Our Farming Philosophy: Environmental Values

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

S wanton Berry Farm is the industry leader in developing organic methods for growing strawberries. Since our inception in 1983, we have been experimenting with alternatives to fumigation with Methyl Bromide and other chemicals widely used on strawberries. After a period of experimentation through 1985, we became completely organic in our production methods. We have been certified by California Certified Organic Farmers since 1987, making Swanton Berry the pioneer of certified organic strawberry farming in California. In 2002, Swanton Berry Farm was awarded the EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for being the "pioneer...in developing the technology of farming strawberries...without relying on the soil fumigant methyl bromide," a major contributor to the depletion of the Ozone layer.

There are two foundations of our farming methods: soil building, and crop diversity.

We have a long-term soil-building program that involves adding biodynamic (biologically inoculated) compost and kelp products, and growing and incorporating cover crops (usually a grain and a legume). We spend several years building the soil before we plant our strawberries.

We rotate our crops around our fields so that we can avoid the build-up of any one soil pathogen. We don't try to eliminate pathogens completely; we just try to encourage the 'good guys' of the soil's biologic profile.

Our crop rotation program helps us manage our insect populations as well because we have several different kinds of plants growing in a field. In addition, we encourage 'good bugs' by planting flowers, which attract them.

Since 1987, researchers from the University of California at Santa Cruz have studied our methods and reported them in various publications. An interesting study done at Swanton Berry Farm between 1987 and 1989 compared "conventional" chemical and organic methods of growing strawberries. It demonstrated that organic methods were possible, though more costly than chemical methods.

While Swanton Berry Farm was alone in the organic strawberry business back in those days, now more farmers have been encouraged to try. We have made a commitment to sharing our experience so that we can encourage other farmers to adopt organic methods. Together we are building a growing capacity to provide the organic strawberries, which many consumers ask for.

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