CDFA Commodities exam UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is the NOP? - CORRECT ANSWER - National Organics Program; est after Organic
Food Prod Act of 1990; Made into law in Oct 2002; Does NOT cover non-food items
Why National Organic Standards? - CORRECT ANSWER - Uniformity among standards;
Uniformity among certifying agents; Assurance of organic integrity
What is organic food? - CORRECT ANSWER - Meets NOP standards; grown without use
of most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made w/synthetic ing./sewer sludge, bioengineering,
or ionizing radiation.
organic agriculture - CORRECT ANSWER - Set biological, cultural & mechanical
practices that support the cycling of farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve
biodiversity.
National Organic Standards for Crop Production - CORRECT ANSWER - No prohibited
substance for 3 years prior to harvest.
Establish buffer zones.
Improve soil conditions & reduce erosion.
Crop rotation, cover crop, compost...
Reduce environmental contamination.
How do you improve soil fertility? - CORRECT ANSWER - Compost, animal manures,
green manures, cover crop & mulches.
Seeds & Planting stock organic standards - CORRECT ANSWER - May use conventional
seeds if organic seeds are not available but only if seeds have not been genetically modified or
treated with prohibited substances i.e. fungicides.
, What are the benefits of crop rotation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Interrupt insect life
cycles; suppress soil borne plant diseases; prevent soil erosion; build organic matter/fix nitrogen;
increase farm biodiversity
National Organic Standards for Animal Production - CORRECT ANSWER - Organic
management starts from last third of gestation (2nd day of life for poultry); 100% organic feed,
no synthetic hormones or antibiotics; synthetic vitamins & trace minerals allowed.
Organic Milk - CORRECT ANSWER - At least one year under organic management.
How do you convert and entire dairy herd to organic production? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Providing 80% produced feed for 9 months, followed by 3 months 100% organically produced
feed.
•Any producer, handler, or processor with an annually gross sale of $_____ or more must be
certified. - CORRECT ANSWER - $5000
Who does organic certification? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Certification is done by USDA
accredited certifying agents (ACA).
When can the producer be exempt from certification? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Exempt
producer, handler can be certified and market their product as being certified.
How long shall organic records be kept for? - CORRECT ANSWER - 5 years
How long is the organic certification good for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Until the client
closes their account with the certifier or if it is revoked by CDFA or USDA through process of
law.
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is the NOP? - CORRECT ANSWER - National Organics Program; est after Organic
Food Prod Act of 1990; Made into law in Oct 2002; Does NOT cover non-food items
Why National Organic Standards? - CORRECT ANSWER - Uniformity among standards;
Uniformity among certifying agents; Assurance of organic integrity
What is organic food? - CORRECT ANSWER - Meets NOP standards; grown without use
of most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made w/synthetic ing./sewer sludge, bioengineering,
or ionizing radiation.
organic agriculture - CORRECT ANSWER - Set biological, cultural & mechanical
practices that support the cycling of farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve
biodiversity.
National Organic Standards for Crop Production - CORRECT ANSWER - No prohibited
substance for 3 years prior to harvest.
Establish buffer zones.
Improve soil conditions & reduce erosion.
Crop rotation, cover crop, compost...
Reduce environmental contamination.
How do you improve soil fertility? - CORRECT ANSWER - Compost, animal manures,
green manures, cover crop & mulches.
Seeds & Planting stock organic standards - CORRECT ANSWER - May use conventional
seeds if organic seeds are not available but only if seeds have not been genetically modified or
treated with prohibited substances i.e. fungicides.
, What are the benefits of crop rotation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Interrupt insect life
cycles; suppress soil borne plant diseases; prevent soil erosion; build organic matter/fix nitrogen;
increase farm biodiversity
National Organic Standards for Animal Production - CORRECT ANSWER - Organic
management starts from last third of gestation (2nd day of life for poultry); 100% organic feed,
no synthetic hormones or antibiotics; synthetic vitamins & trace minerals allowed.
Organic Milk - CORRECT ANSWER - At least one year under organic management.
How do you convert and entire dairy herd to organic production? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Providing 80% produced feed for 9 months, followed by 3 months 100% organically produced
feed.
•Any producer, handler, or processor with an annually gross sale of $_____ or more must be
certified. - CORRECT ANSWER - $5000
Who does organic certification? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Certification is done by USDA
accredited certifying agents (ACA).
When can the producer be exempt from certification? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Exempt
producer, handler can be certified and market their product as being certified.
How long shall organic records be kept for? - CORRECT ANSWER - 5 years
How long is the organic certification good for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Until the client
closes their account with the certifier or if it is revoked by CDFA or USDA through process of
law.
