Shirley Farm has been certified organic by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food in accordance with federal and state law. To be certified, we must submit an annual application to the State which includes details about our crop rotation plan, fertilization schedule, pest control practices and sources of seeds and transplants. We also are inspected annually by the State.
"Certified organic" means that the crop has been grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. But it also means that the farmer employs agricultural practices designed to build soil fertility, to minimize erosion, and to reduce pests and disease through crop rotation and biological controls. Organic standards require that organic seeds be used whenever commercially available and that transplants be grown using organic potting soils. The law also requires extensive documention of compliance with these standards.
Although the regulatory burden of being certified is heavy, we believe that being certified is important because it assures our members that the produce they receive has been grown in strict compliance with national organic standards.
