US(CA): Nagata Bros. blueberries earn pesticide residue free certification
"It is quite a feat to produce berries in California without the use of chemical pesticides," said Brandon Nauman, SCS Food Testing Project Manager. "Nagata Bros.' efforts have resulted in a delicious, nutritious product that satisfies the most demanding consumers."
Nagata Bros. Farms, based in Oceanside, California, plans to roll out packaged "California Sweet" blueberries featuring the SCS Kingfisher certification mark with the Pesticide Residue Free claim at retail locations, including Albertson's and Stater Bros., later this month.
"Nagata Brothers Farms has been committed to growing high-quality crops while incorporating sustainable pest-management practices for over twenty years. Growing our blueberries without pesticides enables us to meet the tough Pesticide Residue Free standard -- that's good for business, the environment, and our workers," Neil Nagata, President of Nagata Bros. said. "The SCS Kingfisher certification mark assures our customers that they can buy fresh, delicious blueberries without worrying about pesticide residue."
SCS, based in Emeryville, California, has been providing third-party certification of Pesticide Residue Free claims for three decades, along with other environmental, sustainability and food safety claims. The certification process provides important feedback to producers to help them fine-tune their pest management practices to minimize or avoid use of high-risk pesticides. Before harvest, SCS collects "worst-case" samples from the field and packing sheds, then analyses them under a rigorous testing protocol to confirm that they are free of all pesticide residues down to 0.01 ppm or the analytical limits of detection.
For more information
Neil Nagata
Nagata Bros. Farms
Tel: +1 (760) 966-2870
Email: neilt@pacbell.net
Ned Halaby
SCS Global Services
Tel: +1 (510) 452-6822
Email: nhalaby@scsglobalservices.com
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