To support the growing demand for organic food, Thomas Canning has secured its' certification as a processor of organic tomato products and worked closely with selected growers. These growers have earned their organic certification and have worked hard to understand and succeed in the production of organic tomatoes.

But this raises a good question. How are farmers and food products certified as organic? The answer to this question started early on in the organic industry with the realization that standards were needed to preserve industry integrity and ensure consumers' needs for verification were met. Currently in Canada organic production is overseen and supported by over 45 certification bodies accredited by both national as well as international accreditors. As a backbone to the credibility of the industry, a National Standard of Canada for Organic Agriculture was published and implemented in June, 1999 by the Standards Council of Canada. This Council is an internationally recognized accreditation body that through its standards accredits organic certification bodies in Canada in accordance with International Standards Organization guidelines.

To become a certified organic producer, farmers first have to prove that they have not used prohibited products and practices for a minimum of three years before the harvest of their first certified organic crop. For livestock producers, their animals have to be raised and fed on 100% organic feeds. A farmer wishing to be certified applies to an accredited certification body with a request for an independent inspection of their farm operation. Typically the certification process involves a rigid on-farm visit and inspection of production practices and all on-farm documentation. This is followed by periodic surveillance of farm operations and inspection of production records.

To maintain organic certification farmers, processors and food distributors are each required to maintain the organic integrity of the product and to maintain a document trail for auditing purposes. After verification products from certified farms are labeled and promoted as certified organic produce. Once certified, products from certified farms are labeled and promoted as certified organic produce. Food products labeled as organic must contain at least 95% organic ingredients. Food products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can be labeled as "contains organic" ingredients.