SOLEDAD, Calif. – APRIL 17, 2024 – Braga Fresh, home of Josie’s Organics, is marking Earth Day by sharing the progress of the company’s continued commitment to harvest and market regeneratively grown crops; a major step in trialing a low-soil tillage concept designed to increase the carbon content in soil.
This year is the fourth year Braga Fresh is trialing regenerative agriculture practices to better understand the implications and identify the pieces of the concept that may be applied to current commercial farming practices with the goal/focus in mind on reducing soil tillage utilized by the industry in vegetable production.
In 2023 the company increased the total amount of acres regeneratively farmed, harvested and sold to 70, an increase from 32 acres in 2022. The regenerative acreage produced 17,669 cartons sold to U.S. market in Josie’s Organics Brand. In 2024, this product will be marketed with the Carbon Capture Farming mark.
Throughout the year, grant funds support of CDFA Healthy Soils Study, enabled Braga Fresh to formalize a study of a regenerative versus traditional farming approach using 15 metrics and seven healthy soil indicators. The company held webinars and field days on the Braga home ranch to share its findings throughout the year. In February, the company co-hosted the second cover crop symposium for Salinas valley growers with Sustainable Conservation and the Monterey County Farm Bureau.
“We are committed to sharing our successes and failures as we focus on increasing our data set to validate our trial findings,” said Eric Morgan, vice president, environmental science and resources.
Multiple practices are used to implement the trials including Agrology soil probe sensors, plant sap analysis, data management, permanent plantings, crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, soil testing, and water management technology. All regenerative trails are grown to meet GMP and LGMA standards.
“Our intent is to learn, adapt and demonstrate our proof of concept and Salinas Valley farming practices where possible,” Morgan said. “Those changes could reduce our overall CO2 emissions.”
The company’s work was recognized in October with the IFPA: Science & Technology Circle of Excellence award: co-honor with Agrology and in November with the Organic Grower of the year: Presented by Western Growers and Organic Produce Network.
To mark Earth Day 2024, Braga Fresh is sharing its learnings through a video series on its YouTube channel with: progress, learnings and 2024 regen goals. For more information about the company, visit bragafresh.com/regenerative-farming-trials.
About Braga Fresh
In 1928, Sebastian and Josie Braga started farming California’s fertile soil on what is now known as the Braga Home Ranch in Soledad, Calif. Today, the third generation continues the family values of sustainable-organic farming. Braga Fresh sets aside 10% of farmland to beneficial habitat and has the goal of being carbon neutral. Vertically integrated, Braga Fresh combines innovation with tradition to grow, harvest and process fresh vegetables and leafy greens through the Josie’s Organics and Braga Farms brands.