Producer
Sugar Camp Farm
Contact: Lizzie Wright
Address: 1347 Bandy Rd Ashland City, TN, 37015
Phone: 615-587-0701
About Us
At Sugar Camp Farm we strive to bring you high quality produce while farming as sustainably as possible*. We are a very small family farm with up to 1 acre under cultivation at peak season. We grow a variety of vegetables and herbs for market, chefs and other local organizations. We are slowly working towards a no-till system and we’re working towards building and preserving soil biology, chemistry and structure to bring you highly nutritious and flavorful food.
Practices
*In March 2023, our farm experienced herbicide drift from a neighboring property, which was concerning as we strive to grow top-quality, chemical-free produce for our customers and loved ones. Upon recognizing the potential impact on our crops, we promptly suspended sales.
We sought expert advice from the University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which conducted thorough inspections and tests of our crops. In addition, we gathered and forwarded our own samples to a highly reputable lab for precise analysis.
The lab's results were reassuring. Trace amounts of herbicide (1.25-1.32 parts per billion, with one sample at 23 ppb) were detected on two of the four samples, while the others showed no trace. Despite these minimal traces, our produce remains far below the safe consumption limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency's plant tolerances. (This lab, renowned for its highly sensitive equipment, suggested similar minor traces may have even gone unnoticed in other labs).
It's a sad reality that chemicals are often present in our wider environment. A 2017 FDA study confirmed the presence of pesticide and herbicide residues in a significant portion of farm produce nationwide. However, we aim to go above and beyond the norm.
Our goal is to provide full transparency and maintain your trust. Though we're not officially certified as organic, we endeavor to surpass organic standards at every stage of operation. We welcome any questions or concerns and are ready to provide supporting documents as requested.
See our About Us Page on our website for relevant links to mentioned tolerances and studies
We sought expert advice from the University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which conducted thorough inspections and tests of our crops. In addition, we gathered and forwarded our own samples to a highly reputable lab for precise analysis.
The lab's results were reassuring. Trace amounts of herbicide (1.25-1.32 parts per billion, with one sample at 23 ppb) were detected on two of the four samples, while the others showed no trace. Despite these minimal traces, our produce remains far below the safe consumption limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency's plant tolerances. (This lab, renowned for its highly sensitive equipment, suggested similar minor traces may have even gone unnoticed in other labs).
It's a sad reality that chemicals are often present in our wider environment. A 2017 FDA study confirmed the presence of pesticide and herbicide residues in a significant portion of farm produce nationwide. However, we aim to go above and beyond the norm.
Our goal is to provide full transparency and maintain your trust. Though we're not officially certified as organic, we endeavor to surpass organic standards at every stage of operation. We welcome any questions or concerns and are ready to provide supporting documents as requested.
See our About Us Page on our website for relevant links to mentioned tolerances and studies