Our Local Farms and Businesses
Pure Sprouts Organic Delivery is the Lehigh Valley's answer to buying local, organic and/or sustainable produce and much more! Ordering online from Pure Sprouts takes just minutes and we deliver to your door, saving you time to enjoy doing what you love. We work with local farms as much as possible, and also carry certified organic produce from elsewhere.
Buying locally is an important part of sustainability. We visit local farms and get to know the people growing food for us. We add farmers depending on what's available and the season.
New this year: Local, Non-organic, IPM Fruit
We have recently added fruit from farms that use sustainable farm method, IPM, as a pest control method. This produce is labeled Non-organic, IPM. This method is described below.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.
Methods of Pest Control
Once monitoring, identification, and action thresholds indicate that pest control is required, and preventive methods are no longer effective or available, IPM programs then evaluate the proper control method both for effectiveness and risk. Effective, less risky pest controls are chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to disrupt pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding. If further monitoring, identifications and action thresholds indicate that less risky controls are not working, then additional pest control methods would be employed, such as targeted spraying of pesticides. Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides is a last resort.
There is no national certification for growers using IPM, as the United States Department of Agriculture has developed for organic foods. Since IPM is a complex pest control process, not merely a series of practices, it is impossible to use one IPM definition for all foods and all areas of the country.
For more information: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/ipm.htm
A Note about Certified Naturally Grown:
Going into growing season, we have some local produce that is not organic certified. We research the farms that we work with to be sure their beliefs are inline with ours. Some farms choose not to become organically certified for many reasons, even though they would fit the organic standards. Organic certification is costly and the paperwork is extensive. "Certified Naturally Grown" is a certification program used as an alternative to organic certification. The program has its own set of standards used to assure consumers of strict growing practices.If you'd like to know more, check out the website www.naturallygrown.org.
Let me know if you have any questions!
lori@puresprouts.com
Welcome to all of our wonderful farms and businesses!
Stryker Farm in Saylorsburg: Pasture-raised pork and goat products
Rodale Institute: The epitomy of organics located right here in the Lehigh Valley!
And our faithful farms who make Pure Sprouts capable of being what it is!
Liberty Gardens: Operating Certified Naturally Grown
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op: A cooperative of 22 farmers in Lancaster County. All organic products.
14 Acre Farm: Summit Hill, PA. 14 Acre Farm products are certified naturally grown.
Keepsake Farm and Dairy: Dairy and Meats without the use of pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. "The natural way". Keepsake's products are not certified organic.
OH Produce in Kempton: Certified organic microgreens
Dragonfly Knoll in Macungie: Naturall Grown produce
Salvaterra Gardens in Macungie: Naturally grown produce
Cockadoodle Ewe Farm in Easton: All natural chicken eggs and broilers.
Teprovich Farm in Tamaqua, PA. Naturally grown produce, jams, butters, and more!
Koch's Turkey Farm: Raises turkeys who enjoy sunshine and dine on bugs and all natural, vegetarian feed. No antibiotics or hormones are used.
Calkins Creamery: Honesdale, PA. Artisan cheeses made from grass fed cows' milk. The cheeses are vegetarian (using rennet derived from mushrooms). With names like Vampire Slayer and Lida Gold, we couldn't resist these cheeses!
We also work with like-minded local businesses whenever possible:
Fresh Tofu in Allentown
Vegan Treats in Bethlehem
The Granola Factory in Bethlehem
Quinn's Popcorn in Vermont