Certification Fees

Get more for your money with CCOF!

CCOF’s competitive fees include:

• Organic certification
• Accessible certification staff to answer all your questions
• Advocacy for the organic industry at the federal level through the CCOF Trade Association
• Training and educational opportunities
• Promotion of your business through our online directory, magazine, and tradeshows

Need help paying for certification? The USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program can cover up to 75% of your certification fees! See additional financial assistance opportunities. 

Competitive Pricing

CCOF offers one of the most competitively priced organic certification programs in America. Small and large, all certified operations benefit from a high level of service that includes political advocacy, PR support, export document processing services, and more. Many small farms can be certified for approximately $700 the first year and between $300 and $500 in later years. Small organic food processors are routinely certified for about $1,200 in the first year and approximately $900 in later years. Similarly, mid- and large-size operations receive competitive fees.

CCOF is happy to discuss fee packages to address multiple facilities, fields, or unique circumstances. Contact CCOF at development@ccof.org or (831) 423-2263, ext. 43 with questions.

How Much Does it Cost?

Your total cost of certification in the first year will come from three main fees:

1. Application Fee: A onetime $275 fee, paid when you apply.
2. Annual Inspection Fee: Inspection costs vary annually because they are billed hourly and include travel costs. An inspection cost estimate is included in all first-year fee estimates that you will receive when your application is accepted. The majority of CCOF inspections cost less than $500. See the CCOF Certification Program Manual for current hourly inspection fees.
3. Annual Certification Fee: This fee is based on the Gross Organic Production Value (GOPV) of your CCOF certified products. Review the table below to determine your annual fee. Farm GOPV is calculated as all farm-gate organic sales. Processors and handlers deduct the cost of organic goods from gross organic sales to arrive at their fee category. This ensures that you only pay for the cost of certifying your value-added process, not the value of the ingredients for which certification has already been paid.

Certification cost estimates are available at any time by contacting the CCOF main office at (831) 423-2263 or ccof@ccof.org. We pride ourselves on reasonable fees and transparent operations and are more than happy to provide an estimate and discuss your specific operation. CCOF’s accounting department is happy to work with you to create a payment plan.

CCOF charges additional fees for services such as international standards verification through the Global Market Access Program, additional processing facilities, midyear additions of acreage or processed products, and completion of export documents. All additional fees can be viewed in the CCOF Certification Program Manual.

Expedited & Rush Services

In a hurry? CCOF offers an Expedited Certification program and Rush Review of new products, labels, and materials for operations that are capable of compliance but are short on time.