ShariAnn's takes the time and effort to utilize organic ingredients in all of ourproducts. We make this effort because organic is as much of a component of the quality of our products as it is to sustainable food systems. As for soil preservation, conventional farming does not rank well. And remember, it is the soil that ultimately keeps us fed. The USDA recently estimated that in the USA alone, wind and water erode between 2.7 billion and 3.1 billion tons of soil from the nation's cropland every year. To help visualize this, if you consider just the first 6 inches of topsoil on one acre of land, which is the average depth of biologically active soil, we are losing over 333,000 acres of land every year to erosion alone. Translated into dollars, this loss accounts for $18 billion in soil nutrients annually, which effectively forces an increased dependence upon purchased inputs to offset such a loss. It's an insidious cycle that is not along term solution. And, of course, we have water. The USDA cites agriculture as the largest non-point source of water pollution, accounting for approximately 50% of all surface water pollution in the country. And once things like pesticides are released into the environment, it is virtually impossible to isolate or remove them. To illustrate this phenomenon, in June 1990, the Des Moines Register reported that scientists had recently measured atrazine, an herbicide which leaches into
ground water, in the local rainfall. How's that for chemical migration? The list can go on and on. We at ShariAnn's feel that our philosophy on sustainable food systems is not only a ideal we believe in, but sound business management for the future. Organic agriculture as a part of an overall sustainable system is the only real option for us and our kids. We at ShariAnn'sare excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this potential future.What is a Certified Organic Food Product?
In order to label a product as organic, we must comply with a strict set of rules set forth by the USDA and other state regulatory agencies. These rules include at least 95% of our ingredients by weight, minus water and salt, must be certified organic by an independent certification organization. In addition, ShariAnn's must be certified as a handler of organic products, and our processing plant must also be certified to handle and produce all of our products in a way consistent with organic regulations. ShariAnn's Organics, Inc. is certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI). 
Quality Ingredients
The organic foods industry has been growing at over 20% for the last seven years. Therefore the supply for organic ingredients is tight, making us work hard. So why bother? Because foods grown organically are better for you and for the environment. They grow by feeding on natural vitamins and minerals in the soil, rather than synthetic fertilizers. And the management practices used to control pests in organic crops replaces the use of toxic pesticides, which leave toxic residues in our food, soil and groundwater. As a result, foods organically grown are safer for you and the environment, have more nutrition, and can taste better.ShariAnn's makes the choice of organic ingredients as part of its quality criteria. Better ingredients make a better product. It's that simple.Sustainable Food Systems
Supporting sustainable food systems, ie: organic farms, is an effort that we at ShariAnn's take seriously. Let's take a look at some basic statistics. First, it's important to understand that all synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and the other "cides" are derived from petroleum. However, the U.S. Geological Survey reports that worldwide, we only have a 33 year supply of economically extractable petroleum left in this planet, and our U.S. reserves only account for 4 years of use at present consumption rates. Management practices which replace the need for these inputs dramatically decreases our dependence on this non-renewable resource, and increases our independence on our own ingenuity and natural resources, with which we are blessed.
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