In this four-part educational video series produced in 2026, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association walks through a mock Organic Handler Certification Inspection at Carolina Ground, a grain milling facility in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Introduction
We introduce the USDA’s Organic Handler Certification program and review why this certification is required for any facility that processes or handles organic ingredients.
Facility Walkthrough
We walk through a grain milling facility in North Carolina currently preparing for a Certified Organic Handler inspection, and discuss what a typical USDA inspector looks for regarding maintaining organic integrity and separation during the inspection.
Paperwork & Recordkeeping
We dive into specific recordkeeping required for a successful inspection, including production records, labeling requirements, sanitation/ pest control, records, and lot number traceability, and we conduct a typical Mass Balance exercise (“organic in =organic out”).
Why Organic Matters: Carolina Ground
Carolina Ground’s founder, Jennifer Lapidus, tells her story. Carolina Ground was founded with the intent to purchase organic grain from certified NC farmers; today, the pursuing the Organic Handler certification is about more than just a label: it’s a supply chain verification program that helps ensure that consumers can trust the USDA Organic Seal.
The development of this resource was supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
