Generally producers, sellers and manufacturers of orgamic produce display their certification proudly.It can be an arduous process, however vigilance is necessary.
How do you know if what you are buying is truly organic? In some places organic certificates are voluntary and in others not well policed. Basically, we should be able to see a logo from one of the certifying bodies on the packaging. If the product, say carrots are being sold loose the seller / producer should be able to show a certificate with a number. The validity of the certifier can be checked out on web sites.
National governments take responsibility of issuing licences to bodies or individual inspectors to certify organic producers. Usually this works well. In Australia, the AQIS the quarantine service has oversight and issues licences. The licences in Australia go to Growers groups which zealously guard their reputations for reliability and honesty. Certification of potential organic producers is an exhaustive process with the philosophy and practice of the grower thoroughly scrutinised. The farm is visited and there are annual audits. Producers must send samples of produce and soil to be tested for residues.
Things may be a little mixed in the USA where there is disquiet about the USDA openness to lobbying from interest groups. An example is the push to allow non-organic hops in organic beer. This would give a great advantage to the large commercial brewers at the expense of the small fry who do source their hops from organic sources.
