Northwest Horticultural Council

Organics

The Pacific Northwest is the national leader in the production of organic apples, pears, and cherries. Over 17 million boxes of organic apples are now harvested from more than 30,424 acres in Washington state, amounting to over 90 percent of the fresh organic apple crop in the United States. There is also a significant volume of organic pears and cherries grown in our region, with more than 7,500 acres planted across the Pacific Northwest. Organic tree fruit production in the Pacific Northwest is increasing, with additional acreage transitioning to organic each year.

In many ways, the Pacific Northwest is the epicenter for organic pome fruit and cherry production in the United States. The total value of the organic tree fruit crop for the region topped $625 million in 2019, of which organic apples alone accounted for approximately $544 million. In fact, tree fruit accounted for 50% of farm gate sales for all Washington state organics that year.

Any operation, or portion of operation, that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

I. USDA AMS National Organic Program (NOP)

The National Organic Program (NOP) develops the rules & regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of all USDA organic products. This process, referred to as rulemaking, involves input from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) (a Federal Advisory Committee made up of fifteen members of the public) and the public. The NOP also maintains a Handbook that includes guidance, instructions, policy memos, and other information on the organic standards.

Spanish translations of various organic regulations and other information may be found here.

For those interested in learning about the National Organic Program, including the public comment process, inspections, enforcement, and audits, visit the NOP Organic Training webpage and create an account at the Organic Integrity Learning Center. Registration for the National Organic Program Microlearning course is free and each course can be covered in 10 to 15 minutes. Instructions may be accessed here.

A. National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting Information

The NOSB meets publicly twice a year to consider new topics and make recommendations to USDA on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The NOSB encourages public input in the form of written and oral comments.

NOSB Annual Spring Meeting 
The NOSB met virtually on April 26-28, 2022, to discuss substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2024, and recommendations on organic policies. Public comment webinars took place on April 19 and 21.

During the meetings, board members reviewed public comments, discussed documents and subcommittee reports, and voted on recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. The board considered seven proposals and took action as follows:

• • • Three passed, each adopted on a vote of 15 Yes, 0 No. Proposals are now referred to USDA for approval and implementation, but not effective until accepted by USDA and implemented through final action.
      • Highly Soluble Nitrogen Fertilizer – proposal to limit fertilizers with low C:N to <20% of crop (Crops Subcommittee)
      • Excluded Methods – proposal to formalize status of cell and protoplast fusion in plant breeding (Materials Subcommittee)
      • Public Comment Process – proposal for minor updates to NOSB Policy and Procedure Manual (Policy Development Subcommittee)
    • One failed, rejected on a vote of 0 Yes, 15 No.
      • Cetylpyridinium Chloride – petition for use as an antimicrobial treatment of poultry carcasses (Handling Subcommittee)
    • Three were sent back to their subcommittee for further work.
      • NOP Risk Mitigation Table – procedures to mitigate conflicts of interest in the NOP accreditation of certifiers (Compliance, Accreditation, & Certification Subcommittee)
      • Carbon Dioxide – for use in irrigation water treatment (Crops Subcommittee)
      • Phosphoric Acid – expanded use for extracting target molecules from seaweed (Handling Subcommittee)

The NHC submitted oral and written comments, which focused on substances under sunset review, such as copper sulfate, fixed coppers, boric acid, soluble boron, micronutrients, and sticky traps, as well as packing line sanitizers and the NOSB Technical Support Initiative. You can read the NHC’s written comments here. 

NOSB Annual Fall Meeting 
The NOSB plans to hold its fall meetings in person on October 25-27, 2022, in Sacramento, California. Public comment webinars are the week prior on October 18 and 20. For more information on the board’s fall meetings, go to their meetings webpage. 

Additional information on the NOSB and its agendas, meetings, and work plans can be found at AMS.USDA.gov. 

B. NHC Past Comments to NOSB

NHC Past Comments:
Spring 2022
Spring 2021	Fall 2021
Spring 2020	Fall 2020
Spring 2019	Fall 2019
Spring 2018	Fall 2018
Spring 2017	Fall 2017
	Fall 2016

C. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances

The USDA organic regulations allow most natural substances in organic farming while prohibiting most synthetic substances. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances—part of these regulations— lists the exceptions to this basic rule: Synthetic substances are prohibited unless specifically allowed. Natural substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited.

II. Pacific Northwest State Departments of Agriculture

A. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Organic Program

The WSDA is accredited as a certification agency by USDA. As a certification agent of the National Organic Program, the WSDA Organic Program’s role is to inspect and certify organic operations; verifying that they are meeting all of the USDA organic standards requirements.

B. Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Organic Program

The ODA is a USDA-accredited certifying agent for organic crop production and organic handling/processing.

C. Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Organic Program

The ISDA is an accredited certifying agent of the USDA’s National Organic Program. ISDA has been serving the state’s organic community since 1990 when the Idaho legislatures passed the Organic Food Products Law (Title 22, Chapter 11, Idaho Code). In 2002, ISDA became one of the nation’s first accredited certifying agencies. They certify over 230 operations.

III. Links

NHC Science Advisory Committee Organic Subcommittee Members

NHC Export Manual

NOP International Trade Partners

Inadvertent Residues on Organic Fruit

Recent Trends in Certified Organic Tree Fruit in Washington State:
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016

For more information on international, federal, state, and private organics information, please click here.

The Northwest Horticultural Council represents the deciduous tree fruit industry of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington on national and international policy issues affecting growers, packers, and shippers. For further information, please contact Dan Langager, technical communications manager, at 509-453-3193.

Updated 5/17/2022