Farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations are great places for customers interested in locally sourced products to find and purchase organic products. Many of these consumers appreciate knowing how and where the products that they purchase were grown, and the organic cer ca on status of the farmers.

Farmers and vendors who use the word “organic” to describe their products or prac ces in the marketplace must comply with the USDA organic regulations. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) states that no person may affix a label to, or provide other marketing information concerning, an agricultural product if that label or information implies, directly or indirectly, that such product is produced and handled using organic methods, except in accordance with the OFPA.

Most farms and business that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified. The only exception is for producers and handlers that sell less than $5,000 per year of organic products. These operations may choose to obtain certification but they are not required to do so. If you are uncertain if you need to be certified, see NOP’s brochure “Do I Need to Be Certified Organic?”