Clemson hosts Organic Certification Essentials workshop

Source - Clemson University

July 29, 2026 - As consumer demand for organic food continues to rise, Clemson University is helping South Carolina farmers capitalize on one of agriculture’s fastest-growing markets by equipping producers with the knowledge, technical support and financial resources needed to create certified organic operations and succeed in business.

That mission was on full display during Clemson’s two-day Organic Certification Essentials workshop, where commercial producers, beginning farmers, Extension professionals and backyard growers from across the Southeast gathered at the Madren Conference Center and Inn to learn what it takes to earn and maintain the USDA organic seal. Through classroom instruction, farm tours and hands-on discussions with certification specialists, participants discovered that organic certification is less about paperwork and more about building resilient, profitable farms.

Brian Marshall, owner of Greenfield Organic Farms, showed off his high-tunnel growing system. Image Credit - Clemson University

Hosted by Clemson’s Organic Certification Program within Regulatory Services’ Department of Plant Industry, the program, accredited by the USDA National Organic Program since 2002, provides certification for crops, livestock, processing and handling, and wild-harvest operations.

A growing opportunity

The workshop comes as organic agriculture continues to expand nationwide.

According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, U.S. farms reported $9.6 billion in certified or exempt organic sales, a 32% increase from 2017. More than 17,000 certified organic farms generated those sales, demonstrating continued demand for organic products despite broader challenges facing agriculture.

South Carolina remains a relatively small player in the organic marketplace, but its industry is growing. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reported 59 farms with certified or exempt organic sales totaling nearly $30 million, compared to $18.8 million five years earlier. The state also counted 76 certified organic farms and 15 farms transitioning to organic production, suggesting additional growth is on the horizon.

For Clemson, those numbers represent opportunity.

Continue reading here>>