Almost 30,000 acres of farmland are certified by Protected
harvest for production of winegrapes, potatoes, mushrooms,
stonefruit and citrus.
The Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission is known worldwide in the wine industry for
their sustainable winegrape growing program. Over 10,000 acres are in certified production.
Beginning in 2005, the Lodi rules! for sustainable Winegrowing label is now appearing on wine bottles from six wineries. Up-and-coming Michael-David Winery, known for awardwinning “7 Deadly Zins” and “Incognito” wines, pays a premium for grapes certified by
Protected Harvest.
Modern mushroom Farms, inc. is the second largest producer of mushrooms in the U.S.,
providing mushrooms to SYSCO, Green Giant Fresh (exclusive provider), and retailers
throughout the nation. Over 25 acres of mushroom production is certified in operations on
both the East and West Coasts.
In May, 2008, Freshsense, the company behind Ripe ‘N Ready peaches, plums and nectarines,
launched Zeal™. Zeal is the first and only tree fruit product certified as sustainable through an
independent audit. Together these stonefruit growers, including Ballantine Produce Com
pany,
Fowler Packing, George Brothers and Sunwest Fruit Company, produce more than 20% of U.S.
stonefruit. Over 10,000 acres of stonefruit is produced under Protected Harvest standards, and
starting with the 2008-09 crop year, nearly 3500 acres of citrus and mandarins will be certified
and distributed under the Zeal brand.
The healthy Grown brand for potatoes was launched in 2001 as a collaboration of the
Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, the World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of
Wildlife, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Between 1995 and 1999, Healthy Grown
farmers reduced environmental impact units from pesticides by 37%. Over 3000 acres of
potatoes in Wisconsin are Protected Harvest certified. Healthy Grown potatoes were the first
commercial product to carry the World Wildlife panda logo in the United States.