Update: In addition to this 3/13/2020 newsletter, we shared our pandemic plan modifications. If you'd like more information, please contact us directly. Thank you!

___ 

It’s our responsibility as your farmers to provide safe food, no matter the season or current events. In these unprecedented times, we wanted to share our approach to producing safe food for you.
 
One of the many benefits of buying directly from your farmer is that you’re a part of a short food chain system. Our goal is to minimize food handling and provide you with the safest, healthiest fresh produce. Unlike shopping at a more traditional outlet where produce would pass through many hands and organizations before reaching your home, each of our harvests travel from directly from our farm to you.
 
For years, we’ve had a food safety plan in place. We had external auditors review, provide feedback on these plans and adjusted accordingly. We require all of our staff to take part in our food safety training program each and every year. Our staff is educated on best food safety practices. They are trained on our systems for monitoring conditions in the field, harvest and post-harvest handling, transportation, storage and overall hygiene. We also distribute supplemental reading materials about food safety on small vegetable farms and reiterate our training throughout the farming season.
 
We've gotten questions about what can you do to help, so please:

1. Wash your hands. Proper handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy, on and off the farm.
2. Wash your produce. We encourage anyone who purchases our produce (or any produce) to wash their produce. While we rinse the produce, fresh produce should always be washed with cold water.
3. Shop small -- support small farmers and local businesses. Small farmers and local restaurants who produce directly for customers depend on your support to continue to provide food in uncertain times. 
4. Ask questions. We believe in and advocate for transparency in food production. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.