Organic Certification Resources

The Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner's Office has an organic certification program for qualified agricultural producers and handlers.

Local contact: Michelle Lawson

Michelle.lawson@yolocounty.org

Yolo Certified Organic Agriculture 70 Cottonwood St., Woodland, CA 95695 PHONE: 530-666-8140 FAX: 530-662-6094

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) also provides organic certification for qualified growers.

Organic Certification is an option if you choose. In California, in order to be certified organic, you must follow 2 regulations.

You must be registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) (regardless of gross sales). https://organic.cdfa.ca.gov/organicreg/
You must be certified through an organic certifying agent

(in CA, typically CCOF https://www.ccof.org/ and Yolo County http://www.yolocounty.org/general-government/general-government-departments/agriculture-cooperative-extension/agriculture-and-weights-measures/yolo-certified-organic-agriculture). Exemptions to certification apply if gross sales are less than $5,000 annually. If you are exempt, you still must comply with organic practices, and may not use the USDA logo stating you are certified organic. The words “certified organic” may not be used. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2%20Exempt%20Producers%20FINAL%20RGK%20V2.pdf

Organic certification requires the completion of an Organic Systems Plan (OSP), submitted to the certifying agency. Your Organic Systems Plan details your inputs, field map, crop plan, materials list, soil management plan, pest management plan, harvest, post-harvest, and transport plan, along with an explanation of your record keeping system. Traceability and label requirements apply in organic systems. https://www.ccof.org/documents/develop-compliant-organic-labels

Your property and business will be inspected annually by the certifying agency, and you must register with CDFA each year.