Fresh, Local, Sustainable Food for NE Iowa Sustainable Farming Practices
At GL we are concerned about the health of our land, the health of our farmers, and the health of our customers. We require our growers to use sustainable farming methods to ensure the land will continue to provide for us for generations to come. Our goal is to ensure the economic viability of our farms, while maintaining the ability to produce food indefinitely without the input of large amounts of outside resources.
Some of our farms are certified as USDA Organic, and follow all the requirements to maintain that certification and, while some farms are not certified as organic, they do not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides for most crops.
Fruit crops are the most difficult to raise without any chemical assistance, and these are the most likey to have been treated. All of the Fruits and Berries sold through GL have been thoroughly washed and rinsed to remove as much residue as possible.
Sustainable Practices:
- Selection of species and varieties that are well suited to the site and to conditions on the farm;
- Diversification of crops (including livestock) and cultural practices to enhance the biological and economic stability of the farm;
- Management of the soil to enhance and protect soil quality;
- Efficient and humane use of inputs; and
- Consideration of farmers' goals and lifestyle choices.
For more information on sustainable agriculture check out the following links:
Wikipedia: Sustainable Agriculture
