Help Center
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support
Oregon Tilth is committed to providing service throughout the COVID-19 crisis. We’ll do our part to help producers bring safe, high-quality organic food to communities nationwide. We’re here to help each of you through the days ahead. We’re going to work together to keep our communities healthy and safe; let’s support the people behind our food system, rising to the difficult tasks ahead.
There are negative consequences upon all of us — we each are planning for and navigating risk, economic pressure, and trying to be human throughout it all. The collection of resources below will be updated regularly. We’re doing everything possible to keep you connected to the latest information and best practices emerging within the organic sector and beyond.
Updated: December 14, 2020
OTCO Certification Updates | Federal and State Resources | Financial Support, Loans and Grants | Employee Health and Safety | Marketing and Sales | Crop Farms | Dairy Farms | Processors and Handlers
OTCO certification updates
Please contact us if you have questions or concerns regarding your certification, or require special assistance, at any time. Reach out to your client services team or give us a call at (503) 378-0690 for help.
- Oregon Tilth to begin accepting applications on Jan. 4
We will begin accepting applications for most scopes on Monday, January 4, 2021. We’ve been working hard to increase capacity and ensure the safety of our team and clients. We are relieved and excited to start 2021 by opening back up for applications. - July 15, 2020: Oregon Tilth Not Accepting USDA National Organic Program Applications
Due to complications from COVID-19, we will not accept any applications for any USDA NOP scope (crop, livestock, wild harvest, and processing/handling) until further notice. - May 20, 2020: Organic Inspections During COVID-19: Challenges and Solutions Webinar
View the webinar recording (featuring OTCO’s Certification Director Connie Karr) on remote inspections and read the Q+A - May 6, 2020: Update on Oregon Tilth’s COVID-19 Advocacy Efforts for Organic Operators
Recap of efforts to secure resources and financial support for organic food and farm businesses - May 4, 2020: Notice of Remote and Hybrid Inspections
Update regarding our next steps for conducting remote (virtual) audits with conditional on-site inspections due to the COVID-19 crisis - April 8, 2020: Organic-Approved Cleaners, Sanitizers and Disinfectants
What can (and can’t) be used in organic, including a list of all OTCO-approved sanitizers - March 30, 2020: Suspension of Full On-Site Inspections
Update regarding the our suspension of full on-site, physical inspections due to the COVID-19 crisis - March 16, 2020: Oregon Tilth Updates of Office Closure and COVID-19 Changes
Our offices will be closed through July 6, 2020, with staff working within our all-remote structure
Federal and state resources
- Local Food Systems Response to COVID
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service along with the University of Kentucky launched a resource hub for local food systems, sharing innovations and best practices developed on the ground in response to COVID-related shifts in local markets - Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A checklist for FDA-regulated human and animal food operations to use when assessing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when restarting operations after a shut down or when reassessing operations because of changes due to the COVID-19 public health emergency - USDA COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Organic Farms and Businesses
Provides a short list of resource centers and financial assistance - USDA Farmers to Family Food Box Program
The USDA will invite proposals from farms offering to supply commodity boxes to nonprofit organizations, identified by the farm, on a mutually agreeable, recurring schedule - Coronavirus.gov (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Main website with information regarding COVID-19 in the U.S. - U.S. Department of Agriculture COVID-19 FAQ and Actions
FAQ and actions taken to date for the USDA - U.S. Food and Drug Administration COVID-19
FAQ related to food safety - U.S. Small Business Administration, Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Small business guidance and loan resources - USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Crop Insurance
USDA RMA offers remote assistance and authorizes flexibility for farmers and ranchers - USDA Farm Service Agency (FMA)
USDA FMA makes changes to loan, disaster, conservation and safety net programs for COVID-19 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Disinfectants for use against COVID-19 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers and COVID-19
Information regarding USDA service centers, including NCRS, FSA and RD - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Summary resources, actions for state agriculture departments related to COVID-19
Financial support, grants and loans
- USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) | NSAC’s Guide for Applying to CFAP
CFAP provides direct aid (payments, not loans) to agricultural producers affected by price declines and additional marketing costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Deadline: August 28, 2020) - U.S. Small Business Administration: CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Options
Includes the Paycheck Protection Program (pay employees, cover mortgage and rent payments, and cover utility costs) that can be 100 percent forgivable, debt relief programs, and express loan advances - Healthy Food Financing Initiative Grants
The Reinvestment Fund will provide $3 million in small grants for food retail and food enterprises improving access to healthy foods in underserved areas, creating and preserving quality jobs, and revitalizing low‐income communities - Food and Land Sovereignty Resource List for COVID-19
Soul Fire Farm, the Black Farmer Fund, and the Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust have organized a collection of resources for COVID-19 as well as a Mutual Aid Survey - Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) partnered with Verizon to offer multiple rounds of grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations, or until other more permanent financing becomes available - Local Funding Opportunities Round-up by LISC
Regularly updated funding opportunities and resources - American Farmland Trust Farmer Relief Fund
Award small and mid-size direct-market farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis - KIVA 0% Interest Loans
Crowd-funded, 0 percent interest loans (up to $15,000) - Honeycomb Crowdfunded Small Business Relief Loan
Community-sourced loans for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus - Native American Agriculture Fund
Request for applications due by June 1, 2020 for eligible recipients in the areas of business assistance, agricultural education, technical support and advocacy services
- Food Animal Concerns Trust Mini-Grants
FACT is accepting applications (waitlist) for mini-grants of up to $500 from livestock and poultry farmers
Employee health and safety
- Navigating Farm Employment Law during COVID-19
