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Organic Agriculture continues to be the fastest growing agricultural sector in the United States and around the world.  Consumer demand in the organic sector has grown by more than 10 percent (in some years, twenty percent or more) for over a decade.  The USDA Economic Research Service estimates that 20,000 natural food stores and 73 percent of conventional grocery stores now offer organic products.

In 1995 the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) defined organic agriculture in the following manner:

"Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."

‘Organic’ is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.

Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues; however, methods are used to minimize pollution from air, soil and water.

Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people."

• Organic Certification Requirements
  
• Organic Guidance Documents
  
• List of NJDA-Certified Organic Operations
  
• Exporting Organic Products From the U.S.
  
• The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey
  

• Organic Certification Requirements
  
  Organic farms and organic “handlers” (food processors and handlers) who produce organic products for sale in the United States must meet the USDA requirements.  These requirements are found in the National Organic Program regulations; 7 CFR Part 205, National Organic Program; Final Rule.  The Final Rule requires any producer or handler selling more than $5,000 worth of product and making an organic claim be certified by an accredited agent.
  
  Click here to see the National Organic Program; Final Rule.
  
  Click here to see the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Organic Certification Rule.
  
  
  
  
• Organic Guidance Documents
  
  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Organic Certification Program has a series of Guidance Documents production (farming) and handling (food processing) clients can use to learn about some of the requirements found in 7 CFR, Part 205, the National Organic Program; Final Rule. Guidance Documents explain what is required by or what is meant by a specific regulation within the rule. Often, specific requirements NJDA may have for their clients to document or verify compliance with a particular rule can be found within the Guidance Documents.
  
  If you have any questions about or recommended changes to any of the Guidance Documents please e-mail the Supervisor at erich.bremer@ag.nj.gov

  NOP Certification Guidance - https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/becoming-certified

  NOP Handbook - https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/handbook

  Producers
  
  All:
  Organic Certification Fact Sheet for Producers
  Producer Application Order Form
  Producer Fee Schedule
  Treated Lumber Guidance 

  
  Crops:
  Buffer Zone Guidance
  Crop Pests, Weeds and Disease Guidance 
  Materials Guidance 
  Compost and Vermicompost in Organic Crop Production
  Seeds and Planting Stock Guidance

  
  Livestock:
  Egg Production Guidance
  
  Handlers
  
  All:
  Guidance for Organic Ingredients
  Handler Fee Schedule
  Handling-Processing Application Order Form 
  Processing/Handling Fact Sheet
  Pest Control Fact Sheet
  
  
  
  
  

• List of NJDA-Certified Organic Operations
  
  Click here to go to the National Organic Program, Certified Organic Operations Search Page.
  
  1.  Click the box for State/Province.

  2.  Type in New Jersey and then hit enter.

   
  
  
  
  

• Exporting Organic Products From the U.S.
  
  To create additional markets for certified organic farmers and businesses, USDA has facilitated trade partnerships with multiple foreign countries:

  Trade Opportunities For USDA Organic Operations

  Exporting Organic Products Factsheet.pdf

  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is approved by the NOP to issue and manage the documents required to ship organic products from the US to foreign markets.

  For any international trade questions and/or help with documentation, contact John Denlinger at (609) 984-2225 or john.denlinger@ag.nj.gov.
  
  
  
  

• The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey
  
  Since the 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has supported the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ) in their mission of organic agriculture outreach, education, and most specifically, certification.  Prior to the National Organic Program, NOFA-NJ issued certifications under their own set of standards.  In December of 2000, the USDA published the National Organic Program regulations, and all certifying agents whom wished to continue their certification mission had to apply to the USDA for National Organic Program Accreditation.  The NOFA-NJ Certification Program became accredited by the USDA to perform organic certifications of crop, livestock, wild crafting, and handling operations during the first round of accreditations in 2002.