is unavailable in non-treated form, authorization from the certifier is necessary before making purchase.