At Keith Day Ag Services, quality and safety have always been our top priorities. Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen the compost industry evolve significantly, from stricter regulations, licensing requirements, on-site inspections, audits, and expanded laboratory testing. We operate under CalRecycles Compostable Materials Handling Regulations, which are enforced locally by the Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau. In addition, our organic compost inputs are licensed, registered, and inspected by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Organic Input Materials(OIM) program, which regularly audits our in-house records and composting practices. While not all of our growers are organic producers, we maintain the same high standards, processes, and procedures for both organic and conventional compost, ensuring consistency, reliability, and compliance across the board.
Our compost process and procedures follow the requirements of the National Organic Program and CalRecycle. In addition, we also follow the composting standards outlined in the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Organic Input Material (OIM).
For food safety questions and concerns, please contact Kate Hurley at khurley@keithdaycompany.com. For all other inquiries, please call our office at (831) 771-0126
We use the windrow composting process, where compostable materials are placed in elongated piles, known as windrows. Upon arrival, materials are initially staged in static piles before being premixed and formed into windrows. During the active composting phase, we closely monitor temperature and moisture levels using ReoTemp temperature probes, and staff have the ability to check conditions 24/7 to ensure optimal composting. The Windrows are mechanically turned with a compost turner on a scheduled basis to maintain aerobic conditions and regulate temperature. Throughout the composting process, the material must remain in aerobic conditions, maintaining internal temperatures between 131°F and 170°F for an extended period, with multiple mechanical turnings. After this, the material enters a curing or aging phase to further stabilize. In the near future, we will be implementing aerated static pile composting (ASP), a process in which compost is put into a stationary pile built over a network of perforated pipes. Air is pushed or pulled through piles using a blower, allowing for controlled airflow that maintains aerobic conditions without mechanical turning. The system is monitored to regulate temperature and moisture throughout the composting cycle.