Banned substances and processes
Here’s what goes into sourcing our absurdly fresh produce.
In order to be considered for inclusion in our marketplace, all farms and growers must meet the following baseline criteria.
Transparency
The growers we work with directly must be fully transparent, and be open to site visits.
Where applicable, all growers and suppliers we work with demonstrate compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Organic
All the produce we include in the Marketplace is certified organic, with the following exceptions:
- If we have a direct relationship with the grower and the grower has signed an affidavit guaranteeing that they don’t use any pesticides, fertilizers or other inputs that are not allowed under the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
- If we have a direct relationship with the grower and they’ve worked with us to develop a plan to meet the above exception within three years, and are currently not using any substance on the prohibited substance list.
- If the product is grown in a closed-loop hydroponic or aquaponic operation either without synthetic fertilizer or with the use of synthetic fertilizer well below the standard usage for field-grown conventional operations; and without the use of any pesticides on the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
Note: In very rare instances, as a last resort, we may deviate from these requirements. For example, if we find out four days before Thanksgiving that all organic Brussels Sprouts are infested with aphids, we would consider sourcing a conventional product. If we did this, we would call out the produce as ‘Conventional.’ We will not deviate from our organic requirement for the sake of our general, everyday assortment.
Labor practices
All produce must come from growers or vendors who have filled out a detailed Labor Practice Standards questionnaire that guarantees that they adhere to the following criteria:
- No forced labor or human trafficking used directly or via their supply chain
- No prison labor used directly or via their supply chain
- No child labor used directly or via their supply chain
- All employees are paid at least minimum wage
- All contracted employees are paid at least minimum wage
- Regular labor practice audits of suppliers, where feasible, or signed affidavits that they also meet our labor standards.
- Growers must not discriminate in any employment practices, including hiring, based on any California protected class.
- Growers must create a workplace free of coercion and harassment. Employees must be treated with dignity and respect.
- Growers must have a reporting process that provides multiple accessible resources for reporting, including resources independent from management.
- Growers may not retaliate against employees for reporting harassment.
- Growers must promptly and thoroughly investigate claims of harassment.
- Growers must periodically train employees on harassment policies.
- Growers must provide employees with a safe working environment, following all applicable health and safety laws.
- Employees must be able to take sick leave when ill without retaliation.
- Employees must be able to unionize or otherwise collectively organize for their interests without retaliation.
Banned substances and processes
We don’t allow any of the produce we carry to undergo these processes or exposure to these substances:
- Irradiation treatment
- Neonicotinoids
- Paraquat
- 1,3-D (Telone)
- Glyphosate (Roundup)
- Atrazine
- 2,4-D
- Methyl Bromide
- EPA Toxicity Class I (highly hazardous) pesticides
- EPA Toxicity Class II (moderately hazardous) pesticides
- Any pesticide not registered with the EPA
Along with our baseline criteria, we also keep the following philosophies in mind when stocking our Marketplace with produce:
- We always put flavor first: a winter greenhouse tomato won’t taste quite as amazing as a September dry-farmed Early Girl, but we’ll always find the best of the season. And when the flavor isn't there, we’re not afraid to call it a season.
- We’re focused on local farmers and growers: The majority of our produce comes from within 150 miles, and 80% is from within 250 miles. That means it gets to your plate much quicker than via a conventional store, full of the absurdly fresh flavor you expect. It also means a smaller carbon footprint, and more money in the local economy.
- We look for growers that go above and beyond when it comes to ecological sustainability: it’s not just what you don’t put on your crops. We aim to support operations that encourage ecological regeneration, biodiversity, and use renewable energy.