What does Real Organic Project do?

The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led grassroots movement and add-on food label that focuses on distinguishing soil-grown and pasture-raised agricultural products. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Thetford, Vermont, this non-profit organization has certified over 1,100 farms across the United States. It was established in response to concerns about the integrity of USDA organic certification, particularly regarding hydroponically-grown crops and confined animal feeding operations. The Real Organic Project offers free add-on certification to farms that already hold USDA organic certification. This certification prohibits practices such as organic factory farms and hydroponics, ensuring that certified farms adhere to core principles of growing in soil, raising animals on pasture, and community organization. The organization is actively expanding its market presence through partnerships, including a recent collaboration with Germany's Naturland, to enhance product availability and develop processing standards for consumer packaged goods.