This event series has concluded, but all sessions are available on YouTube.

Beyond the Harvest is a four-part workshop series for established farms exploring value-added food production and organic certification. The series supports farmers in moving from product concept to compliant production, with a strong emphasis on understanding regulatory requirements and preparing value-added operations for organic inspection. 

Participants will: 

• Review foundational information related to product development, including market research, customer positioning, packaging, scalability, startup costs, and sales channels 

• Learn how state and federal regulations apply to value-added food products, including those made in co-packing operations and shared-use kitchens 

• Learn the organic certification process from application through inspection and renewal, with practical guidance on Organic System Plans (OSP), managing organic integrity in shared-use facilities, and preparing documentation for inspection 

• Understand organic labeling categories and rules, including proper use of the USDA Organic seal and common labeling mistakes 

By the end of the series, participants will leave with: 

• A clear understanding of what organic inspectors look for in value-added processing operations 

• Practical tools and decision frameworks to determine next steps toward compliant value-added production and organic certification 

 

The 4-part series includes:

• Validating your Value-Added Product Concept
• Manufacturing & Regulatory Compliance
• Understanding Organic Certification for Processors
• Getting Certification-Ready

All four workshops will be recorded.