At a time when consumers are increasingly mindful of what they are eating, the choice to support certified organic farms is gaining momentum. The decision to farm organically goes beyond just avoiding synthetic fertilisers and chemicals, it’s about being committed to creating a better future for the next generation. It’s about a sustainable, eco-friendly and healthy approach to producing food.

Our small farm business

 Lakeland has an annual rainfall of 800mm which falls between December and March. The rest of the year is dry. As we are restricted on the water we have available we decided that organic farming would be a niche market that would allow us to farm sustainably and to support our family.  Lakeland Produce is certified with Southern Cross Certified and has been certified organic farming since 2012. We are proud to offer our customers our certified organic products knowing that they are 100% organic, naturally grown protecting the environment and processed by us on our farm. We plant the seeds, nurture and feed the plants, harvest the fruits and cook the preserves ensuring the quality and authenticity of our premium certified organic products from field to fork.

 The process of certification

 As certified organic farmers and processors we are audited annually to ensure we comply with the industry standards. Our agricultural farming practices and the inputs used on our farm and in our preserves are checked to verify we are using only certified organic inputs and ingredients. The audit process also verifies  no chemicals or additives have been used. Soil and fruit samples are taken and tested for chemical residues.  Our farm paddocks are examined to ensure we are regenerating the soil and protecting our natural resources. We have a unique certification number which guarantees that the organic integrity of our products has been verified. Formal organic certification is our guarantee to consumers that along the entire supply chain, our Certified Organic produce has been produced in line with the strict national and industry Organic and Biodynamic Standards.

Buying Certified Organic

The only real guarantee that you are purchasing a product that is 100% organically grown, natural and protecting the planet, is to ensure the product is certified organic and shows a certification number.   

Buying certified organic products supports organic producers like ourselves.  It promotes our ethical farming processes, as well as the sustainable use of our natural resources.

At Lakeland Produce we use farming practices that regenerate the soil promoting biodiversity through crop rotation, natural fertilisers, composting and mulching. We plant trees and create habitat corridors for native animals. All these processes then create habitat for bees, butterflies, native pollinators and predatory insects allowing them to naturally coexist on our farm.

By purchasing Lakeland Produce products with our organic certification SXC 23056 on the label you are guaranteed our product has been grown organically and sustainably and is as a quality product that is as healthy for you as it is for nature.

There are many benefits to purchasing certified organic products. For those consumers still deciding whether to support organic farming, the following is a list of reasons to buy certified organic.

10 reasons to support certified organic farmers

1. Restore soils for productive cropland and secure the future of Australian agriculture. Organic farming systems are based on the principle of land and soil regeneration and best environmental practices. We aim to reduce soil erosion and enhance water conservation. We contribute to the preservation of ecosystems ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.

2. Increase the resilience of farms during drought. Organic farms have a greater resilience in times of drought because of the holistic approach to agriculture which regenerates the soils to increase humus content and biodiversity resulting in a higher capacity to hold moisture.

3. Increase biodiversity and save disappearing native animal habitats. Organic farming significantly supports biodiversity, with up to 50% more plant, insect and bird life found on organic farms (Soil Association, 2011). Organic farms must maintain a minimum 5% native vegetation.

4. Eliminate the use of growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically engineered drugs and feeds in livestock . In Australia around 40 percent of cattle are raised using HGPs (hormone growth promotant) with a total of 6.56 million HGP doses used on farms and in the feedlot industry in the period from 2006 to 2007 (Meat & Livestock Australia, 2008).  Organic livestock is grown in a way that prioritizes the ethical treatment of animals and conforms to natural processes of growth and development.

5. Safeguard the integrity of food. Certified organic provides a guarantee that product has been organically grown, handled, packaged and distributed avoiding risk of contamination of the product to the point of sale. Full traceability is maintained along the chain. 

6. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. Organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, which lowers emissions and provides both economic and environmental benefits (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 2011).

7. Avoid eating food additives in every meal. Many food additives have been linked with symptoms such as allergic reactions, rashes, headaches, asthma, growth retardation and hyperactivity in children. Certified organic products use only organic products and are free of unnatural additives. 

8. Avoid GMOs. Certified organic foods are a great way to avoid GMOs. No genetically modified plant, animal or organism is allowed in certified organic farming or processing.

9. Eat the best-tasting food. Many Australians who consume organic products every day do so because they believe that organic tastes best. Certified organic food boasts a stronger flavour, and is very satisfying.

10. Promote healthy communities. Organic farms are local operations that promote community interaction through farmers markets and small scale farming that connects people to the producers of their food and reduces the carbon footprint associated with long distance transportation.