The produce section is a highlight of our store, especially during the spring and summer seasons when the majority of available produce on our shelves has been grown locally. There is no other store in town where you can walk in on a summer day and find locally grown berries, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, beets, greens, and more all in the same shopping trip. While we strive to provide our customers with as much local produce as possible, we do offer many different types of produce all year round. Simply check our produce signs to find out whether an item is “Organic,” “Local,” “Local Organic,” or “Conventional.”
What is Organic?
Organic produce has been grown using farming practices that promote environmental sustainability through the use of crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control, and through the exclusion of synthetic materials such as fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. Farmers must go through a certification process and follow a strict set of standards in order to be labeled “organic.”
What is Local?
Local produce has been grown and harvested in and around St. Lawrence County. While these growers are not certified organic, many of them use organic practices. If you would like to learn more about specific local suppliers and their growing practices, then check out our vendor book in the store! Each “Local” produce label will contain the name of the farm/farmer that supplied the product to us, so that you have the comfort of knowing exactly where your produce comes from!
What is Local Organic?
Local Organic produce has been grown and harvested in and around St. Lawrence County. These growers have gone through the necessary certification processes to be labeled “Organic” by NOFA-NY.
What is Conventional?
All of the produce we carry that does not have an organic certification is considered to be “conventional.” In contrast to organic growing, conventional growing practices often include the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms that allow for higher crop yields, greater resistance, and larger mass. Why do we carry conventional produce, you might ask. Well, the reason for that is because we are committed to serving everyone in our community, therefore we want to provide our customers with choices. Sometimes, organic produce is too expensive to be the only available option, and sometimes certain varieties of produce are only available to us through conventional suppliers.
