Ioka Valley Farm

Did you grow these, or buy them in?

Passing answerThey name their own plot or field, and can tell you what was cut this morning.

Walk away ifA vague "from our supplier" with no farm named. That is almost always imported, air-freighted stock.

Are these in season here right now?

Passing answerThey point to what is genuinely in season, dahlias in late summer, tulips in spring.

Walk away ifRoses and exotics available all year round, which means flown in, high water, often out of a cold chain.

Were any dyes or sprays used?

Passing answerNo dyes, minimal or no spray, stems that look like they grew rather than were painted.

Walk away ifDyed or glittered stems, or no idea what was sprayed on them.

Did you grow this, or is it bought in to fill the stall?

Passing answerThey grew it, and can say when it was picked.

Walk away ifEverything is available whatever the month, which points to a wholesale run, not a harvest.

What is actually at its peak this week?

Passing answerThey name two or three things in season and steer you to them.

Walk away ifStrawberries in December, or a shrug. Out-of-season means shipped and stored.

How is it grown, spray-wise?

Passing answerA clear answer: no-spray, organic, or integrated pest management they can describe.

Walk away ifNo answer, or "I just sell it" with no line back to how it was grown.

Grown from seed here, or brought in?

Passing answerPropagated on site, so they know exactly how it was raised.

Walk away ifTrays bought in from a large nursery, with the growing method unknown.

Is the compost peat-free?

Passing answerPeat-free, stated plainly. Peat extraction wrecks carbon-rich bogs.

Walk away ifPeat-based, or they do not know what is in the bag.

Any neonics or systemic sprays?

Passing answerNone, and they can say it is safe for pollinators.

Walk away ifTreated with a systemic insecticide, which the plant carries into every flower a bee visits.

Is this baked here, or bought in part-baked?

Passing answerBaked on site or at their own bakery that day.

Walk away ifPart-baked frozen dough finished in a back oven, sold as fresh.

What flour is it, and where is it milled?

Passing answerA named flour, ideally a regional mill, and they know the difference.

Walk away ifNo idea on the flour, or a generic industrial blend.

Additives, or just flour, water, salt and a leaven?

Passing answerA short, honest ingredient list they can recite.

Walk away ifA long list of improvers and preservatives, or an unwillingness to say.