As American as Apple Pie

We’ve all heard the term “as American as apple pie,” but some fail to realize why the iconic dessert is uniquely American. The answer lies in the ingredients: the apples picked from a local orchard, flour derived from American grains, fresh farm eggs and butter, it all gets tied together into something that is as scrumptious as it is symbolic. Behind that metaphorical table fare there is a lot of manpower: sowing, fertilization, pruning, harvest, storage, all done on American soil by American farmers, but this doesn’t stop at apple orchards and dairy farms.

The average American farm currently produces enough crops to feed an estimated 160 people per year. Factoring in the over 2,000,000 farms on American soil makes our great nation responsible for feeding well over 320 million people, annually.¹ Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture, the total value of products sold by producers in the American Agricultural Industry hit a record high of $395 billion in 2012, a $92 billion (24%) hike in total crop value since the previous census conducted in 2007. Statistics prove that the cause for this increase in revenue was not related to cost or inflation. In fact, production value increased so dramatically between 2002 and 2007, that the 5-year gap yielded an 84% increase in net cash income to agricultural operations.²

Many credit scientific and technological advancements for this rapid increase in net sales and profits, and BioSafe Systems, a small, family-owned company based out of Hartford, Connecticut, is at the forefront of these agricultural innovations. Since 1998, BioSafe Systems has been harnessing the power of Peroxyacetic Acid (PAA) to kill and prevent plant diseases and human health pathogens while decreasing Restricted Entry Intervals, allowing American farmers and packing house workers to operate more efficiently. When it comes to being uniquely American, BioSafe Systems’ sustainable chemistry gives apple pie a run for its money, and despite the company’s small stature, its sustainable chemistry has been a big player in the ascent of the American Agricultural industry to exciting new heights.

Few know more about heights than Air National Guard E7 Master Sergeant, Anthony Cruz. The 23-year Veteran served 15 years of active duty defending the United States of America. He is currently stationed at Barnes Air National Guard Base, where he serves as an Alert Shift Supervisor and Weapons Systems Technician for the F-15C Eagle, the U.S. Air Force’s primary fighter jet. When he’s not defending freedom and fixing jets, Cruz is an Inside Sales and Technical Support Representative at BioSafe Systems, where he thoroughly consults end-users regarding their use of the company’s innovative products, such as SaniDate® 5.0 and StorOx® 2.0.

Though you wouldn’t know this from speaking with him on the phone, Cruz wasn’t always in the Agricultural Industry. His hectic career with the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard left Cruz with little time to pursue any other opportunities. Since his time was limited and devoted to protecting our nation, Cruz sought to further his financial well-being via Real Estate; however, Cruz was often unable to leave the airbase to show properties to his clients. Cruz first met BioSafe Systems CEO, Rob Larose, when he expressed interest in one of Cruz’s listings. It was only shortly after finding out that Cruz is a Veteran and devoted member of the Air National Guard that Larose offered him an opportunity to work with the growing organization, despite the Weapons Systems Technician’s limited availability.

After finding out that BioSafe Systems is an American owned and operated company that manufactures all of its products on U.S. soil, it was hard for Cruz to turn down the opportunity. Since joining the team, the Air Force Veteran has assisted countless agricultural operations across the great United States of America in developing systematic applications of BioSafe Systems’ products that have increased both yields and efficiency through prevention and protection.

BioSafe Systems and the dedicated U.S. citizens the company employs, such as Anthony Cruz, will always strive to assure America’s Agricultural Industry continues its ascension for many years to come.

1 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation
2 https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Highlights/Farm_Economics/