Various embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and apparatus for automatic certification of food products. In an example embodiment, apparatus comprises a hand-held device including a display and one or more input devices to sense product identification indicia associated with or affixed to a food product that is grown or raised in an agricultural operation. The hand-held device includes at least one processor to determine a machine-readable identification code from the product identification indicia and send the identification code to at least one remote server. The device also receives, from the at least one remote server, agricultural certification information that is associated with the product, the certification information indicating compliance of the product with at least one agricultural certification established by a certification authority and having one or more requirements.