Produce

Offering an enticing selection of seasonal, local and organic fruits and vegetables.

You will find our produce to be carefully selected for its freshness and quality. Your health and wellness are our top priority and we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality, trustworthy choices.

Produce Definitions

In our produce section you will find a number of farming terms used to describe the methods by which a crop is grown. Listed below are definitions for common terms you will see in our department to help you understand what makes these items unique.

Organically grown
Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soil, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

Conventionally grown
Conventional agriculture relies on practices popularized during the green revolution (1945-1970) such as the systematic use of pesticides, chemical fertilizer and agricultural equipment. Conventionally grown products often use fertilizers and pesticides that allow for higher yield, out of season growth, greater resistance, greater longevity and generally greater mass.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.

Bio-dynamic
A holistic method of organic gardening and crop cultivation in which certain factors, such as planetary and seasonal cycles, are considered.

Transitional
To become certified organic, a farm must have 3 years without the use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMO’s. A farm making the transition from conventional to organic is called Transitional during the three years prior to certification.

Hydroponic
A method of growing plants in water rather than in soil. Nutrient rich solution is delivered to the roots in a highly soluble form. This allows the plant to grow faster and produce higher yields.

Heirloom
A plant or animal with an older genetic pedigree that has been nurtured, selected, and handed down often from generation to generation in a family.

Fair Trade
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equality in international trade. Unlike conventional international ‘free trade’, fair trade emphasizes social justice and environmental stewardship.