FAQs | Organic Growing & Certified-Organic Research Farms

What is "organic gardening"?

Organic gardening and farming, or just organic growing, tries to work as closely as possible with natural, sustainable systems, with the larger goal of leaving plenty of resources for future generations. Organic growers get there by building in practices like crop rotation, habitat plantings and other biological and natural methods, and by restricting certain inputs, including pesticides and fertilizers made with synthetic or toxic substances, irradiation and sewage sludge. Organic growing also prohibits knowingly using genetically engineered or genetically modified materials.

Do I have to be certified in order to farm organically?

Whether to get certified depends mostly on what you plan to do with your harvest. If it's for you, your family and friends, there's little reason to certify. If you sell your crops and call them "organic," certification comes into play: under USDA rules, operations with more than $5,000 a year in organic sales must be certified. A certifying agency in your area can walk you through the details of certification and labeling.

What does it mean to be certified organic?

Certified organic growers must follow all the standards of the USDA National Organic Program and the regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations. Certification shows that the grower knows and follows the practices those standards allow.

Certification lets growers label and sell their products as "organic" and use the USDA Organic seal. For the rules that apply where you are, talk with a local certifying agency.

What are the benefits of growing organically?

Demand for organic produce has often run ahead of supply, so organic growing can offer a real financial opportunity. And as noted above, certified producers can sell their crops as organic under the widely recognized USDA seal.

More broadly, limiting synthetic inputs benefits everyone. Certified organic farms must record every crop and soil input, and the federal regulations set out soil fertility and crop nutrient standards that certified growers must follow. Organic and other sustainable practices are designed to conserve and protect natural resources, supporting healthy communities and a healthy environment now and in the future.

What is the best way for a grower to become certified organic?

Start with a certifying agency near you. A local certifier will know the requirements and the particular challenges and opportunities in your state or region. That said, many USDA-accredited certifiers work outside their home state and even internationally.

To locate a certifier, go to the USDA NOP website where you can search by certifier name, state or country.

I'm a certified organic grower. Can I use conventionally grown seed?

In some situations, certified organic growers may use conventional, untreated seed, for example when an organic version isn't commercially available. The details vary, so check with your certifier.

What is the difference between certified organic and conventional seed?

The key difference is that certified organic seed is grown under defined organic production rules. Those rules allow a range of organic methods, restrict synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and prohibit genetically modified materials. Conventional seed isn't grown under those certified organic requirements.

If I purchase organic seed do I have to grow them organically?

No, you don't have to grow organic seed organically. It will grow just fine under conventional practices too.

Do organic seeds store as well as nonorganic seeds?

Yes, as long as it's stored properly.

Can hybrid seeds be organic?

Yes. A hybrid comes from crossing two related but distinct varieties or species to combine particular traits in the offspring. Whether seed is certified organic depends mainly on how it was grown and handled, not on whether it's a hybrid, though environment can influence genetics. Hybrids are normally marked F1 in the variety name.

Do organic or nonorganic systems provide better production? Yield? Growth habit?

Many studies have compared organic and conventional systems, looking at flavor, nutrition, yield, growth habit and overall production. So far the science has been imprecise and the findings mixed.

In practice, the strengths of different systems are best judged case by case, and even season by season. Testing new sustainable and organic practices is a good way for any grower to keep improving.

If I purchase organic seeds am I supporting organic farmers in turn?

Buying organic seed signals demand for it, which helps steer resources toward organic research, including breeding better varieties for organic systems. Growers of every kind benefit from that research.

Does organically grown mean non-GMO and non-organic mean GMO?

First part: anything sold as certified organic seed or plant material can't contain GMOs. Second part: no, non-organic doesn't automatically mean a seed or plant product is genetically modified. In fact, most vegetable crops grown today have never been genetically engineered.

Who certifies organic seed companies?

Organic seed producers and handlers are certified by USDA-accredited certifying agencies, which include state agencies and private and nonprofit organizations such as regional organic farming associations.

Which of your seeds are organic? (Or, are they all organic?)

