The ORGANIC certification process for growers

There are actually two ways in which a grower can start cultivating organic flowers or plants: start a new company that uses organic cultivation methods right from the start, or get started on a conversion procedure.

The conversion procedure starts with the soil. The first step is to ensure that the soil is completely void of any residues of artificial fertilisers and chemical pesticides. This process takes two years for growers with one or two-year crops, and three years for growers with permanent crops (such as trees). Although a grower is required to comply with the conditions of organic cultivation from the very beginning of the conversion process onwards, its products may not be sold under an organic label yet.

When these two or three years have passed, the grower needs to get certified by an independent certification body. When the grower has successfully passed the certification, the products can be sold using the organic label. Control Union is one of the certification bodies that performs these audits for organic certification.

Visit the IFOAM website for more information about the organic process. You can also contact us directly for more information through info@circles.fm.