Real Organic Project
Real Organic Project is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2018 that runs a free add-on organic certification program for soil-grown crops and pasture-based livestock, currently certifying nearly 1,000 farms nationwide and funded by donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEast Thetford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Real Organic Project does
Real Organic Project is a nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in East Thetford, United States, that operates an add-on organic certification program for soil-grown crops and pasture-based livestock. The certification is provided free to farmers and currently covers nearly 1,000 farms across the United States, functioning as a voluntary standard layered on top of USDA Organic to address what the organization characterizes as gaps around hydroponics and confined animal feeding operations.
The organization's core activities extend beyond certification into policy advocacy, content production, and community organizing. It has pursued litigation against the USDA over hydroponics certification in partnership with the Center for Food Safety, OneCert, and MOFGA. It produces the Real Organic Podcast, which has accumulated over 260 episodes, and hosts the annual Churchtown Conference as an in-person gathering. Additional initiatives include the Soil Position Statement campaign and branded merchandise.
Real Organic Project is funded through donations and operates with a staff in the 11-50 range. Its go-to-market relies on grassroots farmer adoption, consumer awareness of the Real Organic label, and donor support for advocacy work. The business model deliberately avoids charging farmers for certification, making donor revenue the primary funding mechanism for both operations and litigation costs.
Real Organic Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Real Organic Project
- Legal name
- Real Organic Project
- Website
- https://realorganicproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Real Organic Project is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2018 that runs a free add-on organic certification program for soil-grown crops and pasture-based livestock, currently certifying nearly 1,000 farms nationwide and funded by donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Real Organic Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Certification Services
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC)
Keywords
Where Real Organic Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Thetford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Real Organic Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Community Support: Certification is free to all farms; the organization is funded by donations from eaters, farmers, and private foundations that support certified organic integrity
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise (trucker hats and other items) to supporters
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free farm certification |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Real Organic Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Real Organic Project operates a farmer-led add-on organic certification program for farms that already hold USDA Organic certification, requiring soil-grown crops (excluding hydroponics) and pasture-raised livestock with labor protections. The certification is provided free to farms and is supported by donations, merchandise sales, a national searchable directory of certified farms, an award-winning podcast, annual conferences, and educational resources.
Product overview
Real Organic Project is a farmer-led certification organization offering a portfolio of products and services centered around its add-on WHOLE farm certification program for USDA-certified organic farms. The core offering consists of the Real Organic Certification Program, which distinguishes farms growing in healthy soil and raising animals on pasture, supported by a searchable Farmer Directory of nearly 1,000 certified farms. The organization also operates the Real Organic Podcast (an Anthem Award-winning series), develops Standards reviewed annually by a 15-member board, and hosts the annual Churchtown Conference. Additional offerings include educational programs (Book Club Sessions, Sunday Letters, Farmer Voices), the Real Friends membership, and an online merchandise store. All certification services are provided free to farmers, funded by community donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Real Organic Podcast: The organization's Anthem Award-winning podcast covering topics of organic farming, food system issues, and agricultural policy. Released new episodes every Tuesday.
Products and services
- Real Organic Certification Program
- Farm Visit and Inspection Service
- Real Organic Farmer Directory
- Real Organic Podcast
- Real Organic Standards
- Real Organic Project Online Store
Companies that use Real Organic Project
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Real Organic Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Real Organic Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Center For Food SafetycoreReal Organic Project joined with Center For Food Safety and other organic advocates in a lawsuit against the USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic. Five Real Organic Certified farms (Full Belly Farm, Swanton Berry Farm, Long Wind Farm, Jacobs Farm, and Durst Organic Growers) joined as appellants in this legal action. The lawsuit challenged the USDA's interpretation allowing hydroponic operations to be certified as organic.
- OneCert InccoreJoined as appellant in lawsuit against USDA regarding hydroponics certification alongside Center For Food Safety and other organic certifiers
- Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)coreJoined as appellant in lawsuit against USDA regarding hydroponics certification alongside other organic advocates and certifiers
- Highly Respected Organic Certifiers (Soil Position Statement)majorReal Organic Project has been part of meetings with a handful of highly respected organic certifiers who created a position paper on why they refuse to certify hydroponic production. Together they created a short public statement (Soil Position Statement) asking citizens to sign on.
