Church Brothers Organic True Leaf Farms, CA

 

Family owned: Church brothers

 

Jurisdiction over growers: Provides internal audits per GAP guidelines of growers and harvest crews

 

Products:

Lettuces, broccoli, endive, escarole, cauliflower, celery, cabbages, bok choy, green onions, cilantro, parsley, kale, leeks, radishes, snap peas, snow peas, spinach, salad mixes

Church Brothers LLC – field fresh pack items

True Leaf Farms – ready to eat items

1800 acres organic, 40,000 acres non-organic

Basic good farming practices reduce risk of crop failure by going all organic

 

Food safety:

GMP, GHP

GAP – excellent scores/clean history

Developed "Lighthouse FS&Q" food safety quality program for use in-house and for other companies

Laser scans of each box and pallet

Innovative and advanced cooling techniques

"Truck appointment schedule" minimizes shipping times

 

Green:

Recycle all materials possible

Water conservation by reduced run-off

Plans to use bio-diesel are forthcoming

 

Pesticide use:

Good farming practices and IPM used

 

Fertilizer use:

Use of amendments – compost, calcium based on soil analysis

Each ranch determines use on individual basis

 

Sustainable:

"Right seed in best ground"

Crop rotation

Crops planted based on knowledge of weather, rotation, shipping schedules

Soil erosion management through cultivation and rotation

 

Independent testing:

AIB, Silliker Lbs, Primus Labs (Church is a co-founder), LGMA confirms water and soil analyses

HACCP approved; Fair Trade certified

Other state/federal certification:

CDFA, OSHA

 

Comments:

Website provides online access to Raw Product Test Results and Food Safety Documentation – accessible by anyone at .churchbrothers.com)