Food Alliance

Program Description
Food Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating market incentives for adoption of socially and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. Food Alliance operates a certification and eco-labeling program that covers a wide range of consumer and industry concerns, including: Reduction or elimination of pesticides; Soil conservation; Water conservation; Protection of wildlife habitat; Safe and fair working conditions; No use of hormones or antibiotics; No use of genetically modified organisms; Humane care for animals.

Certification can be an effective a tool for product differentiation and brand enhancement -- supporting transitions from commodity markets, in which producers compete primarily on price, to niche markets more influenced by product qualities. There are currently 225 Food Alliance certified producers in 16 states managing over 3.3 million acres of farm and rangeland. Farm-gate sales of Food Alliance certified products in 2005 are estimated at over $100 million, including beef, lamb, pork, chicken, milk, cheese, butter, wheat, dried beans and lentils, nuts, mushrooms and a wide variety of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.
Publications
Food Alliance’s certification standards, with specific criteria for 36 crops, are available on-line at www.FoodAlliance.org. These criteria represent well-established “best practices” for agriculture, and contain references to valuable research and extension source materials.

Contact
Heather Saam
Certification Coordinator,
Food Alliance,
1829 NE Alberta St., Suite 5,
Portland, OR 97211.
Phone: ( 503) 493-1066
Fax (503) 493-1069
Email: Heather@FoodAlliance.org