In addition to following the strict organic guidelines specified by the USDA we have some high standards of our own to ensure the very best quality product for your bird.
• Premium grains and other ingredients are contracted by HBD to be grown on fertile organic farms throughout North America.
• A third party organic certifier verifies the certification of the raw ingredients, making sure they meet the requirements designated under the USDA's rules regarding organic certification.
• All grains and other ingredients are tested (via independent laboratory) throughout the manufacturing process for mycotoxins and rancidity.
• For the extrusion process, the ingredients are ground and thoroughly mixed. Then the various sized and formulated nuggets are extruded, toasted, cooled and then packaged under careful supervision.
• Our state-of-the-art packaging (the Harrison’s bag) protects the freshness of the products, which have only natural tocopherols as preservatives.
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Why Certified Organic?
The term "certified organic" cannot be used casually. In this country, there are strict guidelines set up by the United States Department of Agriculture (as well as private certifying agencies) in order to authorize a facility to use the term "certified organic." And being part of the organic culture demands a significant commitment to the entire system.
In today’s market people use the terms “all natural,” “organic” and “certified organic” interchangeably, when there really is a significant difference. Only “certified organic” has been approved by a 3rd party agency after a thorough study of the entire process of growing the ingredients and manufacturing the final product to ensure that all steps have been performed within the strict guidelines.
In order to qualify as "certified organic," all products must adhere to the following standards:
• Crops must be grown without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides.
• There is generally a required conversion period to organic methods, being two years (for ground crops) or three years (for perennials).
• In order to break the cycles of pests and diseases, appropriate crop rotation is practiced for ground crops, which also helps to maintain soil fertility and structure.
• No post-harvest chemical treatments are allowed.
• Fertility is provided by natural organic manures, composts and fertilizers -- the use of synthetic chemicals is prohibited.
• The use of genetically modified (GM) seeds or other materials is not permitted.
During the production phase, all organic producers must:
• Be certified by a recognized certification body and undergo a rigorous annual inspection by qualified inspectors.
• Adhere to very strict standards that cover every aspect of food production, such as growing, packaging, processing and transport.
• Maintain fully audited records of every stage of production to ensure complete traceability from farm to table.
• Provide official certification numbers or logos of each certification body on the packaging, as this is the consumer's guarantee of authenticity.
If foods are to be produced, the manufacturers must also be:
• Certified by an organic certification body.
• Keep all ingredients used in organic products separate from ingredients for use in conventional products at all times.
• Maintain detailed routine records, including cleaning and processing schedules, which must be made available for audit by certification inspectors at all times.
• The stringent controls associated with the production and processing of organic products ensure consistent adherence to guidelines set up by the recognized certification bodies.
