Josie’s Organics Receives "Best" Rating from Whole Foods Market

Braga Fresh Family Farms announced that its Josie’s Organics line of fresh vegetables has earned a Best rating under Whole Foods Market’s Responsibly Grown rating system for fresh produce and flowers, thanks to the line’s top performance in pest management and environmental protection, water and energy conservation, protection of air, soil, water and human health, and more, company officials say. Braga Fresh Family Farms has been in the agricultural industry for three generations. For nearly 20 years, the company has expanded their certified organic program, and in 2013 launched Josie’s Organics, a brand that pays homage to the family’s grandmother, Josie Braga, who began farming with husband Sebastian on the same fertile soil the Braga family grows their line of more than 25 varieties of premium, USDA-certified organic vegetables on today. Whole Foods Market’s Responsibly Grown rating system acknowledges exceptional performance in numerous areas of sustainable farming. To earn a Best rating, farms must participate in 16 practices to protect air, soil, water and human health; use no Whole Foods Market prohibited pesticides and have GMO transparency; employ no biosolids or irradiation; make substantial efforts in water and energy conservation; have advanced soil health; protect rivers, lakes and oceans; make farmworker health and safety a priority; protect bees and butterflies; and demonstrate industry leadership of pest management and environmental protection. “We’re excited to receive the highest recognition from Whole Foods Market for Josie’s Organics’ sustainability practices and commitment to providing great-tasting, organic, fresh vegetables grown with care of the land and conservation in mind,” says Roger Zardo, director of sales at Braga Fresh Family Farms. Responsibly Grown is a result of Whole Foods Market’s collaboration with suppliers, scientists and industry experts to hone in on important issues in food safety and sustainability, while providing more transparency in the industry for supplier accountability and consumer benefit. “With Josie’s Organics, we demonstrate the Braga family’s long commitment to growing sustainably in all aspects, as this is the food we’re feeding our own families, too,” adds Zardo.