USDA Certified Organic: Understanding the Basics (2024)

FAQs

Is USDA certified organic really organic? ›

While there are many marketing claims that add value to foods, consumers can be assured that USDA organic products are verified organic at all steps between the farm and the store.

The entire certification process varies. It typically takes around 6 months but can take longer depending on the timing of your application and the growing season. How much does it cost to get certified? Organic certification costs vary and are often on a sliding scale, based on the size of the operation.

Final answer: A USDA Organic Certification indicates that a product has been produced without synthetic fertilizers, maintains ecological balance, and involves no genetic engineering.

Organic foods are usually good for the environment. But they're often hard on your wallet: The USDA found the costs of organic fruits and vegetables typically run more than 20% higher than conventional produce. Sometimes the difference is much higher, especially for things like organic milk and eggs.

The USDA gained a reputation for inconsistent interpretation and implementation of regulations, which weakened USDA Organic's brand power. Two decades ago, organic supply chains were short and transparent, and their regulations reflected that. That changed as USDA Organics transformed into an $11-billion industry.

USDA regularly audits certifiers to make sure that they are correctly inspecting farms and upholding the integrity of the organic label. To become certified organic, operations go through a rigorous process to show that their practices follow the organic standards.

Becoming certified organic helps producers and handlers:

Receive premium prices for their products. Access fast-growing local, regional, and international markets.

Exempt entities and activities include: Operations that sell $5,000 or less in organic products each year. Retail establishments that sell direct to consumers and do not process organic products. Retail establishments that sell direct to consumers and only process organic products at the final point of sale.

National health certificate appointments will be 30 minutes (except for Hawaii, which is also 1 hour). Most health certificates are valid for 10 days and take 1 to 3 business days to be processed by USDA, so make sure to plan your health certificate appointment and travel date accordingly.

The bottom line is both conventional and organically grown food has pesticide residues on them when they come home from the grocery store or farmers market. What people often think when they purchase and consume organic food is that it is really pesticide-free. That is not the case.

Do organic certificates expire? ›

The statement, “Once certified, a production or handling operation's organic certification continues in effect until surrendered, suspended or revoked.”

These root vegetables tend to absorb the fungicides, herbicides and pesticides in the soil they're grown in. By buying organic varieties, you avoid all of these threats. In case you can't find organic potatoes, try sweet potatoes; they are usually grown with less pesticides overall.

There are four distinct labeling categories for organic products – 100 percent organic, organic, “made with” organic ingredients, and specific organic ingredients. In the “100 Percent Organic” category, products must be made up of 100 percent certified organic ingredients.

Organic: products labeled "organic" must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. The 5% of ingredients which are not organic must be ingredients specified on the National List as noted above, such as salt.

Products can only display these seals if they meet USDA organic certification standards. In conjunction with the USDA organic seal, a product may also be labeled "100 Percent Organic" if all ingredients are certified organic, or "Organic" if the product contains at least 95 percent certified organic ingredients.

The strict standards of 'Certified Organic' provides a quality guarantee that the products are 100% organic. This ensures trust and reliability that what you are buying matches the product quality that it is claiming to be. To label a food 'organic', there is no certification or standards required.

When you see the O Organics^® logo on your organic produce, you can be sure every mouthwatering berry, banana and baby carrot is: Always grown without synthetic pesticides. Farmed to conserve biodiversity. USDA certified organic.