Having had health problems from a young age, we turned to organic farming 25 years ago.  We have now been here on our present farm since 1998.  We try to have a wholesome soil fertility program which also finds and soil animals below ground.  We are now implementing a rotation of 1-year cover crop following then 1-year vegetables and produce.  We also try to have a thick cover of green manure / cover crop to plow down in the spring of the vegetable/produce year. 

We have discovered that the old-time heirlooms are nutritionally more balanced.  Hybrids are unable to draw a balance of nutrients from the soil thus hindering soil balancing and rejuvination.  Testing also has verified that heirlooms are more soil-life friendly.  Taking all this  in consideration including brix readings on a refractometer (brix is used in the food industry for measuring the approximate amount of sugars in fruits, vegetables, juices, wine, soft drinks and in the starch and sugar manufacturing industry), we are beginning to realize a much greater difference in hybrids and open pollinated / heirloom crops than was originally thought to be.  The higher brix, the more nutrient dense the vegetable - heirlooms have a lot more flavor too!

Higher brix/nutrient density is what makes flavor.  We steer clear from GMO seeds and are working on phasing out all hybrid crops too.  Our farm is very isolated here in our valley, making it easier to ensure organic purity including purity from GMO contamination, and sufficient isolation for seed saving purity also.

We strive to produce quality produce and our hope is that you are pleased with both quality and flavor!

Daniel and Esther Yoder, Spring Valley Produce