FDA Approval and Organic Farming Processes

Welcome to our guide to safe, sustainable, and fully compliant organic farming. This manual provides a comprehensive approach to achieving and maintaining USDA Organic Certification while aligning your operations with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). It is designed for farmers, growers, and producers who are committed to organic principles and food safety excellence.

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Regulatory Overview
Organic certification in the United States is overseen by the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), which outlines strict standards for farming, processing, and labeling organic products. Meanwhile, the FDA regulates the safety of food products under the FSMA, especially for farms handling fresh produce, livestock products, or any raw agricultural commodities that enter the food supply chain. Complying with both USDA and FDA ensures not only organic integrity but also safe, traceable food production.

Land Management and Soil Health
Organic farming starts with healthy soil. You must avoid all synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and GMOs. Instead, utilize natural compost, crop rotation, green manures, and cover cropping to build fertility. Maintain soil organic matter and test regularly for nutrient balance. All compost must be properly cured and managed to avoid pathogen risks—especially when used near edible crops. Aligning with FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule, you should document compost temperatures and turning procedures, especially for animal-based compost, to ensure microbial safety.

Organic Crop Production
Only certified organic seeds and planting materials may be used unless unavailable, in which case untreated conventional seed is acceptable with documentation. Pest, disease, and weed management must be done through cultural practices (e.g., intercropping), mechanical controls (e.g., hand weeding, flame weeding), and biological agents (e.g., beneficial insects). All inputs—fertilizers, soil amendments, pest control substances—must be verified as approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). You must also establish physical buffer zones between organic and conventional plots to prevent contamination via drift or runoff. Water used for irrigation must be clean and tested regularly, as per FDA’s microbial quality standards.

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Post-Harvest Handling and Food Safety
After harvest, crops must be handled in a way that maintains organic integrity and meets FDA sanitation standards. Facilities and equipment used to wash, sort, and pack produce must be cleaned and sanitized using FDA-approved substances. Organic and non-organic products must be clearly labeled and physically separated to avoid accidental co-mingling. Cold storage units must be monitored for temperature stability, and logs must be kept for all cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring activities. Personnel must be trained in hygiene and safe handling practices, including proper handwashing, equipment use, and illness reporting.

Recordkeeping and Audit-Ready Documentation
Complete, organized, and transparent records are essential for both USDA organic certification and FDA compliance. Maintain logs of input purchases and applications, seed and feed sources, livestock treatments, compost production, harvest records, storage and transportation details, and employee training sessions. All documentation must be retained for at least 3 to 5 years. Keep your records in both digital and physical form if possible, and ensure that they are accessible in case of inspection by a USDA-accredited certifier or FDA agent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid using any product not approved by OMRI or your certifier. Never apply substances (like herbicides or pest controls) without first verifying their organic compliance. Prevent contamination from neighboring non-organic farms through buffer zones, windbreaks, or physical barriers. Don’t neglect worker hygiene or training—this is a top FSMA violation. Lastly, ensure your traceability system can link every input, crop, and shipment to its source and destination in the event of a recall or audit.

Resources and Tools
Use the USDA Organic Integrity Database to verify certifiers and farm statuses. Refer to the FDA FSMA guidelines for fresh produce safety, and consult the OMRI list for approved materials. Also consider attending training from your local extension service or agricultural university to stay updated on evolving standards.

Templates Including in Our Operations Binder:

• Compost Temperature and Turning Log

• Daily Field Sanitation Checklist

• Employee Hygiene Training Record

• Input Application Record

• Seed and Planting Stock Log

• Harvest and Storage Record

• Traceability Map and Contact List

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By adhering to the practices in this manual, you’ll position your farm not only for organic certification but also for food safety success. Remember, organic farming is not just about what you avoid—it’s about building systems that regenerate the earth, protect consumers, and promote long-term agricultural sustainability.