growing practices and certifications

 The New York State Grown & Certified program is the first state-wide, multi-faceted food certification program designed to strengthen consumer confidence in New York products, address food product labeling, and assist New York farmers so they can take advantage of the growing market demand for foods locally grown and produced to a higher standard. This certification is only available to those producers who adhere to the best practices in safe food handling and environmental stewardship.  Certification is dependent on farms who regularly participate in on-site audits.  This is a non-required certification that LaMora Farms proudly and voluntarily upholds.   

 Good Agricultural Practices- known as GAP- are a collection of principles to apply for on-farm production and post-production processes resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural products, while taking into account economical, social and environmental sustainability.  In conjunction with the Farm Food Safety Act many commercial produce buyers now require farms to adhere to GAP standards of production, which is regulated by outside third party auditors.  At LaMora Farms we implement GAP in all areas of production- from planting, cultivating, harvesting, packaging and all the way through to delivery.  

In simplest terms, agricultural sustainability is the production of food, fiber or other plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities and animal welfare.  Sustainability unites the 3 P's of growing; People, Planet & Profit; meaning we try to balance being socially progressive, environmentally conscious and fiscally sound.  This is not always an easy act to juggle but we are dedicated to upholding fair labor and operating practices, being involved  and conscious members of our town and community, making the most efficient use of both renewable and non-renewable farm resources, while managing financial risk.

 IPM—integrated pest management—is a choice for solid science, sound solutions in dealing with pests. IPM promotes safe, least-toxic solutions to both pest and pesticide problems.  IPM is integrated because it brings together, or integrates, a range of biological, organic, cultural, mechanical, and chemical options for pest problems. And it’s about management because you can only manage pests—you can’t eliminate them. Although IPM used to focus on insect pests, the range now includes fungi, bacteria, viruses, weeds, wildlife, and more.  IPM rarely relies on just one tactic—it integrates tactics to prevent pests entirely or reduce them to levels you can live with. 

 At LaMora Farms we understand that our customers prefer their produce as close to natural and insect/disease free as possible.  That is why we practice IPM, adhere to GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) standards of production, align our practices with those which uphold agricultural sustainability and voluntarily pass regular food safety audits.  Using guidelines set forth by Cornell Cooperative Extension and working closely with agr.assistance- a leading local crop consulting service - we are able to grow the highest quality fruits and vegetables with the most conservative inputs.  Don't forget, the food we grow for our markets is the same we put on our table at home!