To certify or not to certify? Separating the organic production and certification decisions

Abstract

This article separates the decision to be certified organic into the decision to use organic practices and the subsequent decision to certify those practices, using data from a survey of US fruit and vegetable producers. We document that many producers are using organic practices but choosing not to certify. Philosophical beliefs and perceived risk of losses due to disease, weeds, and insects have the largest impact on the decision to use organic practices. Producers who use organic practices and direct market are less likely to certify. Moreover, we find that the certification process discourages certification.