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The $5,000 Exemption
According to USDA rules, a farmer or processor cannot claim to be
organic or use the organic label (above) unless they are certified. The
exception to is rule is a farmer whose gross sales from organic is
$5,000 or less.
Below is the language from the National Organic Program Regulations
and Guidelines...
§ 205.101 Exemptions and exclusions from certification.(a)
Exemptions.(1)A production or handling operation that sells agriculturalproducts as “organic” but whose gross agricultural incomefrom organic sales totals $5,000 or less annually is exemptfrom certification under subpart E of this part and fromsubmitting an organic system plan for acceptance or approvalunder § 205.201 but must comply with the applicable organicproduction and handling requirements of subpart C of this partand the labeling requirements of § 205.310. The products fromsuch operations shall not be used as ingredients identified asorganic in processed products produced by another handlingoperation.
Illinois Specialty Growers Association
Jackson and Berry on the Farm Bill
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