WHAT IS BEYOND ORGANIX?
Flavor. Nutrient Density.
These are the quality standards that define the fruits, vegetables and other quality foods that receive the Beyond Organix (BYO)™ certification.
If you are here it is because you are interested in flavorful, nutrient dense foods. BYO works with farmers, for customers who demand consistently good flavor and a focus on the nutritional value of foods.
Beyond Organix is an association of grower-members who are committed to a food quality standard defined by high natural flavor and nutrient density. Organic certified does not address nutritional quality standards. Beyond Organix does, and does it organically certified.
We have developed our own evaluation of what constitutes good flavor and nutrient density, drawing upon food science, health science, USDA measurements of nutrient quality, consumer reaction to our produce and the experience of others in the agricultural and retail community who recognize the need to establish a quality standard for growing food that relates to what a BYO customer wants first- flavor and nutrient density.
We are farmer-oriented simply because the soil is the source of food crops. Even for domesticated land animals the soil is the source of nutrition. We nurture a living soil because we have experienced that a healthy, biologically active soil produces plants and crops that consistently taste good, tests high in brix and suffers less from the stresses that bring on insects and cause disease.
But establishing standards tests after the fact. After food is grown, it is too late to improve it. Nutrient density in food is produced ONLY from the soil and ONLY by the farmers. This is why we provide support to the farmers- to ensure that a BYO quality standard is consistently achieved.
It is vital to us that our customers understand what Beyond Organix is about so that when you eat our produce you know that the excellent flavor and nutrient density were not an accident. We wish to convey this understanding through the medium of the internet, our retail representatives and most importantly through the flavor and nutritional quality of the foods that bear the BYO logo.
The Organic Revolution
As farmers and professionals in agriculture we are excited that the awareness in how food is grown is being led by demand from consumers and not as a result of an agribusiness marketing campaign. Organic certified has become a marketing tool in identifying foods desired by consumers. Organic certified means to the consumer clean and safe food. This tells us as growers what we must produce to satisfy this demand. Organic certified means free from noxious artificial chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Going to the Next Level
To be organic certified is not enough. Organic certified does not automatically mean grown for optimal flavor and nutrition. Much of the common perception of organic food to date is that it is cosmetically and sensually unappealing, though this perception is changing as organic farming techniques improve. Most importantly, organic certified does not mean grown for optimal nutrition and flavor. The BYO certification does. Our intent is to go beyond organic to growing for nutrient dense organic. As farmers and agriculture professionals, we know that if we set as our Quality Standard growing nutrient dense, flavorful food that other favorable quality characteristics such as cosmetic appeal and shipping quality will follow.
The Next Generation Organic
The American and Global consumer and farmer owe a great debt to the pioneers of the organic movement. Organic food is more than a product, it represents an awareness of quality of life issues. Organic certified has become the product recognition symbol for this consumer interest. Most of modern society is disconnected from the land. Increased efficiency in agriculture over the years has allowed for a great expansion in the division of labor for man to explore other avenues of intellectual and commercial contributions to our quality of life. But many people question whether or not our food production system has not lost its way in growing nutritious food capable of sustaining good health. Because so much of our food does not taste "good" without the added empty calories of "flavor" enhancing sugar, salt and fats these people also suspect that the loss of natural flavor means the loss of nutritional value.
As farmers, agricultural professionals and consumers of food, we can only say from this perspective that yes, lack of natural flavor is directly related to a poor level of the soluble solids that make up the potential nutrient profile of food. From this same perspective, we can also say that the trees, vines and plants that produce weak produce come from weak soil environments and/or poor quality production systems.
Environmental issues surrounding how land is used for farming raises many pollution questions. Minerals, vitamins and other phytonutrients and health components of our food has declined, many drastically, over the past few decades. Farmers have lost a generation or more of children who do not eat fruits and vegetables because they taste "bad" or have no flavor at all. The honesty of children is revealing because we believe they are correct. Why should they eat natural fruits and vegetables if they have no flavor?
Beyond Organix™ is a response from the farm level to this customer who wants more than just organic. A BYO customer wants to know that we grow for flavor and nutritional content. BYO works with the farmer for the customer.