BACKGROUND Organic pest management eschews synthetic pesticides and insecticide resistance is rarely studied in organically managed systems. Spinosad is a biologically based insecticide used widely by both organic and conventional growers. Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is infamous for its ability to evolve resistance to insecticides. Spinosad resistance was surveyed in conventionally managed fields in eastern New York in 2006. In response to grower reports of spinosad failure on two organic farms in 2009, resistance to spinosad was assayed in both conventionally and organically managed fields the following year, and growers were surveyed for their prior spinosad use. RESULTS In 2006, spinosad resistance measured as median lethal dose (LD50) varied 9.8‐fold among the eight conventional fields sampled and a laboratory susceptible strain. In 2010, the resistance ratios of LD50 values relative to a laboratory susceptible strain ranged from 17.5 to 40.6 in conventionally managed fields, and from 128.7 to 5750.3 in organically managed fields, a dramatic increase from 2006 with higher resistance ratios in organically managed fields. Organic growers reported much heavier use of spinosad in the years prior to 2010. CONCLUSION This is the first report of high‐level resistance to spinosad in Coleopterans. Selection strength due to number of years used and number of applications per season appear to have been the primary factors driving the evolution of resistance to spinosad, highlighting the need for resistance management in organic production, where fewer alternative active ingredients for resistance management are available. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. The biologically based insecticide spinosad can be used in both organic and conventional insect management, but much high levels of resistance in Colorado potato beetles evolved in organically managed fields in Eastern NY, where fewer alternate treatments are available and growers relied on it more heavily. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.