Not all seed is organic. Certified organic items are identified as organic in the product name or listing, often marked with OG or similar wording; if a listing doesn't say organic, assume it's conventional.

Certified organic plant and seed material has to meet several requirements: no genetically engineered traits, grown only with inputs permitted in organic production, and packed in a certified organic handling facility.

What percentage of our seed is organic?

The share of organic seed changes over time. Seed is a living product, so availability shifts from season to season; check the product listings for current organic options.

Why aren't all of your seeds offered with an organic counterpart?

Organic versions are offered when organic seed that reliably produces healthy, uniform, true-to-type plants is available in sufficient quantity.

Because seed is alive, its quality and supply change over time. Organic seed that meets high quality standards exists for some varieties but not for every one.

So for some varieties, only conventional or another type of seed may be available at a given time.

Do you offer supplies for organic production?

Tools, fertilizers and pest and disease controls suited to organic, integrated and sustainable growing are available, and product listings note which items are approved for organic use.

If you have questions about using a seed or supply product in an organic system, we're happy to help.

Supplies labeled OG or listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) or a state program such as the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) meet USDA National Organic Program (NOP) rules.

If you're unsure whether a product is allowed in your organic operation, confirm with your certifier.

What does "NOP-compliant" mean?

"NOP-compliant" means a product meets the standards set by the USDA National Organic Program.

What does "OMRI-listed" signify?

OMRI, the Organic Materials Review Institute, is a nonprofit that reviews products for compliance with National Organic Program standards and publishes a list of those it approves. It also lists materials that meet Canada Organic Regime standards.

Which of your products can organic growers use for pest and disease management?

In pest management listings, look for products marked OG or carrying the OMRI Listed or WSDA Organic seal. Those products are approved for organic production after review by an independent organization.

If you're not sure a product fits your organic operation, ask your certifier.

Which of your products can organic growers use for fertilizer?

In fertilizer listings, look for products marked OG or carrying the OMRI Listed or WSDA Organic seal, which show the product has been reviewed and approved for organic production.

When in doubt about a fertilizer for organic use, check with your certifier.

Does Hensley's sell GMO seeds?

Hensley's does not knowingly sell genetically modified or genetically engineered seed.

Organic standards also prohibit genetically modified materials, so certified organic seed is GMO-free.

Does your organic seed germinate differently from your nonorganic seed?

Organic and conventional seed of the same quality, both untreated, should germinate about the same under the same conditions; organic production by itself doesn't make seed germinate better or worse.

Seed treatments are another matter. For some crops and conditions, treated seed can germinate noticeably better than untreated seed, and conventional chemical treatments may outperform NOP-compliant biological treatments.

How do you ensure that the products you list as organically grown are certified organic?

Certified organic seed handlers are inspected in person every year by a USDA-accredited certifier, and their certification must be renewed annually.

I see that some of the seed you carry has been film-coated. What's the purpose of this film coating, and is the coating considered organic?

Film coating mainly makes small or oddly shaped seed easier to handle. Whether film-coated seed is acceptable in organic production is up to your certifier, so check with them.

Is the pelleted seed you offer approved for organic production?

Some pelleting materials meet NOP rules and some don't. Check the product listing: it should say whether the seed is organic seed with an NOP-compliant pellet , conventional seed with an NOP-compliant pellet , or

conventional seed in a conventional pellet . When the listing doesn't specify, ask before buying for an organic operation.

What is NOP-compliant pelleting?

This kind of pelleting uses only coating materials that have been reviewed and judged to meet National Organic Program standards.

It comes in two forms: 1) certified organic seed coated with NOP-compliant materials ; and 2) conventional seed coated with NOP-compliant materials. .

Pelleted seed that isn't described as NOP-compliant should be treated as conventional seed with a conventional coating.

How can I request documentation for products associated with an organic operation?

If you need paperwork connected to an order with us, reach out through our contact page. What documentation is available varies by product and by order.

For any other paperwork questions about an order, use our contact page as well and share just enough detail for us to find the order.

Keep your invoice as part of your records showing that seed and plants you bought were certified organic. Items identified as organic in the product listing, or marked organic (or OG ) are allowed in certified organic systems.