Our Farm-to-Table Process — 12,000+ Mandya Farmers to Your Door

Why Mandya

Mandya district in Karnataka (southern India, Cauvery river basin) has a distinct agricultural identity:

Traditional farming knowledge: Farming families in Mandya have cultivated the same land for generations. This long tenure creates deep knowledge of soil health, water management, and crop rotation that is difficult to replicate in newer farming operations.

Soil legacy: Traditional farming with organic inputs over generations maintains soil organic matter and microbial diversity — the foundation of nutritional quality in produce.

Crop diversity: Mandya’s climate and soil support ragi, jowar, various millets, pulses, vegetables, coconut, turmeric, sugarcane (for jaggery), and fruits — enabling a diverse product range from a geographically coherent source.

Infrastructure proximity: Mandya town is 100km from Bengaluru — enabling efficient cold-chain logistics to reach urban consumers without the extended transit that reduces freshness.

Step-by-Step: Farm to Your Door

Step 1 — Farmer Onboarding and Certification

• Farmers apply to join the Organic Mandya network
• PGS-India organic group membership is established or existing group is audited
• Conversion period compliance is verified (land that has been chemical-free for 2+ years)
• Farming practices are documented and peer-verified through PGS-India group system

Step 2 — Planting and Growing

• Seeds are non-GMO; open-pollinated varieties preferred
• No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers
• Pest management through biological controls, neem, and traditional methods
• Soil health maintained through composting, green manuring, crop rotation

Step 3 — Harvest

• Harvest timing optimised for nutritional quality (not just yield or transportability)
• Post-harvest handling guidelines: correct drying, storage, and transport practices
• We provide training and guidelines to farmers on post-harvest management

Step 4 — Collection and Primary Processing

• Produce is collected from farmer groups with lot tracking
• Primary cleaning and sorting happens close to the source
• Grading: sub-standard produce is separated; only quality-grade product proceeds
• Lot numbers are assigned at this stage for traceability

Step 5 — Testing (Pre-Sale)

• Each lot is sampled and sent to NABL-accredited labs
• Tests: pesticide residues, heavy metals, adulterants, microbiological safety
• Lot is held pending results (not released for sale until tested)
• Passed lots proceed; failed lots are quarantined and not sold

Step 6 — Processing

• Minimal processing: cleaning, drying, grading, packaging
• No artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours added
• FSSAI-compliant packaging: food-grade materials, correct labelling
• Shelf life established through testing (not estimated)

Step 7 — Storage and Dispatch

• Cold chain or controlled temperature storage for sensitive products
• FIFO (First In First Out) rotation: older lots shipped first
• Order-to-dispatch time minimised for freshness

Step 8 — Delivery

• Packaging designed for safe transport: heat-resistant for ghee, appropriate barrier for spices
• Delivery partners trained on handling requirements

What We Control vs What We Cannot

We control:

• Farm certification and compliance standards
• Post-harvest handling practices
• Processing facility hygiene and practices
• Testing protocols and standards
• Packaging and labelling accuracy

We do not control:

• Environmental factors affecting crops (rainfall, temperature, natural pest pressure)
• Soil contamination from historical use (before farmers joined our network)
• Atmospheric deposition of pesticides from neighbouring conventional farms (spray drift)

This last point is important: trace pesticide residues can appear in organic produce from environmental sources even when no pesticides were applied on the certified farm. This is why testing (not just certification) matters — testing reveals the actual presence or absence regardless of intended practice.

Q

Can I visit the Organic Mandya farms?

A

Yes — Organic Mandya periodically organises farm visits for consumers to see the farming practices, meet the farmers, and understand the supply chain. Dates and registration are announced on our website and social media. We believe in radical transparency — consumer farm visits are one of the most powerful trust-building tools available, and we encourage them.

Q

How much of the price I pay reaches the farmer?

A

This varies by product, but our model is designed around fair farmer compensation as a primary goal. Traditional supply chains typically leave 15–25% of retail price with the farmer. Our direct sourcing model targets 35–50% of farm-gate price going to farmers, depending on the product. We publish our sourcing price ranges for key products on our website. We believe food buyers deserve to know how their money is distributed — not just where the food was grown.