The New Hampshire Organic Processors and Handlers Certification Program
The new program means that a New Hampshire company grinding organic grains into muffin
and pancake mixes, producing organic yogurt or cheese, or turning organic maple products
into a line a line of maple-flavored organic salsas can have its processing operation
certified in-state and its products bearing a New Hampshire certification label.
Richard Uncles, supervisor of DAMF's Bureau of Markets, said organic processors themselves
came forward to help develop and push the enabling legislation, "on the grounds of
affordability and a desire to maintain a strong New Hampshire brand identity for their
products."
"New Hampshire processors had discovered it was a very expensive proposition to hire an
outside certifier," Uncles said. "With the new program, we'll provide certification as a
service, charging only enough to cover our costs.
"Also, New Hampshire processors wanted to maintain their own state identity with a New
Hampshire 'brand' label," said Uncles. "They told legislators it looks kind of strange to
have to market products bearing another state's organic label."
Meeting national organic standards
"This is not a food safety program," Uncles said. "It will simply ensure that a grower
or processor meets the federal standards as 'organic' under the federal rule."
After 10 years of public deliberation, the National Organic Rule went into effect in
October 2002. It specifies in detail how growers must care for their soils, grow their
crops, and care for livestock if they want to label their products "organic." The
national program also established rules for processing and handling operations: livestock
and poultry slaughtering, grinding, canning, pickling, freezing, packaging and other
means of processing food labeled organic.
NH DAMF had developed and managed its own organic
certification program for nearly a decade before becoming accredited as a certifying
agency under the federal rule. But until now, DAMF has only certified raw agricultural
products, such as vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat. "We had a dilemma," said Uncles.
"We couldn't take on an open-ended responsibility for certifying processing and handling
operations without some means of funding it."
Program may help organic growers
Uncles said the new certification program will also benefit the state's organic growers.
"It's critical for some producers of raw agricultural products that there be certified
processors out there," he said. "Say you're producing an organic maple product. If you can
sell to a processor making maple popcorn and selling it as certified organic, it adds value
to your own product."
New Hampshire currently has 68 certified organic producers raising a wide variety of crops,
including vegetables, herbs, eggs, poultry, beef, maple products and ornamentals. Strong
consumer demand for organic and locally produced foods provide strong market niches new
farmers can exploit, Uncles said.
More information about organic certification:
- NH Organic certification program
- The National Organic Program Homepage
- Move out from here to find information on organic standards, news updates, and consumer. You might want to begin with the Questions and Answers page.
- National Organic Standards
- List of NH organic farms by county
