OSP Development Guide

Organic Certification: Getting Started

 

Organic growers should be certified by an accredited agent. Certification is an assurance to consumers, retailers and brokers of organic produce that the produce marketed as “certified organic” has been grown under standards set by the National Organic Program. Growers with less than $5,000 in annual organic sales are exempted from the certification requirement, but are encouraged to file an affidavit of NOP compliance with a certifying agent.

 

Certification costs will vary, but a significant portion of the cost may be reimbursed by federal cost share program managed by the Farm Service Agency. For more information see: https://go.hawaii.edu/ykV. 

 

Nearly 80 agents are currently authorized to certify farms and businesses to the USDA organic regulations. Most USDA-accredited certifying agents are allowed to certify farms and businesses anywhere in the world. Farmers, ranchers, and processors may choose to work with any USDA-accredited certifying agent. The Organic Certifier Locator is updated regularly by the National Organic Program and can be accessed here: https://go.hawaii.edu/Pky. The table below has been updated to reflect most recent data available regarding the number of certified operations in Hawai’i and the agents who certify them.

 

To apply for organic certification, you must create an Organic System Plan (OSP), which describes how your farming, handling and/or processing practices meet organic standards. The OSP should clearly explain your operating plan, including information on crops, animals, harvests, sales, records, soil-building practices, pest management, health care, pasture, and any other practices related to organic production.

A generic template for an OSP is here: https://go.hawaii.edu/2ky

For assistance in developing your OSP, contact your local UH Cooperative Extension Office https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/Map.aspx

 

For more information on certification, see: www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification

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List of USDA accredited third party certifiers operating in Hawaii. Compiled from: USDA National Organic Program List of certified USDA organic operations (https://organic.ams.usda.gov/Integrity/). Accessed 08/29/2023.