HOW IT WORKS
How Do I Get Certified Organic? Here's How It Works.
Three Simple Steps
A free call starts it. From there, we do the hard part and walk you all the way to your certificate, then keep you certified every year. It works the same for farms and food businesses anywhere in the world.
1. Free Call and Review
Book a free 15 minute call. Tell us about your operation, and we review your land history, inputs, and records to see where you stand.
2. We Write Your Plan
We write your Organic System Plan and SOPs, set up your records, and help you send your application to the certifier you choose.
3. Inspection Day and Beyond
We prep you with a practice inspection, help answer any certifier questions, and handle your yearly updates so you stay certified.
What You Get With Kona Organic
One team for the whole process, from your first call to every renewal after.
One Point of Contact
You always know who to call, and we answer in plain words.
Everything Written Down
Your plan, SOPs, and records in one shared folder you can reach anytime.
No Surprises
Clear steps, clear timelines, and a heads up before every deadline.
Common Questions
Do I need to be certified to sell organic?
If you sell more than $5,000 of organic products a year, yes. Smaller operations can be exempt, but they cannot use the USDA organic seal.
What is a certifier?
A USDA accredited agency that reviews your plan, sends the inspector, and issues your certificate. We help you choose one.
How long does it take?
If your land has been free of prohibited substances for 36 months, most farms can be certified in a few months. Land in transition takes three years, and we can plan that with you.
What does it cost?
Certifier fees vary by size. USDA cost share can pay back up to 75 percent of your certification fees, up to $750 per scope.
Do you work outside Hawaiʻi?
Yes. We work with farms and food businesses anywhere, by video call, email, and shared documents.
What do I need for the first call?
Just your questions. A rough map of your land and a list of what you have used on it helps.
How long does each step take?
The free call is 15 minutes. Writing your plan takes a few weeks. After you apply, plan on three to six months for your certifier to review, inspect, and decide.
What happens at the inspection?
An inspector walks your fields or your facility, reads your records, and checks that what you do matches your plan. Then the inspector sends a report to your certifier.
What happens after the inspection?
Your certifier reviews the report and makes the decision. If it asks for fixes, we help you answer.
What do I do each year to stay certified?
Update your plan, pay your fees, and have a yearly inspection. We handle the update and get you ready.
Can I use your free tools before I call?
Yes. The transition date calculator, the label claim checker, and the cost share estimator are on the Free Tools page, with no email needed.
Our conflict of interest policy is simple: we never inspect an operation we consult for, and your certifier always makes the certification decision. Book a consultation to talk through where your operation stands and what it needs.
Related: Organic Certification for Farms • Transition to Organic • Take the free readiness quiz