The USDA National Organic Program is a marketing program with established regulations and monitoring guidelines:

• The NOP is a marketing program housed within the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
• The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) was passed by congress in 1990.
• The OFPA required the USDA to develop national standards for organically produced agricultural products to assure consumers that agricultural products marketed as organic meet consistent, uniform standards.
• The OFPA and the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations require that agricultural products labeled as organic originate from farms or handling operations certified by a state or private entity that has been accredited by USDA.
• Neither the OFPA nor the NOP regulations address food safety or nutrition.
• More at: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/Consumerhome.html

Get Certified: Contact a Certifying Agent
The first step to becoming certified is to contact a USDA Accredited Certifying Agent.
 
Farmers and handlers wishing to become certified will be asked to submit specific information to the agent, such as:

• Type of operation.
• History of substances applied to land for the previous 3 years.
• Organic products being grown, raised, or processed.
• Applicant's organic plan, including practices and substances used in production, monitoring practices and record-keeping system. 

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