Sustainable farming practices serve the environment well, and there are many farmers out there who do their best to keep their land healthy. As someone who invests in various types of produce, what you choose to sell to your customers speaks volumes about the types of farming practices you support. You want your customers to know how much you care about the planet, so supporting farms that use sustainable farming practices is in your best interest. Here are some of the sustainable farming practices that you can support.
Sustainable Farming Practice #1: Certified Organic
We all know about organic foods, and customers love what they stand for and how they taste. Certified organic is seen as the gold standard for any sustainable farming practice, and it should be supported by anyone who loves the environment. There are certain requirements organic farmers must satisfy.
- Organic produce can’t have any GMO seed in it.
- The farms must receive an annual inspection from the USDA to make sure their produce is up to code.
- The farm has to keep natural resources safe and promote biodiversity.
- Only approved non-chemical, non-toxic, and non-synthetic substances can be used to control weeds and fungi.
- The land can’t have been treated with any prohibited fungicides, herbicides, or pesticides for at least three years.
- The farmer(s) need to present documentation that includes yields and what the projected yearly sales will be. They also need to have records that will be used for later inspections.
Sustainable Farming Practice #2:
Certified Naturally Grown
For anyone who’s visited a farmers’ market, you’ve likely seen the “Certified Naturally Grown” label at some point. Smaller farms that don’t have the same budgets as larger ones, or farms that cater to local markets that are more focused on their health, can often do just as well with this label as the “certified organic” label. Also, this way, these farms don’t have to handle the same expenses and other complications that come with working with the USDA. Here is what needs to be done for a farm to be considered Certified Naturally Grown.
- An application has to be completed, and an annual fee needs to be satisfied. The farm also has to be inspected courtesy of a CNG inspector every year.
- Another local farm has to be inspected every year.
- Farms must be free of any chemical herbicide, fungicide, or pesticide for at least three years (just like with certified organic farms).
- No GMO feed or seed can be used.
- While some documentation is mandatory, record keeping doesn’t demand as much work as it does with certified organic labels.
Baywater Farms Has The Right Produce For You
Baywater Farms is a family-owned and operated farm servicing Baltimore, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware beaches, and the Eastern Shore. We are capable of meeting the demands of your produce distributor, restaurant produce supplier, CSA produce supplier, or wholesale produce supplier while maintaining the integrity and character of a small farm. When you work with Baywater Farms, you work with an experienced, ethical, and local farm dedicated to providing the highest-quality heirloom produce.