Partner Spotlight: Promoting Organic Roots with the Real Organic Project

At Barn2Door, we understand the importance for Farmers to gain certifications that align with their practices and mission. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Real Organic Project (ROP), a non-profit organization that recognizes the importance of the USDA Organic Certification and offers an add-on label to provide more transparency on organic farming practices. 

The Real Organic Project focuses on highlighting certified Organic Farms that grow soil-grown produce or raise livestock on pasture with a heavy focus on soil health. The organization is working to certify Farmers who strive to Farm organically as intended — outdoors, on the land, and unconfined. Recently, we sat down with Abby Lundrigan, Certification and Farmer Liaison at Real Organic Project, on the Direct Farm Podcast to learn more about how ROP uplifts Farmers who practice sustainable and regenerative organic farming. Listen to the full episode here: Feed the Soil, Not the Plant with the Real Organic Project.

How the Real Organic Project Tackles Specific Problems 

The Real Organic Project takes the USDA Organic Certification back to its roots, serving as the foundation for the organization itself. “When transparency about practices isn't there, it makes it difficult for Farmers that are growing sustainably, regeneratively, and are stewarding the land to compete in the marketplace. When this happens, those watered-down products become the majority of what’s available in the marketplace.”

“Since our label is an add-on certification, Farmers are either very glad or disappointed. The standards in the National Organic Program are solid, and it’s been a very successful industry that many Farmers have worked to create. But, because it’s become a billion-dollar industry, large corporate entities have disrupted the foundation, forgoing the rules and creating problems for passionate and committed Farmers that uphold real organic practices. We want to fight to fix this and keep these principles at the forefront, not allowing the industry to surrender to bad interests.”

What Does the USDA Organic Certification Mean Today?

Originally, the USDA Organic Label was founded on the principles of properly growing products and raising livestock on pasture while managing the soil. Unfortunately, many of these practices have been displaced. The Real Organic Project works to take the original organic standards and align them with the national organic program, ensuring there’s no room for loopholes. 

“An example that comes to mind is chickens and organic poultry or egg production. The chickens are required to have outdoor access, but that can often mean a large hen house with one little door. However, because there are thousands of chickens and one little door, they’re not all able to feasibly access the outside, which is generally a concrete porch instead of grass. With the ROP certification, we verify outdoor access, and that animals are getting onto pasture. We want to see a minimum amount of vegetative cover for the birds, and we have specific requirements for indoor and outdoor areas for poultry.

We take the approach of looking at the Farm instead of checking boxes to certify a singular product (the way the organic certification does). We’re building on top of the work that has already been done by the Farms and takes a holistic view of the entire Farm.” 

How To Become Certified by the Real Organic Project

The Real Organic Project understands Farmer's time is valuable. As the USDA Organic Certification is a precursor to their label, applying for the add-on ROP Certification is seamless – available online and in paper form. After the application is submitted, they’ll schedule a Farm inspection which can last between 60 to 90 minutes depending on the size of the Farm. From there, Farms are awarded the ROP label if they meet the requirements, at no cost.

If you’re curious to learn more about the Real Organic Project or are interested in contributing to their mission, attend the ROP virtual symposium that occurs every year to hear discussions surrounding the Certified Organic label. Also, listen to their podcast called the Real Organic Podcast that dives into specific issues faced by real Farmers. You can also learn more about the project and how to apply for the label at realorganicproject.org. 

Barn2Door provides an all-in-one solution for Farmers to grow and manage their business. For more information on how successful Farms run on Barn2Door, watch this 5-minute video.