Apply for Certification

Thank you for your interest in pursuing organic certification with Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF)!

Check out the certification process and steps.
Click through a presentation about certification with real-life recordkeeping examples from farmers, "meet" certification specialists and inspectors, and learn more about inspections.
VOF encourages producers to read the guidelines to become familiar with organic regulations before applying for certification.

New producers can apply for organic certification through VOF by contacting the office at 802-434-3821 or emailing info@vermontorganic.org.

When reaching out to VOF, please be prepared to answer questions about what product you’d like to get certified, your business name and location, and how to contact you. We will direct you to a certification specialist who is knowledgeable in your type of production, will talk to you about the process, will go over some common stumbling blocks for new producers, as well as answer any questions about the guidelines you might have.

After your talk with a certification specialist, you will be provided with the application, the Organic System Plan (OSP), in a digital or paper format to fill out and return with your certification fee.

Once VOF receives your full application and fee payment a certification specialist will review your application, make comments that will be provided to you, and send your file to an independent inspector. The inspector will reach out to you to schedule a time to look at your production areas and records. Learn more about what happens at an inspection and how to prepare. After the on-site visit, the inspector will write up a report to send to your certification specialist who will review it, identify any improvement areas, and issue your organic certificate.

After your certification has been issued in your first year, it's just a matter of renewing annually. Each year, you'll update your Organic System Plan (OSP), pay the annual certification fee, and have a scheduled inspection. Once you are certified you will remain certified until your certification is surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

It is important that you do not sell or advertise any products as certified organic until you receive your organic certificate.

One-on-One Support

Looking for some support to get started or help throughout the process?

Contact NOFA-VT's Organic Practices Specialist at zea@nofavt.org or 802-419-0081.
Check out our peer-to-peer organic mentorship program! Be matched with an experienced organic producer.

Ready to start your organic certification process with Vermont Organic Farmers? Email info@vermontorganic.org or call 802-434-3821 to get started. We can't wait to connect with you!