Reusing Plant Waste
On our organic farm, a few of the many goals are to increase soil fertility and improve soil health. That’s why we make every effort to reuse the plant material waste we create through our pressing operation on our organic farm. Through composting, Standard Process has strengthened its environmental stewardship by keeping more than 2.5 million pounds of byproduct plant solids and production waste out of landfills.
The base of our compost is 100 percent certified organic vegetative matter from our farm. After whole foods are juiced in the pressroom, the pulp production waste left behind then begins the biological composting process.
The composting process is carefully managed by farm personnel, who determine the timing and frequency of pile-turning by monitoring temperature readings. Turning the piles of compost facilitates the exchange of carbon dioxide with oxygen and keeps the temperature between 130 degrees and 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warm enough to kill E. coli but cool enough to protect “good bugs.”
The result is beautiful black compost that is spread every fall to improve the fertility and texture of the soil.