Organic Food

Loffredo Fresh Produce stocks a wide spectrum of certified organic greens, fruits, vegetables and dairy and has the ability to order numerous other items from organic farms according to customer needs. These foods are grown and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. Strict policies and procedures are followed in order to be certified organic.

According to Earthbound Farm, an organic supplier for Loffredo Fresh Produce, "Certified organic" refers to produce grown on farms that have been inspected by an independent, third-party certifier. The certifier ensures that a certified organic farm complies with the strict National Organic Program standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

To earn certification, organic farms must:

• Have long-term soil management plans
• Establish buffers between their fields and nearby conventional farms
• Meet specific requirements for labeling and record keeping
• Use no chemical herbicides, fumigants, or synthetic fertilizers, and no unapproved pesticides on soil or produce
• Keep detailed records of all the materials used in their growing operations
• Observe a 3-year transition period for fields that have been farmed conventionally (during this time, the field must be farmed organically, and produce grown on this land may not be labeled "organic" until the 3-year transition period is completed)

Annual certification inspections enforce the USDA's strict guidelines, so consumers have the security of knowing exactly what goes into their certified organic food.