Organic Hops Farming

Nurmey said:

Here in the states it takes 7 years to get certified. Sometimes the surrounding farms can effect certification because of drainage. I don't know if a statement will do it but you don't have anything to lose checking into it with your local guys.

What a nice husband you are to buy your wife a farm to support you. Hey wait a minute...

Edit: just found a blurb on Wiki
In Canada, the government has published a national organic standard, but it is a guideline only; legislation is in process. Certification is provided by private sector organizations. In Quebec, provincial legislation provides government oversight of organic certification within the province, through the Quebec Accreditation Board (Conseil D'Accréditation Du Québec).

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anderj said:

I believe that it is actually five years with no chemicals not seven, and when you start the process you will get a visit from a inspector each year. There is a fee involved that may vary by certification organization and after that you are golden. The whole process is not cheap, you can always state "organically grown" instead of certified organic. If you look at the entry form for the seven bridges national organic homebrew challenge, they state that the hops must be either certified organic if purchased commercially or organically grown if they are homegrown. Unless you are selling them, I wouldn't worry about the certification. Hops also come in "Fish friendly" which allows for some chemicals but none that are hazardous to habitats.

-ander

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