Driscoll's Organic Container Production Update
We appreciate that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Crops Subcommittee (CS) has acknowledged that hydroponics and container production are two very distinct and different growing systems. Driscoll’s does not grow hydroponic, aquaponic or aeroponic crops. Containerized production is not the same production system as hydroponics which is a water-based production system. Driscoll’s organic supply comes from both certified in-ground production and certified containerized production.
Driscoll’s has the highest standards in our organic agricultural practices, and we strictly adhere to the rigorous rules and regulations of the National Organic Program. The National Organic Standards Board confirmed that greenhouse production in soil and containers are aligned with organic principles in its recommendation in 2010 and reaffirmed this position in its discussion document in 2016. We support continued discussions and appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the October 2017 Crops Subcommittee Proposal Hydroponics and Container-Growing Recommendations. You can read Driscoll’s recommendation here:
The core of organics is producing high quality food while being a steward of the environment. Container production exemplifies the organic spirit extremely well, and existing organic rules require inputs be free of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. Our organic crops comply with the National Organic Program (NOP) definition of Organic Production:
A production system that is managed in accordance with the Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
Container production berries use significantly less water and inputs. This is no simple task and has taken many growers a lot of time and investment to develop this system into a commercially feasible practice. We encourage this type of innovation as a company and know that farming is an ever evolving production system that is an essential part of society.
Our nursery and independent grower commitment to the National Organic Program runs long and deep. We’ve provided certified organic strawberry planting stock to organic growers since 2008. In 2015, we committed to providing organic planting stock to all organic berry growers over a ten‐year period. Driscoll’s handling facilities and select growers have been certified since 1997. We work diligently to meet or exceed both the organic principles and standard in order to uphold the integrity of our berries and the organic seal.
Family owned for over 100 years, Driscoll's is passionate about growing premium fresh berries. Our first strawberries were grown and sold in the Pajaro Valley, CA in 1872. Since our first sales of organic berries in the late 1980’s, Driscoll’s innovation continues to pave the way for the organic berry market by continuously improving organic production practices. As the leader in the fresh organic berry market, Driscoll’s is a trusted brand for consumers looking for organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. We are certified by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) one of the oldest and largest third-party organic certifying agencies.