We recently traveled to our neighboring state of Washington to visit several long-standing farm partners. Peppermint, spearmint, catnip, red clover, California poppy, and oats were among the botanicals we got to see, but even more important than that was getting some one-on-one time with our partners. Opportunities like this are largely possible by being an independently owned and mission-driven company that truly cares about its sourcing. These trips allow us to get boots on the ground to see how the plants are grown and also foster meaningful relationships with our partners. It is an important part of our support for domestic suppliers, while also ensuring that the quality and purity standards you expect from us are met.

There are four core aspects of our farm visits, which help provide the framework for the questions we ask and the ways we can offer our ongoing support.

1. General Vendor Relations: Long-term, reliable, and like-minded growers are the backbone of Mountain Rose Herbs and we couldn't do what we do without them. Maintaining collaborative and friendly relationships with suppliers is vital in the herbal industry. It is these personal relationships that have gotten both us and our suppliers through times of growth as well as times of hardship.

1. Procurement Planning: Our Procurement Team uses these face-to-face meetings as a chance to discuss many different and important steps of the process, many of which benefit from a personal touch. This includes planning the next year's needs; exploring additional botanicals we can source from them; troubleshooting product issues; and refining the complicated logistics of botanical trade. 

1. Learning About the Plants: Farm visits also help our team increase their plant knowledge. Each plant has its own growing region, processing methods, and sustainability considerations. The plants have their own story and seeing where and how they grow helps our Procurement Team understand the right timing for buying as well as the sorts of processing methods that may be needed.
   
   
2. Supplier Validation Program: We are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to qualify our suppliers and ensure they follow the same standards we are held to here at Mountain Rose Herbs. This is especially important with international suppliers, but we also follow this process with domestic suppliers like the ones we recently visited in Washington. This can include verifying good manufacturing and harvest practices, adherence to regulatory certifications like the National Organic Program and FDA regulations. These visits also help us work within a solution-oriented and collaborative approach when things are needing some adjustment.

While these are the core aspects of these trips, we also share meals, stories of our families, and laughs, all of which foster healthy and genuine partnerships. We are truly grateful for our farm partners and that we live in a region where so many of our core wellness ingredients can be grown.

Want to Learn to Explore Our Domestic Offerings?

Find US-Grown Herbs Here!

You may also enjoy:

• Pumpkin Seed Oil: A Local Farm Story
• Helping to Bring FairWild Certification to the US
• Organic Sourcing from Pacific Northwest Farms