“There was no question of whether I was going to use organic or conventional ingredients. It was always certified organic,” says Mary Risavi, owner of Wise Goat Organics. Sourcing from local organic farms has always been at the heart of Mary’s fermented food products, but as a small business owner, the costs and added work of getting that USDA organic seal felt daunting for her.
As Wise Goat approached its 10th anniversary this year, Mary felt that it was the perfect time to formalize her longstanding commitment to organic sourcing. She tackled a mountain of paperwork, uncovered a disingenuously marketed ingredient, and came out the other side grateful for the added assurance her customers now have when enjoying her award-winning krauts, kimchis, and other ferments.