IPM crop standards, certification, and labeling can help you communicate product value to your customers
The IPM Institute of North America, Inc. helps reward farmers that practice IPM. It provides verifiable certification for products and services meeting the Institute's high standards. It also offers seminars and workshops on certification, labeling, and other related issues.
Protected Harvest independently certifies farmers' use of stringent environmental growing standards that support the Healthy Grown label.
The Food Alliance is developing certification for products produced sustainably.
Red Tomato brokers eco-farm products around the US.
The Organic Alliance encourages organic agriculture with an advertising, media and promotional initiative and includes a label for retail use.
Organic Crop Improvement Association - organic farmers rely on bio-intensive IPM to control all pests without pesticides. This farmer organization works with farmers to certify as organic. They may be able to provide you with information on how to transition to organic production.
Home Grown Wisconsin can help you market products grown with biological pest control.
If you direct market fresh fruits and vegetables you may be eligible to list your IPM products with The Farm Fresh Atlas. There are five atlas projects around the state: Southern, Western, Central, Southeast, and Eastern Wisconsin. For information on the atlas in Eastern Wisconsin, contact Fred Depies, fkdepies@charter.net or 920-898-1814.
Who sponsors this site?
This site is made possible by Wisconsin agricultural organizations that know reducing high-risk pesticides is both possible and desireable. Reducing pesticides is possible because farmers and researchers are continually searching for better ways to manage pests. Reducing high risk pesticides is desirable because high risk pesticides can have unintended negative affects on our health and environment.
A number of agencies also support the University of Wisconsin's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems work on pesticide reduction. They are:
- US EPA - Minor and Specialty Crops IPM Special Projects: “Pesticide reduction in WI fruit production,” 2006-2009
- USDA Special Projects pesticide reduction grants, 2002-present
- Center for Agricultural Partnerships, in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters: “EQIP for apple growers,” 2005
- American Farmland Trust, in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency – Region V: “Pesticide Risk Reduction in WI Apple/Fruit Production,” 2004-2007
- USDA SARE PDP: “WI Eco-apple production education and outreach,” 2004-2006