Our roots are deeply embedded in the health of our community and the health of our planet. When you receive a box of our fresh, organic produce, you're not just getting a delivery; you're joining a movement towards a more sustainable and just food system. This means we're constantly searching for new and innovative ways to make our food system better, for everyone.
One way we can contribute to a better food system is by supporting like-minded makers who are also vested in a more sustainable food system. Upcycling food is an ancient tradition based on the philosophy of using all of what you have. It's about doing more with less, and elevating all food to its highest and best use. It is about reducing food waste, by creating high quality, nutritious food products out of the nutrients that slip through the cracks of our food system.
What is an Upcycled Certified Food?
Have you ever stopped to think about what happens to the perfect, beautiful, delicious peach that, for whatever reason, has a slight bruise? Or the apple that grew with an extra little bump? In our current industrial food system, these "ugly" fruits and vegetables are all too often considered "imperfect" or "non-standard." The heartbreaking reality is that a massive amount of perfectly nutritious, delicious food gets wasted at the farm, manufacturing, and distribution levels. This is a monumental problem, both ethically and environmentally.
That's where Upcycled Certified® foods come in. Upcycled Certified®, now officially part of the WFCF family of standards, has a clear and simple mission: to create a world without food waste. The Upcycled Certified® mark is the first-ever third-party certification program for products and ingredients made from surplus food or food byproducts.
In short, Upcycled Certified® foods are products made with ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste. These are high-quality, nutritious, and delicious foods that are given a second chance, transforming potential waste into a beautiful and beneficial new life. Think of it as upcycling your old denim jacket into a stylish new tote bag, but for your pantry!
Here's Why We're All-in:
Fighting Food Waste: Food waste is an environmental crisis. According to the Upcycled Food Association, preventing food waste is the single most effective way to address the climate crisis. When food is wasted, all the resources that went into growing, harvesting, and transporting that food (like water and land) are also wasted. Plus, food rotting in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By supporting Upcycled Certified® products, we're all working together to significantly reduce food waste, a cornerstone of our sustainability goals.
Saving Water: Agriculture is a major consumer of water. Think of the 130 billion gallons of water used to produce food that ends up being wasted. When we support upcycled ingredients, we are, in a very real way, saving water.
Supporting a Circular Economy: The Upcycled Certified® mark is a brilliant example of a circular food system. Instead of the linear "grow, consume, waste" model, upcycling creates a loop: "grow, upcycle, consume." This is exactly the kind of smart, innovative approach that is necessary for a truly sustainable future.
More Choice for You: This isn't just about environmentalism; it's about giving you access to unique, delicious, and nutrient-dense foods! Upcycled products are often made with the skin, peel, or pulp of ingredients, which are incredibly rich in fiber and micronutrients that are often discarded. It's about maximizing the value and nutrition of every single part of our food.
Our Favorite Upcycled Certified Food Makers
We are thrilled to work with innovative companies that are paving the way. Look for these fantastic Upcycled Certified partners and their products when you Customize Your Box:
Floura & Co.: That cut cantaloupe, pineapple, or apples slices in your grocery store? The rinds and cores are helping you bridge the fiber gap, one delicious bite at a time. They transform what most would consider "trimmings" from fruit into nutritional gold. Each fiber bar is packed with 13 grams of fiber, providing 40% of your recommended daily fiber diversity from plants. And the flavors are phenomenal!
The Ugly Co.: They turn "ugly" dried fruits (peaches, cherries, nectarines) into delicious, nutrient-packed snacks. This prevents thousands of pounds of fruit from being discarded solely because of cosmetic imperfections.
Renewal Mill: They're a leader in "regenerative food," creating nutritious flours (like their amazing okara flour from soy milk production) and baking mixes that fight food waste. They're making waste "the next iteration of deliciousness."
Seven Sundays: These oatmeal wizards are committed to "whole food breakfast," and they use upcycled ingredients, like the fiber-rich oat pulp left over from making oat milk, in their delicious granolas.
Smash Foods: If you haven't tried their delicious "fruit, not jam," you're in for a treat. By using "imperfect" berries that would have otherwise gone to waste, they create a product that's low in sugar and packed with vibrant fruit flavor.
Fancypants Baking Co.: Famous for their amazing gluten-free and vegan cookies, Fancypants uses upcycled okara flour (from Renewal Mills!) in some of their products, reducing waste and boosting nutrition.
Rind Snacks: They make incredibly delicious, non-GMO, upcycled fruit snacks (think apple and kiwi chips) by keeping the skin on! By using the whole fruit, they not only reduce waste but also maximize the fiber and nutrition you get with every bite.
We're so proud to connect you with these forward-thinking producers. When you see the Upcycled Certified mark on a product you receive, know that you're directly contributing to a more resilient, sustainable, and less-wasteful food system. It's a win for your tastebuds, a win for the farmer, and a major win for the planet.
Thank you for being on this important journey with us. Together, we can make our food system something to truly be proud of, one farm box at a time.
How To Add Farm Stand Products to Your Delivery
CSA members—head on over to our online Farm Stand Market
to customize your upcoming delivery. Market is open from noon on
Thursday until 6 p.m. on your cutoff date. After you confirm your
produce items, click the orange button "Confirm and Continue To Other
Farm Products" to add the products to your delivery.
Not part of our farm family? Find out if we deliver to your neighborhood. You can even get your whole office in on the fun with our office snack packs. Find more information about our office deliveries here.
