Sustainable Agriculture Certification
Program Expands into California
Davis,
CA, Tuesday, April 17, 2007,
the non-profit organization Food
Alliance announced today that
it has opened an office in California
to certify farms, ranches, food processors
and distributors in the state for sustainable
practices.
Food
Alliance has hired David
Visher to represent its program
in California. Visher brings broad experience
to the position, having been a farmer,
managed a produce company, been an educator
with University of California Cooperative
Extension, and consulted to agricultural
businesses on management and regulatory
compliance issues. "I'm really pleased
to be able to support the next wave in
sustainable agriculture in California,"
said Visher. {Consumer and market expectations
are only going up. I think there are real
opportunities for growers and processors
that can meet Food Alliance standards.
The
move by Food Alliance will also create
opportunities for retail and food service
companies. "Food Alliance has been
very valuable for our operations in the
Northwest as they move to source more
sustainably grown products," said
Culinary Support and Development Director
Marc Zammit of Bon Appetite Management
Company, "We look forward to working
with Food Alliance in California as well."
Food
Alliance certification standards for farmers
and ranchers include:
•
Safe and fair working conditions
•
Healthy and humane care for livestock
•
No hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics
•
No genetically modified crops or livestock
•
Reduction of pesticide use and toxicity
•
Conservation of soil and water resources
•
Protection of wildlife habitat
•
Planning for continuous improvement
Certification
standards for "handlers," including
food processors and distributors, address:
•
Handling of Food Alliance certified products
•
Safe and fair working conditions
•
Conservation of energy
•
Conservation of water
•
Responsible solid waste management
•
Reduction of toxic and hazardous materials
•
Quality control and food safety
•
Planning for continuous improvement
Businesses
that meet Food Alliance's standards, as
determined through a third-party site
inspection, use the certification to make
credible claims for social and environmental
responsibility, in order to differentiate
products and to protect and strengthen
brands.
Food
Alliance launched its certification program
in 1998 in Portland, Oregon, with a single
apple grower selling in three area grocery
stores. Today, there are over 270 Food
Alliance certified farms and ranches managing
over 4.3 million acres of range and farm
land, and raising beef, lamb, pork, dairy
products, mushrooms, dried beans and lentils,
wheat, and a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables. Food Alliance has also certified
13 handling operations, including 9 fruit/vegetable
processors, a cheese maker, and three
units of a mainline produce distributor.
Food
Alliance's expansion into California has
been funded by the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation
Service and the Cedar Tree Foundation.
Food Alliance Certified businesses in
California currently include the Hearst
Ranch and pear processor Alex R. Thomas
& Co. "We're looking forward
to building a strong presence in California,"
said Food Alliance Executive Director
Scott Exo, "And to helping more farmers,
ranchers, and food processors add value
to their products with verified claims
for social and environmental responsibility."
Food Alliance
Contacts:
www.foodalliance.org
