Our Farmer Services team has been trained by the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) in Organic Crop & Organic Livestock inspection and can help you achieve Organic certification.

WE CAN HELP WITH:

• Understanding the National Organic Program (NOP) rules and regulations

• Advising you on your recordkeeping system necessary for Organic certification

• Understanding allowed and prohibited substances

• Understanding allowed and prohibited practices

• Understanding prohibited infrastructure materials

• Conducting mock inspections and audits prior to an official inspection

Click HERE to contact the Farmer Services team about receiving Organic technical assistance.

If you are a Georgia farmer and your farm obtained a first-time Organic certification this calendar year (certified on or after Jan. 1, 2024), Georgia Organics will pay for 25% or up to $250 of your certification fees!

If you are a BIPOC farmer, Georgia Organics offers this cost share year-over-year.

Click HERE to contact the Farmer Services team for cost share reimbursement instructions.

You must be Georgia Organics Farmer Member to be eligible for the cost share. Not a Farmer Member? Visit georgiaorganics.org/farmermembership to join today.

Georgia Organics launched the Georgia Certified Organic Network (GCON) in early 2023 with the intention to foster community for Certified Organic farmers within the state.

GCON aims to create Certified Organic grower-to-grower connections in Georgia through organizing engaging discussions around shared best practices, collectively defined challenges, and the identification of necessary resources for success as an Organic grower or farmer.

GCON was formed with current Certified Organic farmers in mind to address the unique challenges they face to stay in compliance with NOP standards, marketing the Organic brand to customers, going through the annual recertification process, and accessing resources specific to Certified Organic farms.

As part of GCON, members receive invitations to networking events and educational workshops for Certified Organic farmers, as well as customer-facing marketing materials for promoting the USDA Certified Organic brand.

You must be a Georgia Organics Farmer Member in order to become a GCON member. Not a Farmer Member? Visit georgiaorganics.org/farmermembership to join today.

Whether you are a transitioning or current Certified Organic farm, the certification process can be overwhelming.

Our team knows how challenging and time-consuming it can be to find the Organic resources you need, so we’ve compiled a list of quick resources here.

For additional resources, visit our Farmer Resources page.

• National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations

  • NOP regulations are the basis of all the Organic standards and rules that Certifiers and Organic growers must follow. Everything your certifier requests from you is rooted in an NOP regulation.

• Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

  • The OMRI search function allows you to easily find out if a substance is prohibited or approved for Organic use. Everything that is OMRI approved is allowed for use in Certified Organic operations. You can filter which country and class (crop, livestock, or processing) in which to search depending on your farm’s Organic scope.

• USDA Certifier Locator

  • Unsure of which certifier to use for your first-time certification, or hoping to find a different certifier for your annual renewal? Use the Certifier Locator to find which USDA-accredited certifying agent operates in Georgia and is the right fit for you.

• Organic Certifiers Pricing Matrix

  • Georgia Organics has compiled this organic certifiers pricing matrix to serve as a guide and general comparison of certifiers active in Georgia for farmers transitioning to organic certification. Please be aware that fees fluctuate over time and with certain conditions. These prices were compiled in March 2023. This document provides a quick glance for certifier comparisons, but please follow the links to the certifiers pricing structures.

• USDA Recordkeeping Templates: Crop Producers | Livestock Producers

  • Recordkeeping is a core part of the Organic certification process. If you’re not sure where to start or what data you need to record, refer to these USDA templates.

• USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

  • OCCSP provides cost share assistance to Organic growers who are obtaining or renewing their certification. You may receive financial assistance of up to 75% or $750 of your certification costs.

• Marketing Resource for Organic Growers: "Why Does Organic Matter?"

  • This resource is designed to help Certified Organic growers educate their organic customers and be accessible as a handout. You can make copies of it, scan it, reference it, or make it your own!