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sustainability @ viridian farms
F A R M_ +_ F O O D_ S A F E T Y
- managers trained in GAPs (Good Agricultural Practiices) standards
- do not use any manures or raw animal products (such as bone meal, feather meal, blood meal) for fertilizing crops
- only potable, tested well water is used to irrigate crops;
we do not pump/irrigate from sloughs or surface water
- harvesting aids, equipment and delivery containers are cleansed daily using food-grade disinfectants
- extensive training of crew on a variety of aspects including equipment safety, first aid, fruit/vegetable harvest & handling (food safety), and field sanitation
- product traceability system in place that tracks exact harvest date, precise field location, and harvest/pack crew on every individual package leaving our farm
W A T E R_ S T E W A R D S H I P
- vast majority of our water needs are managed with drip irrigation
- partnered with Oregon Energy Trust to install Variable Frequency Drive to maximize efficiency of irrigation operations, siginificantly reducing overall electricity usage
- utilize raised beds covered with black plastic on all vegetable crops to retain moisture from drip irrigation lines
- water during select times of day to minimize loss to evaporation
- farming a diverse mix of orchard crops and Spring crops that do not require irrigation in our current microclimate
S O C I A L_ A W A R E N E S S
- fair wages for our agricultural workers; we do not utilize interns or volunteers, as we strongly feel that our employees should be compensated for their work
- all employees are offered paid sick leave as well as health benefits, and in most cases up to 75% of their monthly insurance premiums are paid for by viridian farms
- excess harvested crops are donated to several food bank organizations
- ...we are also a minority-owned business
C R O P S_ A N D_ H A R V E S T_ P E R I O D
- select varieties and items that do not require intensive use of resources
- do not farm during the winter; not using resources to heat greenhouses year-round to extend our season
L A N D_ P R E S E R V A T I O N
- at present, approximately 8 acres of our farmland are set aside as a "reserve" that we are not farming, and never will, providing a vital habitat for herons, owls, hawks, deer, coyote, ducks, geese, quail, and other local wildlife
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