Organic Certification History

In 1997 the Nevada Legislature passed the Nevada Organic Certification Law. This law allows the Department of Agriculture to apply for USDA accreditation as an organic certifier of agricultural products grown or processed in Nevada. The Department is currently accredited by the USDA National Organic Program to provide organic certification services in the categories of crop production and handling/processing. Additionally, USDA National Organic Program standards are now equivalent to Canadian and European Union standards, allowing Nevada’s producers and handlers to access organic markets abroad.

The Nevada Organic Certification Program is designed to provide assurance to consumers who purchase organic products, verifying that the products were grown according to USDA organic standards. Certification also benefits Nevada's organic producers and handlers by providing local access to a value-added agricultural marketing program. 

Nevada's law applies to organically produced agricultural products, including fruit and vegetables, fiber, and livestock feeds. An agricultural product may not be represented as organic in Nevada unless it meets USDA National Organic Program requirements.