Activities Not Covered by Crop Certification
What Activities Will Make Your Noncompliant With Your Organic Crop Certification
Summary: If your farm creates multi-ingredient products using ingredients you didn’t grow (even if they’re certified organic), you’ll need handler certification. This includes products like jams, pickles with added sauces, or cider made from purchased fruit. You also need handler certification if you process both organic and non-organic products (except packaging). On-farm handler certification doesn’t automatically allow you to handle other farms’ products.
When does crop certification no longer cover your activities?
Crop certification only covers activities involving crops you grow on your farm and basic handling like washing, drying, storing, or packing.
If you’re making a finished product using multiple ingredients, especially ingredients purchased or sourced from another farm, you are required to obtain organic handler (processing) certification.
Essentially, if you use anything other than on-farm produced organic agricultural ingredients, water, and salt, you must obtain organic handler (processing) certification.
Examples of when handler certification is required
You need handler certification if you:
- Buy organic apples from a neighboring farm to make cider on your own orchard
- Pickle your own cucumbers but add a certified organic hot sauce that you didn’t produce
- Mix your own herbs with off-farm spices to make a tea blend
- Bake organic bread using purchased certified organic flour
Even if all the ingredients are certified organic, combining multiple ingredients—where some come from outside your farm—moves the activity beyond what crop certification allows.
What if I process both organic and non-organic products?
If you’re doing any processing (besides packaging) of both organic and non-organic products, you must apply for handler certification.
This helps prevent contamination and ensures proper separation, documentation, and compliance.
Can I handle products from other farms with on-farm handler certification?
No. On-farm handler certification is limited to the activities listed in your Organic System Plan.
You cannot automatically:
- Receive products from other certified organic farms
- Process or label products grown elsewhere
Doing so could put your certification or the other farm’s certification at risk. Always check with your certifier before handling outside products.
Summary: When you need handler certification
| Scenario | Handler Certification Needed? |
|---|---|
| Making cider from purchased organic apples | ✅ Yes |
| Pickling farm-grown cucumbers and adding purchased hot sauce | ✅ Yes |
| Packaging your own carrots on-farm | ❌ No |
| Making herb blends with off-farm ingredients | ✅ Yes |
| Packaging both organic and non-organic carrots | ❌ No (Crop cert is enough) |
| Cooking or baking with any non-farm organic ingredients | ✅ Yes |
| Handling another farm’s certified products | ✅ Yes (and only if approved) |
Click here to learn more about Activities Covered by Organic Crop Certification.
Questions? We can help.
📞 Contact Oregon Tilth to confirm whether your activity qualifies under crop certification or requires handler certification.
👉 Apply for Handler Certification or Contact Us to speak with a certification expert.