Oregon Tilth Certification Program

Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) is an internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity. The purpose of organic certification is to ensure that the agreed upon conventions of organic agricultural systems are being practiced not only by growers, but also by all the people who handle and process organic food, feed and fiber on its journey to the consumer. In order to accomplish this, OTCO provides a system that combines strict production standards, on-site inspections, and legally binding contracts to protect the producers and buyers of organic products.

Over the years, OTCO has made its certification materials available to people in many different states and countries, and is specifically designed as a certification service for:

• Commercial producers of organic crops and livestock
• Processors of organic foods, feed and fiber
• Handlers of organic products such as packers, brokers, distributors and wholesalers
• Marketers of processed or co-packed organic products
• Restaurants & Retailers specializing in organic fare

Getting Started - Resources for new applicants

Certification Packet - First time organic certification applicants should review documents in Oregon Tilth's certification packet. You can download the packet free of charge, or request a hard copy by contacting the Oregon Tilth office.

Organic Certification Services
Read more about the organic certification services that Oregon Tilth provides. We are proud to offer organic certification with experience, service, integrity, and quality.

Resources for Certified Operators

Oregon Tilth Certified Organic Update Forms, Plan Addendums, and logo downloads
OTCO operators can now download application update forms, plan addendums, and the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic logo from our web site.

Resources for Organic Farmers
Links to University, USDA and Extension publications, videos, crop production guides and more. Many more resources coming soon...

Resources for Organic Processors & Handlers
Online resources for sourcing organic ingredients and guidelines for bringing organic products into compliance by June 9, 2007. More resources coming soon...

Organic Fiber and Textile Handling Certification
The OTCO fiber program certifies to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is dedicated specifically for Fiber & Textile Handling and production.

Other Certification Resources

European Union (EU) Compliance Program
Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) offers a proactive service to review crop and handling operations for compliance with European Union (EU) organic standards.

Salmon Safe Certification
Oregon Tilth has teamed up with Salmon-Safe, a nonprofit organization devoted to restoring agricultural and urban watersheds so that salmon can spawn and thrive. Oregon Tilth is providing fast track Salmon-Safe certification to organic farmers that further protect water quality and biodiversity.

Consultants for Organic Certification
The USDA – NOP Final Rule states that accredited certifiers must prevent conflict of interest by not giving advice or providing consultancy services to certification applicants or certified operators for overcoming identified barriers to certification. Thus, for specific advice in achieving standards compliance, we offer a list of consultants to help you.