USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) wanted to share several updates to the National Organic Program Handbook.

Additionally, nominate yourself or a colleague to the fruit and vegetable industry advisory committee and mark your calendars for an upcoming produce webinar!

The National Organic Program (NOP) Handbook provides a wide variety of policy materials and other resources to help organic farms and businesses comply with the USDA organic regulations. 

AMS has recently added and updated several Handbook resources:

• PM 13-2: Humic Acid Extraction - New
  Clarifies which materials are allowed for humic acid extraction under the USDA organic regulations.
• NOP 2601: Organic Certification Process - Revised
  Provides instructions for organic certifiers to increase consistency and implement best practices throughout the certification process.
• NOP 2615: Organic System Plans (OSPs) - New
  Helps an organic operation develop its initial OSP per the USDA organic regulations and submit updates to continue its certification (doesn't require a full OSP).

NOP 2601 (for certifiers) and 2615 (for operations) describe simplified requirements related to organic certification. This streamlined approach supports our Sound and Sensible initiative to make organic certification accessible, affordable, and attainable for all operations.   

Learn More: Sound and Sensible Initiative

View Full Handbook

Have ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to better meet the organic fruit and vegetable industry's needs?

Nominate yourself or a colleague to join the 25-member Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. Appointed by Secretary Vilsack, members represent the diverse spectrum of fruit and vegetable growers and serve terms of 2-3 years.

USDA encourages nominees who reflect the full diversity of the fruit and vegetable industry, including business size, industry role, sex, race/ethnicity, age, location, and production methods. Board members are reimbursed for travel and associated expenses.

Submitting a Nomination
Deadline: December 26, 2013 

Email the following information or fax it to (202) 720-0016:

• Name
• Title
• Qualifications
• Address
• Telephone
• Fax number

AMS will send nominated individuals the appropriate forms.

Additional Fruit + Vegetable Board Info

Questions? Email Pamela Stanziani or call (202) 690-0182.

AMS invites you to register for an upcoming webinar for the fruit and vegetable industry:

• In Korean: An Introduction to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)
  January 23, 2014, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
  Register

*Want to learn more about the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)? Watch Our Video

AMS' free, interactive webinars are designed for fruit and vegetable growers, packers, shippers, processors, wholesalers and retailers of all sizes. Registration is required and space is limited. If you miss a webinar, just visit our archive to watch it online.

Questions? Contact Chris Purdy or call (202) 720-3209.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.

The USDA Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of functions, including regulatory updates, requests for public comments, and USDA programs and services.

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