Organic Transition Resource Toolkit – Specialty Crops
Specialty Crop Transition Resources
Introduction to Organic Practices, USDA AMS
A factsheet detailing common organic crop and livestock practices, including topics like soil fertility, seed selection, crop rotation, and more.
Organic Specialty Crop Production Guides, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Crop-specific production guides for organic fruit and vegetables, including general practices and organic integrated pest management
Organic Tree Fruit Production Overview, ATTRA
An overview of organic fruit tree production and orchard management, from planning to harvest
Guide for Organic Crop Producers, USDA
A comprehensive guide to the process of organic certification, USDA organic regulations, and allowed practices and materials
Tipsheet: Transitioning to Organic Management of Orchards, ATTRA
A short guide with strategies for organic management of tree fruit pests, diseases, and weeds, fertility, and market considerations
Organic Crop Production Standards
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) creates and enforces a national set of standards for organic production. A certified organic farm or facility must be compliant with these regulations, which can be found in detail in 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 205.
“Land must have had no prohibited substances applied to it for at least 3 years before the harvest of an organic crop.“
“Operations must use organic seeds and other planting stock when available.”
“Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials.”
“Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List may be used.”
“The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited.”
USDA AMS “About the Organic Standards“