Food Alliance Certified - Crop Operations

Producers protect water and soil resources by using methods such as: creating buffer zones along waterways, reducing chemical and sediment runoff, managing animal wastes to prevent ground and/or surface water contamination, managing grazing, and using tillage practices that conserve organic matter and soil aggregation. Producers conserve water by encouraging infiltration and storage of rainfall in the soil and increase irrigation water efficiency through soil moisture monitoring and the use of new irrigation technologies. Producers reduce erosion and protect soils by optimizing plant cover throughout the year, by establishing permanent vegetative cover in orchards and vineyards, by using pastures, rangeland, and rotational grazing, and by selecting tillage technologies that minimize degradation of soil quality. Producers conserve and recycle nutrients by converting organic wastes into productive uses and by seeking ways to generate nutrients on the operation through such methods as cover cropping, on-site composting, and integrating livestock into crops production, where appropriate. While chemical fertilizer applications may be necessary in order to bring soil nutrient levels into proper balance, management practices lead to decreased use of commercial fertilizers over time. Food Alliance certified producers make informed decisions regarding pest management and pesticide use. They employ cultural and biological pest prevention strategies to reduce or eliminate the need for a pesticide application. When pesticides are needed, they select effective materials with fewer known environmental and health hazards. Food Alliance producers properly maintain application equipment to ensure precise applications and monitor weather conditions to prevent pesticide drift. When combined, these practices create an Integrated Pest Management strategy adapted to local farm/ranch conditions. As such, Food Alliance producers are able to deliver economically effective pest control while minimizing negative impacts to human health and the environment. Producers foster vegetative cover, food, and water resources necessary for habitat by using methods such as establishing or maintaining biological corridors, managing mowing and grazing cycles, and restoring or protecting wetlands, prairies and woodlands. They take steps to provide habitat for beneficial insects in order to reduce the need for insecticides. Predator control is managed using least impact possible, and trapping/slaughter is only used as a last resort. Producers develop employment policies in order to establish open channels for communicating with employees about such issues as workplace safety and job satisfaction. They provide incentives and opportunities for the development of employee skills and incorporate quality of life issues into daily decision making for themselves, their families and employees." All products should refrain from having GMOs and prohibited pesticide. Producers should be committed to continually improving all aspects of production.