SOLEDAD, CA - We are living through an era of agriculture in which regenerative practices have taken a front seat. That has been proven tenfold by a partnership between Whole Foods Market and Braga Fresh. Braga recently announced that Whole Foods has committed to purchasing and selling the scheduled trial regenerative crop of organic sweet baby broccoli this summer.
“This early support from an important customer is helping our team continue the farming trials we do not yet have all the answers or know the ending to yet,” said Eric Morgan, Vice President, Environmental Science and Resources at Braga Fresh. This is Braga’s first retail pre-order to support its commitment to crops grown using regenerative practices—a major step in trialing a low-soil tillage concept.
According to a press release, the objectives of the trials are to conserve soil carbon by reducing tillage passes. This allows for an increase in soil biology diversity and decreases consumption of diesel fuel that powers the tractors conducting the tillage operation. With these goals, the company hopes to lessen water and fertilizer usage.
Regenerative agriculture encompasses a variety of farming principles and techniques that seek to help reverse climate change by rehabilitating soil organic matter and biodiversity. This is the third year Braga Fresh is trialing regenerative agriculture practices; 2022 was a learning year and an opportunity to build awareness with the company’s farming peers and retail partners.
Multiple practices are used to implement the regenerative trials, including plant sap analysis, data management, companion plantings, crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, soil testing, and water management technology. All regenerative trials are conducted to meet GMP and LGMA standards, the release noted.
The organic sweet baby broccoli trial crop will be harvested on the Braga home ranch in Soledad, California, and field packed under the Josie’s Organics brand.
Cheers to this forward-thinking partnership!
