Does Going Organic Make Sense for Small Scale Food Processors?

As grocery stores and food shops shift into selling through online marketplaces, more value-added producers have been reaching out to me because they are being told they need some sort of environmental certification in order to be carried by a retailer. 

It makes sense. When all a customer is making a purchasing decision based on a couple of photos and a 500 word description, how do they distinguish between your product and a product that looks pretty similar and is maybe cheaper? One big way is by looking for a certification logo. 

Here is a roundup of some of the biggest questions I get about organic certification from small scale food producers. 

1. Do all my products need to get certified in order for me to be organic?

No. There are some products that are really hard to get certified because of their ingredient list. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get certified and carry the logo on your other products. You’ll just have to show how you set up controls so that there is no contamination between non-organic and organic products. 

2. How much does it cost to be certified organic?

This is a bit of a tricky one to answer because every certifier has a different cost structure. Expect to pay a couple thousand dollars to get certified and a couple thousand dollars a year to maintain that certification. I’ll tell you, though, the biggest cost related to organic certification IMO is the labor involved in maintaining the required records and preparing for your annual inspection. This is where it makes sense to invest up front in creating a really streamlined process for capturing all that info throughout the year so you’re ready for an inspection without a lot of stress and last minute leg work. 

3. I’m already operating organically, so why should I get certified?

Whether or not you get certified is a very personal decision and I wouldn’t be so bold as to say it is the right choice for everyone. However, I do want to offer a shift in thinking. You shouldn’t decide whether or not you get certified organic from a place of annoyance (“I already do x, y, or z. I don’t want to pay someone to verify that.). You shouldn’t make the decision from a place of rebellion either (“I don’t want to have to prove anything to anybody.”) Making this decision is 100% about earning and maintaining your customer’s trust, especially as the distance between you and your customer grows. 

Has not being certified organic held you back? If you’ve been wanting to get certified, but would like someone else to do all the leg work for you set up a Complimentary Clarity Call and I can tell you how we can get your application for certification submitted over the next 8 weeks.

Cheers, 

Ellen