Standards
Protected Harvest
Governing Organization
Auditing / Certification Body
Assessment Type
Third party assessed by non-verified bodies
Sectors Covered
Food, Beverage and Agriculture
Issues Covered
Carbon, CSR, Environmental Management, Food Safety, Organic, Product Safety, Waste and Chemicals Management, Water Related
Description
Protected Harvest is organized as an independent nonprofit organization governed by a Sustainability Council of leading environmental NGOs, scientists, and practitioners that approve sustainability standards. Accredited certification firms conduct annual audits and issue certification. Daily operations of Protected Harvest are managed by SureHarvest www.sureharvest.com. Due to the vastly different growing conditions throughout the United States and the world, Protected Harvest Standards are established to reflect the unique growing requirements and environmental considerations of each crop and bioregion. In order to qualify for certification, growers must stay below an established total number of Toxicity Units per acre. The most highly toxic pesticides are prohibited. Other pesticides may be used with restriction. The overall number of toxicity units permitted is low, and growers must use their chemical choices wisely in order to pass. Each packer or handler of the crop must undergo an additional chain-of-custody handler audit that follows the crop from field to retail, including during storage, packing, pallet loading, and transportation, ensuring the integrity of Protected Harvest’s certification.
