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About Food Alliance
Food Alliance works at the juncture of science, business and values to define and promote sustainability in agriculture and the food industry, and to ensure safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and careful stewardship of ecosystems.
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Our History
Started in 1993 as a project of Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Food Alliance was formally incorporated in 1997.
Food Alliance enjoys support from leaders in both organic and conventional agriculture, from retail and wholesale food businesses, government agencies, and organizations representing farm labor, animal welfare, and the environment.
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Food Alliance Certified
Food Alliance operates a voluntary certification program based on standards that define sustainable agricultural practices. Farms, ranches and food processors that meet Food Alliance’s standards, as determined by a third-party site inspection, use Food Alliance certification to differentiate their products, strengthen their brands, and support credible claims for social and environmental responsibility.
Food Alliance launched its certification program in 1998 with a single
apple grower selling in three Portland grocery stores. Today, there
are over 320 certified farms and ranches in Canada, Mexico, and 23 U.S. states managing over 5.6 million acres of range and farmland. The majority are mid-sized or smaller family-owned and operated businesses. Food Alliance has also certified 6 distribution centers and 18 food processing facilities.
Businesses participating in Food Alliance's program report a wide variety of benefits from certification, including positive customer feedback, increased customer loyalty, sales increases, new markets, access to contracts, and price premiums.
Food Alliance has also documented improved practices on participating farms and ranches leading to better conditions for thousands of workers, more humane treatment of hundreds of thousands of animals, and reduced pesticide use, healthier soils, cleaner water, and enhanced wildlife habitat on millions of acres of range and farmland.
As a result of this work and the independent efforts of certified businesses, Food Alliance certified products are increasingly available across the U.S. and Canada.
