Organic: To Be or Not to Be?

Many CSA members have asked why we are not certified organic. To sum it up, our food philosophy is about nutritious, locally-grown whole foods, and "organic" foods do not always fit this description!

To be certified "organic," farmers must pass rigorous government inspections, which takes time and attention away from the labor-intensive process of planting, growing, and harvesting. It is also very costly to obtain organic certification from the government, and we would rather not have to pass that cost along to customers and CSA members.

This is not to say that we don't favor pesticide-free produce--we never use pesticide on our fruits or veggies. The truth is that a wide variety of food can be certified organic; it is even possible to have an organic Twinkie. There is organic maltodextrin and organic corn syrup--items we tend to avoid in our own family. Further, organic food is shipped all across the world--that organic apple juice box you pick up at the supermarket in Virginia may have come from Turkey. "Organic," in our view, has become just another brand, and we prefer to offer brand-free, pesticide-free, real food that goes from the farm to your dinner table.

We grow what you eat. Our produce comes from fewer than 50 miles away to the farmers' markets and your homes. It has not been treated for flavor, color, or shelf-life. We do not use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Our prices are much lower than those of our competitors--you shouldn't have to go broke to enjoy whole foods. Fresh, local fruits and vegetables form the basis of a healthy diet--no Twinkies in sight!