1.	Use no synthetic herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or fertilizers on our crops, fields, or livestock. The only products we use on our growing areas are those allowed for organic agriculture.

2.	Care for our soil, water, and air quality with sustainable management practices, including cover crops, composts, crop rotations, mulching, crop diversity, perennial pastures, and buffer strips.

3.	Use no chemically treated or genetically engineered seed; we use organically, sustainably, locally, or regionally produced seed whenever possible.

4.	Treat livestock humanely. We use no hormones or antibiotic-laced feeds or feeds of genetically engineered origin. We provide consistent access to pasture and feed from organic or sustainable, and local or regional, sources.

5.	Follow sanitary post-harvest practices, including proper transport, storage, and use of only potable water for washing.

6.	Seek to enhance the biodiversity of native species on our land and to continually improve our conservation practices, land and water stewardship

7.	Work to enhance the local economy by selling and buying locally as much as possible. We encourage local and seasonal eating to minimize the transport of food.

8.	Support the greater organic and local agricultural community and advocate for the ideals expressed in this pledge.

9.	Are active within our community encouraging and assisting farmers with sustainable practices, helping one another to become better farmers, and creating fertile ground for all local farmers and local markets.

10.	Are locally owned and operated. We provide safe, healthy working conditions and fair compensation for employees, farm staff, and ourselves.

Grain harvesting at Full Circle Farm, Creston.

Grain ready for the CSA at Full Circle Farm, Creston.

Happy cows at Kootenay Alpine Cheese, Lister.

When organic farmers and traders are operating in an anonymous market, certification has been developed to show and guarantee that a product has been produced organically. Certification is the formal and documented procedure by which a third party assures that the organic standards are followed. Certification leads to consumers' trust in the organic production system and the products. Certification gives organic farming a distinct identity and credibility and makes market access easier.

However, besides third party certification and formal standards, there are other methods of organic quality assurance for certain situations and markets. These can be in the form of self-declaration, or participatory guarantee systems, which are seen by IFOAM as suitable for local markets that are not so anonymous as the standard "trade".

IFOAM — The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements

 

Kootenay Mountain Grown Principles

The Kootenay Mountain Grown label is granted to members who register, sign a pledge, agree to Kootenay Mountain Grown certification procedures and sign an affidavit to follow these three guiding principles:

 

Wholesome food is grown and processed using sustainable, non-polluting methods as close as possible to those found in nature.

• No artificial inputs in the form of synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers
• Growing methods that nourish and enrich the soil
• Water stewardship that protects and/or enhances local ecology
• Pest controls that are benign to the overall ecosystem
• Genetic diversity is maintained, including wild plants and wildlife habitats
• No genetically engineered seeds, plants, microorganisms or livestock
• Animals raised using the highest standards of welfare
• Animal feed that meets the principles of Kootenay Mountain Grown
• Use of herbal or homeopathic remedies as first choice wherever possible
• Renewable resources of energy used wherever possible
• Packaging is recyclable wherever possible

 

Wholesome food is, wherever possible, consumed within a short distance of where it was grown.

• Where possible, people should grow at least some of their own food
• Close links should be encouraged between growers and consumers
• Consumers, retailers and distributors give preference to food grown in their locality

 

Wholesome food is an integral part of life and community, rather than merely a commodity for profit.

• Control over food supplies is in the hands of growers and consumers, not corporations

• Food crops and growing methods take account of local growing conditions, local culture and local needs
• Everyone involved in food production and processing is able to attain a quality of life which meets their basic needs and allows an adequate return and satisfaction from their work

• Production, processing and distribution of food are socially just and ecologically responsible

 

 

Kootenay Mountain Grown Label

Kootenay Mountain Grown is a marketing label for local agricultural produce and for products derived there from.

The label will be available for use by producing members of the Kootenay Local Agricultural Society (such as produce farmers, livestock farmers and processors) and by companies that buy or use local agricultural produce (such as supermarkets and restaurants).

The Kootenay Mountain Grown label has been created to enhance the sales of and to create an identity for locally produced agricultural produce and to build and reinforce consumer preference for local products.

Kootenay Mountain Grown (KMG) has been designed to foster a thriving, sustainable local food supply.  It was formed by farmers, food activists, and local food buyers, and responds to an increasing focus on locally grown food.  As well, we desire to have a recognized certification process that is more affordable for small farmers.  Because our fees are much less than for certified organic, it will be accessible for more farmers, making it ideal for the numerous small scale farmers in our region.

Is Kootenay Mountain Grown organic?

The KMG certification process includes that the food can only be grown with products and methods that are approved for certified organic standards.  

In addition, we require that food must be grown within our local region, which is what sets us apart from organic certification.  Several Kootenay food buyers have agreed to recognize this certification as similar to certified organic.

Many of our farmers have been certified organic in the past, but want to move towards a different sort of food system- one with a specific mandate to foster local, sustainable agriculture.

Why do we need two organic societies in our area?

One important difference between Kootenay Mountain Grown and certified organic is that Kootenay Mountain Grown is not a recognized certification organization outside of the Kootenay region, and it does not mean the farmer is certified organic.  Farmers that sell to other areas will still need to be certified through an organic certification body, such as Kootenay Organic Growers Society (KOGS).  Some farmers may prefer to maintain their certified organic status for this or other reasons; having two societies gives farmers more choice about how they market their products.

Why do farmers and consumers choose Kootenay Mountain Grown?

As organic food has become more popular, there has been a noticeable degradation of organic standards and quality, as well as steady decline in small farms.  This is due in part to big business involvement which brings a propensity for cheap organic food, along with an increase in imported organic food.  Less attention is paid to the founding philosophies of organic certification, which follows farming and gardening practices based on a deeply held belief system, including a love for the earth and a healthy environment as well as wholesome delicious food.  It is on these principles that Kootenay Mountain Grown is based.