Organic certification: the experience of the Association of Organic Producers and Producers of the Vale do São Francisco-APROVASF – PE/BA

Abstract

The organic certification of production units has been a challenge to the processes of agroecological transition in Brazil. Seeking to understand this process in the northeastern context, this work had the objective of retrieving and analyzing the experience of the São Francisco Valley Organic Producers Association - APROVASF regarding the certification process of the organic production by the different categories of farmers that integrate it. For this purpose, a systematization work was carried out, consisting of reports of technical projects to support farmers and the association with emphasis on the work of PLANTEC/CODEVASF, as well as the consultation, records and interviews to different categories of farmers that integrate the association. The initiatives established in the context of organic production in the various categories environments in the Petrolina/PE and Juazeiro/BA Poles allowed for the success in the constitution of the association. However, this organization experiences a process of building autonomy and overcoming difficulties in meeting the aspirations of the diversity of membership profiles that constitute it.