Discusses OSHA guidance, paid sick and family leave, federal relief programs and employment law obligations - U.S. Department of Labor & U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Information on how to prepare workplaces and protect employees - U.S. Department of Labor, The Wage and Hour Division
Common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act - National Center for Farmworker Health
- Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus (CDC)
- Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer to Fight COVID-19
Searchable map from the Distilled Spirits Council to find distilleries making hand sanitizer for local communities and beyond to fight COVID-19 - Slow the Spread Food Safety Posters (English/Spanish)
Print resources from the CDC to post in the workplace - Food Safety on the Farm During COVID-19
A collection of resources from UCANR/UC Berkeley that includes guidelines, posters, checklists, SOPs, and information for customers - Podcast Series: Legal Resilience on the Farm through COVID-19
Hosted by Farm Commons, this podcast series includes episodes on sick leave on the farm, health screening and unemployment on the farm, and managing workers on the farm during COVID-19
Markets and sales
- Online Sales Platforms for Direct Market Farmers
Oregon Tilth webinar provides an overview of options and key questions for farmers to consider when looking at direct-to-consumer online sales - National Young Farmers Coalition List of Online Sales Platforms
- COVID-19 U.S. Organic Commodity Market and Risks Outlook
Mercaris provides a free report on challenges for producers such as beginning spring planting, supply chain uncertainty for grain marketing, changes in organic consumer demand, organic imports, and the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 fall harvest - Ecofarm’s Farming During COVID-19 Webinar Series
Presented on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30pm PST, discusses adapting to a shifting marketplace - Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
Connecticut Department of Agriculture provides short summary of guidance for farm and distribution preparedness as well as recommendations developed for farmers’ markets - Farmers Markets Coalition Updates
The Coalition is posting regular updates, best practices, and resources for farmers market operations for farmers and consumers
Crop farms
- CSA Support Information for Farmers
Portland Area CSA Coalition and the Oregon State University Small Farms Program share info and resources for newbies to CSA and farm businesses with strong CSA programs - Liability for transmission of COVID-19 to customers of farm and food businesses
Farm Commons discusses farms or food businesses liability if their actions lead to a customer contracting COVID-19; the recording shares steps to minimize legal risk, and examines the role of insurance - Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to COVID-19
University of Vermont Extension provides a collection of information to help guide the fruit and vegetable farming community, in particular on produce safety - Small Farms, Local Food, and COVID-19
Faculty in the Oregon State University Center for Small Farms and Community Food systems are working with community partners to provide current information that is relevant for small farms and local food systems - Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences Resources
Factsheets and best practices for farms and the greater food industry - United Fresh: Produce Industry COVID-19 Resources
- Novel Coronavirus Prevention and Control for Farms
Info resources from Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development - Organic-Approved Cleaners, Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Quick reference article on what can (and can’t) be used in organic, including a list of all OTCO-approved sanitizers - ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Resource Library
ATTRA’s made entire library of more than 500 publications for farmers free, with publications for all stages of your farm enterprise - Farm Aid’s State-by-State List of Resources
Dairy farms
- IDFA Member Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Daily updates from the International Dairy Foods Association on topics ranging from transportation and food safety to employee management and labeling - National Milk Producers Federation Coronavirus Resources
Includes a a dairy farmer handbook on COVID-19 prevention and management, recommended protocols for dairy farms, information on transportation and hauling, guidance for veterinarians and producers, employee management, and more - Organic-Approved Cleaners, Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Quick reference article on what can (and can’t) be used in organic, including a list of all OTCO-approved sanitizers - ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Resource Library
ATTRA’s made entire library of more than 500 publications for farmers free, with publications for all stages of your farm enterprise - Farm Aid’s State-by-State List of Resources
Processors and handlers
- Organic-Approved Cleaners, Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Quick reference article on what can (and can’t) be used in organic - Using Lean Tools in Food Businesses during COVID-19
An Oregon Tilth webinar for all food businesses, sharing tips and tools for assessing safety and implementing best practices at different production stages - COVID-19 and the Shifting Retail Landscape
The Organic Trade Association examines Q1 data to see how the retail landscape has changed under COVID-19; the discussion covers threats to the organic supply chain, top product categories, and buying patterns - Liability for transmission of COVID-19 to customers of farm and food businesses
Farm Commons discusses farms or food businesses liability if their actions lead to a customer contracting COVID-19; the recording shares steps to minimize legal risk, and examines the role of insurance
- Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University
Experts have put together a comprehensive list of COVID-19 management resources for food processors and manufacturers - Coronavirus and Pandemic Preparedness for the Food Industry
FMI: The Food Industry Association pulls together best practices and planning strategies to help food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers undertake the necessary contingency planning to prepare for the pandemic, including a state issues crisis tracker, and a process for connecting foodservice distributors with excess capacity to food retailers and wholesalers in need of assistance - Food Facility COVID-19 Strategy Checklist
This document outlines a draft checklist on COVID-19 risk management strategy implementation for food companies; possible measures to be implemented are organized following the “TOP” principle – technical, organizational, and personnel - United Fresh: Produce Industry COVID-19 Resources
Information from United Fresh on produce operations, employee management, guidance on transport and cold storage, and information on inspections and audits - COVID-19 Business Pivot Challenge
OpenIDEO’s report and webinar recording on frameworks and customer mapping exercises for businesses navigating the challenges (and opportunities) from COVID-19