Are Our Cherries Organic? Understanding How We Grow
By Carla Munn, E-Commerce Manager at Pure Otago Cherries
TL;DR (Quick Answer): No, Pure Otago Cherries are not certified organic — but we grow them as sustainably as possible under GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP certification. GlobalG.A.P. is an internationally recognised standard covering food safety, environmental responsibility, and traceability. GRASP is a complementary module that specifically evaluates worker welfare and social practices on our orchards. We've held these certifications for at least 7 years.
Every year, we get variations of the same three questions: "Are your cherries organic?", "What sprays do you use?", and "How ethical are your practices?" Honest questions deserve honest answers, so here's a straight-talking guide to how we actually grow, spray, wash, pack, and care for our cherries — and the certifications that hold us accountable.
Are your cherries organic?
No, our cherries are not certified organic. We want to be upfront about that. However, we grow them as sustainably as we can within the parameters of large-scale premium cherry production, and we're independently certified to two international standards (GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP) that hold us to strict food safety, environmental, and worker welfare benchmarks.
If certified organic is a hard requirement for you, there are excellent NZ organic cherry growers we'd genuinely recommend looking at. But if you value certified sustainable practices, traceability, and worker protection alongside premium quality, we're a strong choice.
What chemicals or sprays are used in your orchards?
Our orchards are sprayed according to the New Zealand Summerfruit Pre-Harvest Intervals for Local Market — a spray programme regulated by MPI (the Ministry for Primary Industries) and updated annually based on weather and crop conditions across the country. You can read more about this at summerfruitnz.co.nz.
We prefer not to publish specific spray details, because the actual programme changes year to year based on what's happening in that season's conditions — pest pressure, weather patterns, and disease risk vary. What doesn't change is our commitment to spraying only what's necessary, in compliance with MPI regulations, and always with pre-harvest intervals that ensure cherries are safe to eat on delivery.
What is GlobalG.A.P. certification and what does it mean for your customers?
GlobalG.A.P. (Global Good Agricultural Practices) is an internationally recognised standard for farm production that guarantees agricultural products are:
- Safe — rigorous food safety controls throughout growing, harvest, and packing
- Traceable — every batch can be tracked back to its orchard block
- Responsibly produced — strict environmental sustainability requirements
For everyday shoppers, it means the fresh produce you buy meets strict global benchmarks for food safety, environmental sustainability, and worker welfare. It's the standard adopted by many major supermarket chains globally as a supplier requirement.
We've been GlobalG.A.P. certified for at least 7 years, and we undergo an annual audit to maintain our certification. It's not a set-and-forget stamp — it requires ongoing work to keep it.
What is GRASP certification and how does it protect workers?
GRASP (GlobalG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice) is a complementary module of the GlobalG.A.P. certification that specifically evaluates social practices on farms — how workers are treated, how safe their environment is, and what protections are in place.
GRASP focuses on:
- Workers' health, safety, and welfare — everything from proper PPE to safe working conditions
- Fair labour laws — compliance with NZ employment law and international worker rights
- Proper employment conditions — fair wages, reasonable hours, appropriate housing where relevant
- Fundamental human rights — non-discrimination, freedom of association, and dignity in the workplace
For customers, GRASP certification means the people who grew and picked your cherries were treated fairly. In an industry where seasonal labour practices vary hugely, this matters — and we're proud to be independently verified.
How do you balance food safety with worker welfare and environmental care?
Honestly? Our certifications force us to. GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP audits look at all three areas together, and you can't tick one box while failing another. You have to do it all — or you lose the certification.
In practice, this means:
- Our spray programme is designed to protect fruit quality and minimise environmental impact
- Our worker training covers both food handling safety and worker protection
- Our traceability systems track fruit and work practices from orchard to box
- Our annual audits check food safety and worker welfare and environmental practices in a single visit
It's not perfect — no farming operation is — but it's a genuine, independently verified commitment to doing the whole thing responsibly.
Are the cherries washed before dispatch?
Yes — our cherries are washed and properly sanitised just before they're packed into their box. This is part of our food safety protocol under GlobalG.A.P. certification. It's not a rinse; it's a proper cleanse designed to make sure your cherries arrive safe to eat straight from the box.
Are your cherries safe to eat straight from the box?
Absolutely! This is actually when they taste their best — cold, fresh, and just as they were packed.
Because we wash and sanitise them before packing, there's no need for you to wash them again at home unless you want to. If they've been in the fridge for a few days and you'd like to freshen them up before eating, a quick rinse under cold water is fine. But straight out of the box, they're ready to go.
The Bottom Line
We're not organic — and we won't pretend to be. But we've built our growing practices around certifications that hold us accountable for food safety, environmental care, and worker welfare year after year. GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP aren't just stickers; they're annual audits, ongoing documentation, and a genuine commitment to doing this properly.
If you value that combination — premium quality plus verified sustainable practices — we're a really strong choice for your cherry buying. And if you have questions about anything we do (or don't do), just ask. Transparency is one of the things we care most about.
