Organic Processing and Handling Archives - Transition to Organic Partnership Program

Virtual Farm Tour – Love is Love Cooperative Farm

In this virtual farm tour, hear tips on organic production, marketing, and infrastructure from seasoned organic farmer and Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (SE TOPP) Mentor Joe Reynolds of Love is Love Cooperative Farm. Located in Mansfield Georgia, Love is Love uses innovative approaches to organic farming. Joe discusses their strategies for community engagement,… Continue reading Virtual Farm Tour – Love is Love Cooperative Farm

Webinar: Buyer Perspectives on Organic Dairy Sourcing

Join us for an engaging follow-up to the previous webinar, “Markets ROI of Organic Transition for Dairy Farmers,” where we dive deeper into the perspectives of buyers in the organic dairy market. Attendees will gather insights from multiple buyers across the U.S. on their sourcing needs, learn about key factors that influence buyer decisions, and… Continue reading Webinar: Buyer Perspectives on Organic Dairy Sourcing

Glossary of Terms for Organic Certification for Handlers

Many organizations, organic certifiers, and even the USDA organic regulations provide glossaries of terms for organic certification, but many of those terms are not relevant to handling operations. In this resource, Glossary of Terms for Organic Certification for Handlers, you will find lists of common words, phrases, terms, and acronyms used in the organic certification… Continue reading Glossary of Terms for Organic Certification for Handlers

Certification Process Overview for Handlers

Obtaining organic certification as a handler or processor can feel like a daunting task. Understanding the certification process from beginning to end can provide confidence in starting the endeavor. In this resource, we detail the full certification process from application to determination, and lay out the players who you will encounter along the way. This… Continue reading Certification Process Overview for Handlers

A Newcomer’s Guide to Organic Regulations for Handlers

Every certified handling operation in the United States is required to comply with the USDA organic regulations. These rules ensure the integrity of the organic supply chain and marketplace, but studying legal terminology and language can induce a headache in even the most savvy reader. In this guide, we will take a plain language tour… Continue reading A Newcomer’s Guide to Organic Regulations for Handlers

Midwest Meat Summit Organic Meat Opportunities

These two resources outline what the market opportunities are for organic meat and what processors need to do to meet that demand. Links are included for technical assistance for meat processors.

Podcast Series 2: “Organic Odyssey”

Ongoing podcast series produced by Cal Poly Students. Episodes are released monthly. Season 2 began on September 23, 2024.

Organic is Regenerative Toolkit

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development's Mark Stout and his wife Robin join federal employees from multiple agencies to glean collard greens from a field at Miller Farms in Clinton, Md., July 14, 2017. The produce was picked up by Bread for the City, an agency that runs a food pantry serving an average of 8,049 people per month. USDA photo by Preston Keres

Many people, including some consumers, funders, and policy makers, don’t always have a clear understanding of what organic means. It is critical for the organic industry to present unified, science- and standards-backed messaging in our communication about organic. Our suite of messaging tools are designed to help organic advocates clearly articulate the benefits of organic… Continue reading Organic is Regenerative Toolkit

Webinar – Allowed Inputs for Organic Farms

This webinar is designed to help organic farmers navigate the complexities of input selection for organic production. Discover how OMRI certifies products, the benefits of using OMRI-listed inputs, and guidelines for maintaining organic compliance. Learn about the certifier’s role in input review, including the decision-making process and the types of questions they can and cannot… Continue reading Webinar – Allowed Inputs for Organic Farms

Fraud Prevention Insights with Harriet Behar

In this episode of the Acres USA podcast, host Taylor Henry interviews Harriet Behar, an organic inspector and educator, about sustainable farming practices and the prevention of organic fraud in the supply chain. Behar shares her extensive experience with organic farming, describing her work on her certified organic farm and her involvement with the National… Continue reading Fraud Prevention Insights with Harriet Behar