Organic Times is 100% Certified Organic
Since 1999, Organic Times has been providing products that are organic, sustainable, high quality, tasty and ethical. In our commitment to providing the market with trusted organic produce, we have been certified organic by NASAA since inception. However, with the recent closure of NASAA, we had to transition to another approved certifying body. We applied for certification with Southern Cross Certified (SXC) and were awarded full organic input approval for all our current products and processes.
Organic certification subjects our practices and processes to routine checks scrutinised by SXC. Certification gives us the confidence that we are providing organic products to the world with integrity.
On our packaging you’ll find we are currently transitioning from NASAA to the new SXC logo for certification identification. This allows consumers to buy with the confidence that Organic Times complies with strict organic standards. Rest-assured, there are no nasties such as synthetic herbicides, artificial pesticides and fertiliers, synthetic chemicals, added hormones or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our products.
Organic Standards
SXC has a set of rules and regulations called ‘Organic Standards’ that we must follow. This handbook outlines operating under certification and includes labelling requirements, list of prohibited products, etc.
An Operational Handling Plan (OHP) outlines our processes and activities ensuring we adhere to SXC’s Organic Standards; we are required to complete an OHP, annually. We must also engage in audits and allow physical inspections of our operations, products and ingredients. There is ongoing record keeping and compliance data to provide throughout the year. If we wish to launch new products, use new ingredients, or create new recipes or packaging, we must have pre-approval by SXC. SXC periodically runs tests on products on retail shelves too.
SXC provides its operators with resources to help with our business and keep us informed. Refer to their website for more info.
Organic Farming
Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land, year after year, with the same crop. This practice leaves the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients, as there is no natural diversity of plant life. To counteract soil issues, farmers use chemical fertilisers. Crops also make plants more susceptible to pests, therefore farmers become reliant on synthetic pesticides. These synthetic chemicals are ingested by the farmers who mange the crops and eventually by you, too. They also leach into the natural environment creating havoc on natural eco-systems.
Conventionally, cacao trees are grown in open mono-crops and known to be one of the most highly sprayed crops, as they’re very susceptible to pests. However, organic cacao trees are not grown in open crops but within their natural ecosystem using no chemicals. Organic farming begins with nourishing the soil which leads to the nourishment of the plant and ultimately the flavour and goodness of the nourished food. Natural growing conditions promotes biodiversity and decreases the incidence of disease.
Food choices you make now will impact on future generations’ health. View our range of organic chocolates, cookies, pantry ingredients and more here.
“We have not inherited the Earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children.”
Lester Brown