- Full Belly FarmcoreOne of five Real Organic Certified farms that joined the lawsuit against USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic; one of the longest-standing organic farms in the U.S.
- Swanton Berry FarmcoreOne of five Real Organic Certified farms that joined the lawsuit against USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic
- Long Wind FarmcoreOne of five Real Organic Certified farms that joined the lawsuit against USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic
- Jacobs FarmcoreOne of five Real Organic Certified farms that joined the lawsuit against USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic
- Durst Organic GrowerscoreOne of five Real Organic Certified farms that joined the lawsuit against USDA for certifying hydroponics as organic; one of the longest-standing organic farms in the U.S.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Real Organic Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Center for Food Safety: Adjacent ally — not a certification body, but a nonprofit advocacy organization that partnered with Real Organic Project in the lawsuit against USDA over hydroponics. Closely aligned in mission around organic integrity and the soil-based farming movement.
- Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA): Adjacent ally — a statewide organic certifier and farming organization that partnered with Real Organic Project in the USDA hydroponics lawsuit. Comparable as a mission-driven organic nonprofit supporting farmers, though regionally focused on Maine.
Emerging players
- Protected Harvest: Emerging peer — a nonprofit providing sustainability-focused certification for agriculture, using points-based scoring. Comparable in nonprofit certification model and focus on sustainable/regenerative farming practices.
Broad incumbents
- Oregon Tilth: Broad incumbent — a long-established nonprofit organic certifier and advocacy organization. Comparable in nonprofit mission and certification focus, with broader scope including education and advocacy, similar to Real Organic Project's positioning.
- Quality Assurance International (QAI): Broad incumbent — a large USDA-accredited organic certifier serving global food companies and processors. Was a co-appellant in the lawsuit against USDA over hydroponics alongside Real Organic Project, sharing some regulatory positioning.
- California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): Broad incumbent — one of the largest and oldest USDA-accredited organic certifiers in the U.S., certifying a broad range of farms and processors. Represents the mainstream organic certification establishment against which Real Organic positions itself as a more rigorous alternative.
Direct peers
- Certified Naturally Grown: Direct peer — a grassroots, peer-review based certification program for farmers using natural and organic methods. Like Real Organic Project, it is an alternative to USDA Organic focused on small and mid-sized farms, with a community-led structure and no fee or low-fee model.
- Demeter USA: Direct peer — the U.S. branch of the international biodynamic certification. Also an add-on/alternative to USDA Organic focused on holistic farm practices (soil, biodiversity), serving a similar mission-driven farmer and consumer base.
- Animal Welfare Approved (A Greener World): Direct peer — A Greener World operates farm certifications including Animal Welfare Approved that overlap with Real Organic's pasture-raised livestock standards, and certifies independent farms using transparent on-site audits.
- Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC): Direct peer — a high-bar certification for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness developed by the Rodale Institute and partners. Overlaps significantly with Real Organic's whole-farm standards (soil, pasture, labor) and competes for the same premium organic farmer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Real Organic Project social profiles
Digital presenceReal Organic Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Real Organic Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Real Organic Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Real Organic Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Real Organic Project
What does Real Organic Project do?
Real Organic Project operates a farmer-led add-on organic certification program for farms that already hold USDA Organic certification, requiring soil-grown crops (excluding hydroponics) and pasture-raised livestock with labor protections. The certification is provided free to farms and is supported by donations, merchandise sales, a national searchable directory of certified farms, an award-winning podcast, annual conferences, and educational resources.
Is Real Organic Project a public or private company?
Real Organic Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Real Organic Project founded?
Real Organic Project was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Real Organic Project based?
Real Organic Project is headquartered in East Thetford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Real Organic Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Community Support is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Real Organic Project's main competitors?
Others on record are Center for Food Safety and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). Protected Harvest is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Oregon Tilth, Quality Assurance International (QAI) and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Direct peers are Certified Naturally Grown, Demeter USA, Animal Welfare Approved (A Greener World) and Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC).
Does Real Organic Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Real Organic Project.
What industry is Real Organic Project in?
Real Organic Project's product category is Organic Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAA, Organic Certification Services, with a secondary code of AFALAMAC, Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative). Its SIC code is 700.