I love arugula. Its slightly peppery taste gives my salads a flavor boost that I just adore! For years, I had been buying the traditional bagged arugula that I found with the other bagged salad blends that are put out by the usual mass-market suppliers nationwide. Then, one day, my local grocery store was out. Faced with the harrowing idea of not having arugula in my salad for a week (GASP!), I sought other alternatives.
Nearby, I discovered the organic arugula. “Hmm,” thought I, “This is only $.50 more, and it’s organic. Why haven’t I been buying this the whole time?!” And so began my love of organic arugula and other organics as well. It wasn’t until much later that I noticed that not only was the arugula organic, it also had a label of “Sustainably Grown” on the package, and I wondered about that as well.
Now that I’ve gotten a TASTE (pun intended) for buying from establishments that share my worldview, I have developed a quick litmus test for establishing where I make purchases.
Upon checking the company’s website, I discovered that they are a nearby farm in my county, so not only are their foods sustainable, they’re local as well! But even that couldn’t compare with what I learned of their sustainability practices.
Indoor Growing
The farm consists entirely of indoor growing spaces. ALL of the plants are grown year-round within the confines of greenhouses. Thus, no pests ever have access to the plants and no pesticides are needed or used. In fact, they don’t chemically treat their plants in any way. There is no need for “triple washing” or other techniques as nothing is put onto the plants that would require washing off.
In fact, when the plants are processed and packaged, they move through an automated water flume conveyor system. This allows the produce to be prepared for market without ever touching human hands. The first fingers to touch my food are mine…I never envisioned that as possible in purchased fresh foods, but found myself really drawn to the idea once I learned of it!
Captured Water
In addition to the lack of chemicals used within the greenhouse, the water they use on the plants is chemical-free as well. All of the water used on the plants is captured from rain and snowmelt. They then put the water through a UV sterilization process rather than chemically treating it as is done with city water. Again, this allows for their plants to be grown in an entirely chemical-free environment. But is the water safe? Yes! They test it daily, and send it to an independent lab for verification monthly.
What’s more, or actually less, is that because the plants are grown indoors, they require less water to grow. How much less? They need 90% less water than plants grown outdoors! That’s a huge win for sustainability.
Plenty of Light
Minnesota (where I’m from) has no lack of natural light. In fact, many areas of the state get more sunlight annually than areas of California where solar farms provide energy to the state’s power grid! Our trouble isn’t lack of light but that our winters are bitterly cold. The greenhouses of this farm, with their walls and ceilings of glass, are the perfect solution for capturing light and being able to grow plants in the otherwise in-climate temperatures of Minnesota all year-round. Less energy is used on UV lighting than would otherwise be required so again sustainability is maintained.
The Perfect Partnership
Upon reading about this farm, I felt better and better about buying my produce from them. Sustainable, organic, local – all of the qualities that I wanted were the hallmarks of their business which made me feel great about buying from them.
Now that I’ve gotten a TASTE (pun intended) for buying from establishments that share my worldview, I have developed a quick litmus test for establishing where I make purchases. I simply ask myself this: If I were a farmer, a clothing manufacturer, a distiller, etc., would this be the business I would run? If yes, we’re good to go!