Organic Certification Cost Share
The 2023 Organic Cost Share Reimbursement has not opened yet, please check back in July and August.
The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA's National Organic Program.
Guidelines and Uses
Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent during the 2022 and any subsequent program year.
Producers can be reimbursed for expenses made between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022, including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.
Funding
For 2022, OCCSP will reimburse 50% of a certified operation's allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 for each of the following categories (or "scopes"): crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling and state organic program fees.
How to Apply
Utilize the letter and application templates and submit via email.
Contact
Michele Brookins
717-787-5319
RA-AgBusiness@pa.gov