How your Perry Johnson Consultant Can Help with USDA Organic Certification

1. Gap Analysis and Readiness Assessment
   The consultant begins by reviewing your current practices against USDA NOP (National Organic Program) standards. This identifies compliance gaps in land history, inputs, recordkeeping, for farms and facility design, giving you a clear roadmap of tasks to be addressed before you apply.
2. Organic System Plan (OSP) Development
   Your consultant will draft or refine your OSP to align precisely with 7 CFR §205.201 (agricultural code of federal regulations). This translates your operation into the required format, detail every practice and input, and integrates buffer-zone diagrams for farms, and facility flowcharts, or group control systems for factories.
3. Input and Supplier Verification
   Your consultant will review every fertilizer, pesticide, processing aid, and ingredient for NOP approval or OMRI listing (Organic Materials Review Institute). Consultants set up supplier questionnaires and traceability protocols to document organic integrity from field to finished product.
4. Application Management
   Your consultant assembles your application package, coordinates paperwork, and will liaise with your chosen Accredited Certifying Agent. They ensure that all attachments, maps, test results, input labels, and invoices—are complete, reducing back-and-forth requests.
5. Mock Inspections and Staff Training
   Before the official inspection, consultants conduct walkthroughs and mock audits to train your team on recordkeeping, field tagging, and facility sanitation. They coach staff on how to guide the inspector, explain procedures, and present documentation.
6. Inspection Support and Corrective Actions*
   During the on-site inspection, a consultant may accompany you, answering technical questions and clarifying procedures. If the inspector cites non-compliances, consultants draft timely corrective action plans and negotiate reasonable deadlines with your certifier.
7. Label and Claims Review
   For processors, consultants verify that your product labels meet USDA organic labeling rules. They check ingredient statements, placement of the USDA seal, and any “made with organic” claims to avoid mislabeling penalties.
8. Ongoing Compliance and Annual Updates**
   After certification, consultants help you update your OSP whenever you change crops, add new products, or modify processing steps. They can audit your records annually, recommend improvements, and keep you informed of NOP rule changes.

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*advance scheduling is required. If consultant is unable to be available during an on site inspection, he/she can still assist with corrective action

**post certification annual program