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)