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Beneficial Certifications for Growers

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why not get certified?

Are you more likely to purchase foods that are certified organic, fair trade, or heart healthy? Many consumers are, and they’re even willing to pay extra for products with these labels. As a grower, why not become certified, too? Selling produce with a certified label on it can expand your market and bring many benefits.

There are tons of certification programs out there, but most follow the same set of requirements, which are based off of the Certified Organic guidelines. Here are a few different certifications that you can get as an indoor grower:

Certified Organic

The requirements to be a certified organic grower include:

  • Going three years without the use of prohibited substances
  • Having distinct boundaries between your crops (to prevent cross-contamination)
  • Building soil health and fertility
  • Managing water quality and waste water
  • Planting only organic seeds/stock
  • No genetic modification

These have become the standard set of guidelines for many different certification programs. This certification applies to produce, ornamentals, and indoor and outdoor grow operations.

Becoming certified organic includes complying with all their requirements, sending in an application, and getting your farm inspected by an agent.

Certified Naturally Grown

The requirements for becoming certified naturally grown are very similar to organic, but this process is peer-reviewed by fellow members rather than an agent of the organization. This certification applies to produce, ornamentals, honey, and indoor and outdoor operations.

Food Alliance Certified

There are two different Food Alliance certifications: greenhouse-grown ornamentals and all other crops. These certifications focus on sustainable farming and can be extended to processing and packaging operations. The process is very similar to organic and naturally grown certificates, and includes submitting an application and being inspected by the organization. To keep up with your certification, your farm will have to be inspected every three years.

Sustainability Standard

Like the previous three certifications, the Sustainability Standard requires maintaining soil health, water management, energy usage, and worker safety, but puts an emphasis on integrated pest management (as it is an IPM program). Large corporations such as Walmart, Sysco, Whole Foods, and Kroger recognize the Sustainability Standard.

Good Agricultural Practices Certification

This certification focuses on good microbial safety practices. To achieve this certification, you’ll need to be audited by the USDA. They’ll want your soil and water to have been tested, and they’ll inspect your operation for proper handling techniques and traceability.

Heart-Check Certification

This certification comes from the Ameican Heart Association. For produce to be certified, it has to meet all of the nutritional requirements. The American Heart Association has categories for fresh, frozen, dried, canned, juiced, and otherwise processed fruits and veggies, as well as for nuts.

Certified Biodynamic

This certification is the most restrictive of the bunch. It includes all of the same qualifications as being certified organic, but seeks to create farms that are self-sufficient and don’t rely on any outside materials. It requires energy efficiency, limited use of CO2 enrichment, and biodiversity within your greenhouse. Check this certification out if you are up to a challenge!

Why get certified?

Being able to boast a certification on your product’s label opens up a whole new market and a new group of consumers. It grants you access to new marketing strategies and new ways to advertise your product. The only cons to becoming certified are that it can be expensive and requires a lot of upkeep, but the benefits of certification quickly outweigh the costs.

Need help meeting some of those certification requirements? Contact TC Control Group for fully integrated growing solutions. Our industry-built team of expert engineers, electricians, and programmers are ready to tackle any roadblock head-on.