I have a backyard, family fig business that I run with my young sons, ages 7 and 5 in Brooklyn. We sold about 20 trees this year in our local flower shop of two varieties that seem to like NYC backyards.
I was recently asked if our trees were certified organic. Obviously they aren't certified anything. While I was annoyed by the question, it got me wondering if anyone has ever gone through, or looked into that certifying process for their trees? Do certified organic fig trees even exist?

Curious to see if anyone here has researched the idea?

Thanks,
Nelson
http://flatbushfigfarm.tumblr.com/

You have wonderful crew.
Certified organic, no clue.

Best wishes.

oh, thanks!

Your sons are absolutely adorable !!

You could get certified for not telling us what varieties you sell or a pointer to your online store.  Which you are going to make for us, right?

I believe there is special wording some companies use in lieu of being certified. Like no added synthetics or something. Then they explain to each customer individually if they are interested-no we are not certified-- did not do that paperwork-- but we do not add anything synthetic. in the case of figs, you could augment that explanation with--figs virtually never need pesticides and are naturally disease-resistant yadda yadda. and in terms of fertilizer we use X which could be certified organic. honesty will always wins in the end.

If we want to talk real talk--some things not certified actually use less toxic stuff than certified organic products. i.e. some people that don't bother to certify may not add anything at all. while some certified organic peeps may be pouring on tons of organic pesticides that can be toxic in high concentrations. I know some good nursery men that arent certified organic but believe their plants to be as chemical free as can be. 

Here in Georgia there is a threshold in revenue under which you don't have to be certified to label your products organic. They take you at your word that you are using organic practices. I think the cap is $5,000. Maybe New York has a similar system. It can cost upwards of $10,000 to get certified.

To be organic you have to use organic products from start to finish. There is a national list of accepted organic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, soil amendments. It is a common misnomer that organic means no herbicides or pesticides.

persianmd2orchard makes a very good point.  There is a difference in being "certified organic" and being "organic."  You can follow organic growing practices but not be "certified organic."  I would think that in most cases, especially given that you are a small business, nobody is going to ask to see your certification...but they'd want to hear (and believe) that your practices are organic.  Right off the bat you'd have to take care (and maybe change) what potting mixes and fertilizers you use.  And if you're taking cuttings from mature trees, you'd have to take care what kind of fertilizers and pesticides are used on them.  And like Alan Mercieca said, even if you had used non-organic practices in the past, all it takes is some time (3 years?) for that to be a non-issue.  Just research what it means to be "organic" and start doing it (and keeping records.)
Also, if someone makes a stink about it, be sure to charge them more ;-)

Hello Nelson,

I believe one of the terms being used is "Naturally Grown". This is to differentiate from organic and certified organic. If the cutting is potted in certified organic soil, it could possibly be tagged "Naturally Grown in Certified Organic Soil". I am not aware of any Certified Organic fig tree nursery, but it probably exists.

Good Luck

In California, at least for fruits, becoming "certified organic" is a minimum 3 year process and a lot of paperwork.

Do any of your customers, or any of the people asking the question have "certified organic" yards? Somehow I doubt it.

Thanks for all the info, its interesting...I think I may go the "naturally grown in organic soil" route vs. certifying since we are so so so small.

racantor, your question about what varieties I grow and sell. One is called Flatbush Dark (unknown) and the other one Flatbush White (unknown). They are two locally grown trees that I take cuttings from. I've been unable to make a positive ID on either variety.

Also, I don't have an online store but we do have a tumblr blog. We sell our trees and cuttings in a local flower shop. Ultimately, we donate a lot of our profits to a local community garden and my sons, if they help me water, get to pick out a lego set of their choice.

Nelson- Organic consumers are a minority so marketing specifically to them is probably not the best idea, if you were selling at a health food store then things would be different. If you want the word organic associated with your trees then print up care cards (makes a gift better) with organic, plant in the ground advice. If you use an organic container mix and fertilizer then say "we use and recommend..." if you are not then just don't give container advice on the card, make it smaller like there is no room to fit it on there. To subtly grab LOHAS (lifestyle of healh and susainability) customers add a "grown local" sign your display and a note on the care card "grown locally in...". Say something too like like "no pesticides required", this will grab your "naturalite" consumers. Get creative but try not to confuse people or make them think you are being tricky. I think it is great you are teaching your kids to garden and make an honest buck. If I can be of any more help please ask.