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About Us

CCOF advances organic agriculture for a healthy world. We advocate on behalf of our members for organic policies, support the growth of organic through education and grants, and provide organic certification that is personal and accessible. CCOF is a nonprofit organization governed by the people who grow and make our food. Founded in California over half a century ago, today our roots span the breadth of North America and our presence is internationally recognized. We are supported by an organic family of farmers, ranchers, processors, retailers, consumers, and policymakers. Together, we work to realize a future where organic is the norm.

Our History Donate

How We Work

CCOF advances organic agriculture for a healthy world. We do this through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion, which is carried out by three different branches of the organization: CCOF, Inc., CCOF Certification Services, LLC, and the CCOF Foundation.

CCOF, Inc.

Governed by a member-elected Board of Directors, CCOF, Inc. provides infrastructure for our certification, advocacy, and Foundation programs.

CCOF Certification Services, LLC

We certify farms, livestock operations, processors, retailers, private labelers, and restaurants, ensuring organic integrity from farm to fork. CCOF Certification Services, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of CCOF, Inc., governed by the LLC Management Committee.

CCOF Foundation

The CCOF Foundation invests in new organic professionals, supports farmers facing hardship, and promotes consumer understanding of organic agriculture.

Our Mission

Our mission is to advance organic agriculture for a healthy world. We accomplish our purpose through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion.

Our Vision

We envision a world where organic is the norm. In 2026, CCOF will be the recognized beacon and champion of integrity in the evolution of organic food and agriculture by:

  • Launching bold strategies to increase the amount of farmland under organic production and grow the market for organic food and goods.
  • Influencing policies, standards, and regulations to ensure that a diversity of producers can go organic and stay organic.
  • Providing a suite of certification programs that support our members while providing high quality organic certification services and education programs.

Our Values

We value:

Integrity

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of excellence with an unwavering commitment to organic principles, transparency, honesty, and respect for our diverse community of staff, governance, and members.

Courage

We muster the strength to do what is right, not what is comfortable or easy. We embrace tough conversations, fight for change, and lead big ideas.

Community

People come first. From our members to our staff, we make human-centered decisions and take great care to expand our circle of people dedicated to advancing organic. We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and organic movement.

Representation of and for Organic Producers

Our organization was founded and remains governed by organic producers. With over 4,500 certified members, we embrace the "biodiversity" of the organic movement and ground our work in the shared experience of people and companies working to build a healthier world.

Our Organic Principles

Organic standards promote and enhance biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil fertility, and restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony. The legacy of organic will be the catalyzation of healthy, sustainable, and humane production systems. CCOF believes that organic standards should continually evolve to address a broadening range of issues, including:

Animal Welfare

CCOF believes that organic livestock standards should require humane and ethical treatment of animals during all stages of production, including transport and slaughter.

Carbon Sequestration

CCOF believes that organic practices offer verifiable opportunities for sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and should be encouraged as an effective strategy for reducing dangerous levels of emissions.

Ecosystem Protection

CCOF believes that organic standards should encourage stewardship of land and waterways, as well as protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

CCOF believes that genetic modification is fundamentally incompatible with organic production. The organic market and its producers must be protected from GMO contamination. GMO products must be labeled.

Processing Standards

CCOF believes that organic standards should require processors to minimize environmental impacts by conserving water and energy; preventing contamination of water, air and soil; and promoting the reduction, reuse, and recycling of packaging.

Social Justice

CCOF believes that the organic market should provide adequate and equitable compensation and treatment to farmers, ranchers, laborers, and other participants in organic production and processing. All individuals should be treated with dignity and respect.

2% for Organic

Simply by choosing CCOF for their organic certification, each CCOF-certified operation gives 2% of their certification fees back to the CCOF Foundation. That 2% enables the CCOF Foundation to give grants to teachers and students studying organic, provide financial assistance to organic farmers in need, develop education programs for future and prospective organic professionals, and promote consumer education about organic. Our Foundation Members, Business Partners, sponsors, and grantors help fill in the remaining funding necessary to keep advancing organic agriculture.

Get Involved with CCOF

Want to be a part of our organic community? CCOF members receive exclusive benefits and promotion, plus they can feel good about helping to cultivate change in our food system.

Get Active with Chapters

CCOF members shape the future of organic by organizing events and advocating for research and programs.

Find your CCOF Chapter

Learn more about us

History

See CCOF's 50+ year history

History

Board & Committees

To help guide our work and serve the organic community, CCOF has three governing boards and several committes.

Board and Committees

Work at CCOF

CCOF is a growing organization that seeks highly qualified and trained professionals.

Work at CCOF