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Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment
UMass Food Science Extension Program
  • Food Science Home
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Business Plan - Other Certifications

Organic Certification

Organic certification is recognition that the composition and production of your product meets standards set by the Federal Government. To ensure the integrity of products labeled as organic the term Organic is federally regulated. A product cannot be labeled as Organic or bear the “Certified Organic” seals without first passing through a third-party certifier. This certifier will review your product and process to ensure that it meets standards, namely that no prohibited materials were used in production.

“Organic” can be a marketing tool by setting your product apart from others. Evaluate if it is worth the certification by visiting the links below.

  • USDA Guide for Organic Processors
  • 7 CFR 205.000 National Organic Program
  • Northeast Organic Farming Association - offers one-on-one consultation and review of farm applications to certifier, can assist with state certification cost reimbursement program
  • BayState Organic- Massachusetts Organic Certifiers

 

Entrepreneur

  • Overview
  • Starting a Small Food Business
  • Groundwork for Business Success
  • Business Plan
    • Market Analysis
    • Financial Planning
    • Business Classification
    • Other Certifications
  • Food Safety Planning
  • Production

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment

 

Stockbridge Hall,
80 Campus Center Way
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9246
Phone: (413) 545-4800
Fax: (413) 545-6555
ag [at] cns [dot] umass [dot] edu (ag[at]cns[dot]umass[dot]edu)

 

Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Information

College of Natural Sciences

Login for faculty and staff

CAFE Units

Mass. Agricultural Experiment Station

UMass Extension

UMass Research and Education Center Farms

UMass Cranberry Station

Water Resources Research Center

Interest Areas

Agriculture

Commercial Horticulture

Energy

Environmental Conservation

Food Science

Nutrition

Water

Youth Development & 4-H

Services

Pesticide Education

Plant Diagnostics Laboratory

Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory

Hot Water Seed Treatment

Water Testing / Environmental Analysis Laboratory

Projects

Conservation Assessment Prioritization System (CAPS)

Extension Risk Management/Crop Insurance Education

Mass. Envirothon

Mass. Herp Atlas

Mass. Keystone

MassWoods

North American Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative

RiverSmart

UMass Design Center in Springfield

Resources

Extension Sales Portal

Agriculture & Commercial Horticulture Resources

Community & Economic Vitality

Disaster Preparedness

Food Safety

Home Lawn & Garden

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Land Conservation Tools

Pollinators

Tick testing

Resources for Faculty and Staff

Extension Programs

4-H Youth Development

Agriculture

Crops, Dairy, Livestock and Equine

Fruit

Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture

Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry

Pesticide Education

Turf

Vegetable

Clean Energy

Climate Change

Food Science

Nutrition Education

Value-Added Food

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