FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE YOU CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
We are a USDA certified organic Vegetable and Fruit farm certified by a USDA third party approved auditing organization, Natures International Certification Service.
MUST YOU USE PLASTIC PACKAGING?
All of our packaging is sourced from post consumer recycled materials (i.e. clamshells, greens and root vegetable bags). Due to food safety and product quality concerns, we must use these types of packaging. Plus, by putting our greens in clamshells, the shelf life is extended by at least 2 weeks and we are able to sell our greens and keep them on the shelves at local grocery stores with a 2 week expiration date. We are always looking for better options to reduce our plastic use on the farm and will continue to do so.
WHAT METHODS DOES THE FARM USE TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT?
The greenhouses, main building and homestead are heated using a High Efficiency Gasification Wood Boiler. This means we are able to burn our wood at a 79% efficiency rate, while keeping particulate emissions below USDA Tier 2 emission standards, which is the highest environmental rating for wood boilers.
Our solar panels provide an energy offset of 75% for electricity used on the farm. We turn the solar panels manually 4 times a year.
ARE YOUR TOMATOES SOIL GROWN? ARE THEY GROWN IN A "HOT HOUSE"?
All produce on the farm is certified organic and soil grown, this includes summer fruiting crops (i.e. tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.)
All tomatoes are grown in greenhouses in the summer. These tomatoes have access to the same amount of natural sunlight, soil, and nutrients as outdoor field plants would.
Some may think greenhouse vegetables do not stand up to field grown crops. But this is not the case! Our tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. are very delicious and full of nutrients - we stand behind that 100%!
DO YOU OFFER A CSA (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE)?
We are a farm member and owner of MI Farm Coop. This co-op is owned by all of its farmer members and collectively we offer a multi-farm CSA. To sign up for a CSA or learn more you can visit their site.
WHERE CAN I FIND YOUR FLOWERS
We sell flower bouquets at the farm market, Oryana, and Oryana West.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THE FARM MARKET IS OPEN?
Our on-farm market hours vary depending on the season. We always keep our hours up-to-date on google, yelp, our website, social media, and hours are printed at the farm store.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE OTHER LOCAL PRODUCTS AT YOUR STORE, WHY DID YOU STOP CARRYING THESE?
To sell other businesses products we need a Retail Food Establishment License which we are unable to attain at this time. We are working towards this goal in the future but we need to expand the building and build a bathroom first.
CAN WE WALK AROUND THE FARM?
Farm tours are given on a requested and scheduled basis only.
Get in touch here.