Document Actions
Producer Certification Process
STEP 1: Read Standards and Procedures
Have a clear understanding of the Food Alliance Certification program for farms and ranches by reading the Producer Standards and Procedures (PDF).
STEP 2: Application
You can complete an application on-line using Food Alliance's Self Assessment Tool, or download producer application materials to print and mail (PDF).
- Cranberry producers should also submit the Cranberry Application Module (PDF) with the general producer application.
- Shellfish producers can find information about Food Alliance shellfish certification for clams, mussels, geoducks, and oysters at: www.foodalliance.org/shellfish.
To ensure your application is complete and reduce delays, please:
- Answer all of the questions.
- Sign the application documents where required.
- Provide any necessary supporting documentation.
- Include payment for the application fee.
STEP 3: Site Inspection
Once we have reviewed your application, Food Alliance will forward the documents to an independent, third-party inspector who will contact you to schedule a site inspection. During the inspection, the inspector will tour your operation, interview managers and key staff, and review relevant records to evaluate performance using the Whole Farm/Ranch and crop specific evaluation criteria.
STEP 4: Inspection Report
After the site visit, the inspector will submit an inspection report to Food Alliance.
STEP 5: Certification Decision
Once the site report is received, Food Alliance will make the final certification decision and inform you of that decision by mail. You will receive both a letter specifying the decision and a copy of the site report.
- Grievance Policy If you feel that the site inspector’s findings are unfair or inaccurate, you may submit a request for re-evaluation
to Food Alliance. A request must be made in writing within 30 days of
receiving the official site report, detailing the perceived
inaccuracies of the site inspection. Applicants should also state
whether or not they would like to be inspected by a different site
inspector. Re-inspections of this nature will be provided to you at no
cost. No further appeals will be accepted. However, you may reapply
after you have made changes to your operation as suggested in the site
report.
STEP 6: Maintaining Certification
- Term of the Certification
The term of certification for farmers and ranchers is three years. The term of certification for processors and distributors is one year. The official start date will be specified in the certification letter along with the products that may be labeled as Food Alliance certified. - Ongoing Compliance and Verification
This certification is designed to provide a basis for marketplace claims of environmental and social responsibility. In order to ensure the certification criteria are being met at all times:
- Food Alliance reserves the right, at its own cost, to conduct unscheduled audits of participating farms, ranches, processors and distributors. Operations are either selected at random or based on specific concerns identified in the initial inspection.
- Farmers and ranchers must also complete annual updates to maintain their certification, reporting any changes to their operation and progress towards their continual improvement
goals.
- Suspension and Revocation
If doubts are raised that an operation is not adhering to the certification standards, Food Alliance staff will investigate. If that investigation confirms the certification standards are not being met, that operation's certification will be suspended. Food Alliance will provide the operation's managers the reason(s) for suspension, specific steps for restoring certification, and a timeline for making the necessary changes. If the violation is remedied within the timeframe, certification will be restored. Otherwise, the certification will be revoked.
