Sustainability and Environmental Commitment
People who know the
Fitz Fresh name also know the environment plays a crucial role
in its daily operation. The farm manages all of the process
water from farm operations, with no runoff into neighboring
watersheds or surrounding eco-systems.
Fitz Fresh proactively and independently implemented procedures
that far exceed local, state and federal environmental
standards. The Natural Resources Conservation Services, the
United States Department of Agriculture, and the Pajaro Valley
Water Management Agency have praised these proactive efforts in
water conservation.
The farm operation is a model of sustainable agriculture.
Composting utilizes baled wheat straw and other ingredients
which are agricultural by-products to produce a valuable food
crop. Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM) have long been
used in managing pests and diseases.
For the slopes of the
farm that border the Watsonville slough system, in particular
the neighboring Struve slough, no pesticides or herbicides are
used. The Fitz staff is working in cooperation with the wetlands
groups for best practices to manage invasive plant species.
At the end of each crop, the spent mushroom compost is a
valuable horticultural mulch and soil conditioner. |