Are you curious about what it takes to become certified organic?

Great! Organic certification is the way to ensure that you can call yourself organic. Most international markets now require independent certification of all organic products, and New Zealand will soon have such legal requirements as well.

Certification is about integrity. It provides a consumer guarantee that organic methods have been followed every step of the way. That trustworthiness is part of the reason that many consumers are willing to pay more for organic products. 

Here are a few steps you can take to work out whether organic certification is the right path for you.

Learn From Successful Organic Producers

If you’re a farmer or grower, go to field days, meet organic farmers and find out what they’re doing. Join organic groups to meet like-minded producers, traders, exporters, and backyard farmers. Learn more about organic groups and how they can help you get involved with organics. 

Take a Course

Formal education is not required to become an organic practitioner, but it can help. Training programmes in New Zealand include the BHU Organic Training College, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and distance learning through Southern Institute of Technology.

Change Things Over Time

You don’t have to go ‘cold turkey’. Many successful organic farmers took some years to transition to organic methods. Start with the organic practices that you’re most comfortable with, and build confidence.

Start With the Soil

Healthy living soils are the foundation of a thriving organic system. Getting your soil health right will help your plants and animals become healthy and resilient – which will help you move away from chemical fixes to pest and disease problems.

Don’t Expect That Products Can Fix Everything

Some growers expect a quick fix, wanting to substitute every synthetic chemical that they use for an equivalent organic input product. Indeed, there is a huge range of certified organic inputs now available for farmers to use. But managing a thriving organic system is about more than just buying the right sprays; you will need to learn to observe your system and work with nature’s cycles.

Contact a Certifier

New Zealand has four organic certifiers, serving a variety of producer needs. Contact the ones you’re interested in to find out their requirements. 

Contact a Consultant

Companies like Helix Organics provide consultation and certification management services that deliver expert advice on scientific and technical issues in Organic food production in New Zealand. 

Keep Good Records

Organic certification requires excellent record-keeping, in order to ensure traceability of your products. That means you will need to keep records of all inputs used in your production process. Your certifier can explain what’s required.

Keep at It

The organic certification process normally requires three years, starting on the registration date that you set with your organic certifier. After three years of certified organic land management, your products can become fully certified organic, and you can proudly market them as organic, receive relevant price premiums and display an organic logo. 

In some cases, if you can prove that you have already been growing organically for a while, an organic certifier may backdate your organic registration date, allowing you to complete the full certification process in less than three years.