Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International and produced with the least environmental impact. All growers and handlers must meet rigorous performance criteria in the following areas before being awarded the Organic certification:

• sustainable farming techniques
• prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals
• ecosystem protection
• conserve biodiversity
• maintain environmental quality

Organic refers to a sustainable system of agriculture popularized in the U.S. by farmer and publisher J. I. Rodale in 1946. Organic farming seeks to work with nature, not against it, by utilizing agricultural techniques that build soil fertility and protect the surrounding air, water and wildlife. It emphasizes building healthy, rich soil to produce plants that are high in nutritional value and resistant to pests and diseases.

Certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI), a USDA accredited agency that verifies our growers adhere to the standards prescribed by the National Organic Program (NOP). The QAI Certification Program is designed to certify every step of the organic chain: from the land on which the product is grown; to the producers growing the product; to the post-harvest facilities preparing the product; to the processing and handling facilities transforming the product. This includes the use of sustainable farming techniques that rely on natural systems of production, pest management, and weed and fungal control, such as: cover cropping, composting, beneficial insect release, crop rotation, and prohibited use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It also prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals commonly found in industrial pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The purpose of organic agriculture is to enrich the soil, minimize damage to ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and maintain environmental quality.

What are the standards of Organic Certified USDA?

• sustainable farming techniques
• prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals
• ecosystem protection
• conserve biodiversity
• maintain environmental quality

For more information, please visit http://www.qai-inc.com and http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm.