Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions we hear most frequently about Earthbound Farm and our organic salads, fruits, and vegetables.
If you don’t see the information you’re looking for below, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
To view the answer to a question, click on the link. To close the answer section, click on the link again.
Do I need to wash Earthbound Farm packaged salads?
For your convenience, our fresh salad greens are pre-washed in our state-of-the-art facility, and we take every step possible to ensure cleanliness and food safety. For more information on how we process Earthbound Farm salads, go to our Quality and Food Safety page. Knowing how to handle food safely is important for consumers, too — learn more about keeping your home kitchen safe on our Food Safety at Home page.
What does “organic” mean?
Organic farming uses environmentally friendly methods to grow healthy produce without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives. Learn more about organic farming in Organic Farming 101.
What is my assurance that Earthbound Farm produce is organically grown?
All Earthbound Farm produce carries the USDA Organic Seal, which guarantees that it’s certified organic by an independent agency — in our case, the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), accredited by the USDA National Organic Program. There are many strict criteria that organic farmers must meet to become certified — go to our Organic Certification page for more information.
Why does organic produce sometimes cost more?
Because organic farmers can’t rely on a chemical quick fix, it takes a big investment of human labor to protect organic crops from insects, plant diseases, weeds, and other problems. And when their efforts fail, organic farmers are more vulnerable to crop losses resulting from infestation or disease. But as organic crop yields increase, and as organic produce is grown on a wider scale, prices of organic produce are coming closer to those of conventional produce.
Do I need to wash organically grown vegetables and fruit?
Although our organic produce is grown without the use of any synthetic fertilizers of pesticides, it’s always a good idea to wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.
How is it best to store my salad?
Keep Earthbound Farm salads refrigerated in their original packaging.
How long will the salads keep?
As long as they’ve been handled correctly and kept cold throughout the distribution process, Earthbound Farm salads should last until the “Best by” date on the package. Never use packaged salad after that date has passed. And no matter what the label date is, don't eat any produce if it looks or smells bad. When in doubt, throw it out! Knowing how to handle food safely is important — learn more about keeping your home kitchen safe on our Food Safety at Home page.
Where can I find Earthbound Farm products?
Earthbound Farm products can be found in 75 percent of supermarkets across the United States, as well as in many health food stores and in Canada. If you don't see Earthbound Farm products in your favorite store, ask the produce manager if he/she would order them for you.
What does Earthbound Farm sell other than spring mix?
Earthbound Farm offers more than 100 different varieties of organic produce, including salad mixes and kits, fruits, and vegetables. We've recently introduced organic dried fruits and juices, too. See our product pages for details.
Are Earthbound Farm products genetically modified?
No. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not permitted in organic farming.
Are any Earthbound Farm products irradiated?
No. Irradiation is not permitted for organic food.
Are the salad dressings in the Earthbound Farm kits sold separately?
At present, the dressings in our salad kits are custom-made exclusively for Earthbound Farm and are available only in our kits.
Does Earthbound Farm sell its products directly to the public?
We sell to wholesale distributors and retail stores, so Earthbound Farm products can be found in 75 percent of major supermarkets nationwide. We do, however, offer a limited selection of Earthbound Farm favorites for sale in our online store.
Are Earthbound Farm fruits and vegetables coated with wax?
Our citrus carries a post-harvest wax that’s approved by the USDA Organic Program, but we don’t use wax on any other Earthbound Farm organic produce. Some of our apples may have the appearance of being waxed, but this is a natural coating produced by the apple itself to retain moisture.
Why does Earthbound Farm grow some of its products in Mexico?
To maintain a year-round supply, during the winter months approximately 95 percent of the lettuce sold in the United States is grown in southeastern California, southern Arizona, and northern Mexico.
How do we know food grown in Mexico is safe to eat?
Our organic acreage in Mexico is monitored by the same American independent third-party certifying agency that certifies our operations in the United States. These fields are managed by the same farmers who manage our fields in the US, and we follow the same Good Agricultural Practices on our farms in Mexico that we do on our farms in the US.
