CDFA’s State Organic Program’s (SOP) mission is to protect the organic label through education, outreach, and, when necessary, enforcement in California, under the authority of the USDA’s National Organic Program. California is the only state in the nation with a USDA-approved State Organic Program.
The SOP upholds state laws and USDA organic regulations by overseeing requirements for the production and handling of organic products within California as well as those entering the state. This includes partnering with counties to perform SOP inspections.
Following are recent examples of this important partnership:
- Riverside County agricultural inspectors joined the SOP for an agave farm tour to deepen their understanding of organic production practices and strengthen interagency collaboration.
- San Luis Obispo County agricultural inspectors joined SOP to conduct organic enforcement inspections at local farmers’ markets to verify compliance with state and federal organic standards and ensure transparency for consumers.
- Imperial County agricultural inspectors joined SOP for an on-site organic inspection. The visit included a comprehensive review of production and handling practices to ensure full compliance with both state and federal organic regulations.
- Santa Barbara County conducted an inspection to verify compliance with both state and federal organic standards. The visit included a thorough review of production, handling and documentation practices to ensure the operation met all regulatory requirements.
Click here to visit the California State Organic Program webpage for more information.