A Decade of Impact: Food Alliance & Salmon-Safe for Watershed-Friendly Certification
At Food Alliance, our mission is to champion food systems that protect the land, care for workers, and promote healthy communities. That’s why we’re especially proud of our long-standing collaboration with Salmon-Safe, an eco-label renowned for its leadership in safeguarding water quality and salmon habitat across the Pacific Coast.
Salmon-Safe: Pioneering Watershed Protection Since 1997
Founded by Pacific Rivers in 1997, Salmon-Safe began with a clear and urgent mission: address the alarming decline of wild salmon populations by improving the health of the watersheds they depend on. Recognizing that land management directly impacts water quality, the organization developed one of the first market-based conservation strategies in the region by connecting consumer demand to on-the-ground environmental improvements.
From its beginnings working with pioneering farmers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Salmon-Safe has grown into a respected leader in eco-certification. Over the past 25+ years, it has:
Collaborated with more than 900 urban and agricultural landowners
Certified approximately 100,000 acres in key salmon watersheds
Expanded certification programs from farms and vineyards to corporate and university campuses, urban development projects, and large-scale transportation infrastructure
The organization’s reach extends beyond certification. Through high-profile public education and consumer marketing campaigns, Salmon-Safe has raised awareness of watershed health as a critical environmental and community issue by making the connection between everyday choices and the vitality of salmon-bearing streams.
Food Alliance and Salmon-Safe have been colleagues and collaborators for many years. Early on, our organizations came together to co-develop standards for the nursery industry, creating a joint certification program that helped growers adopt watershed-friendly practices while providing credible recognition in the marketplace.
A Milestone for Grain Growers: Dual Certification, Single Inspection
Our most recent milestone emerged from a year-long independent technical review comparing Food Alliance and Salmon-Safe standards for agricultural production. The conclusion? Full “equivalency” when it comes to reducing watershed impacts from farming.
This finding paved the way for a streamlined opportunity: beginning in 2022, Salmon-Safe recognizes Food Alliance–certified grain growers as meeting Salmon-Safe certification requirements. What this means for growers:
Dual eco-labeling under both Food Alliance and Salmon-Safe
Access to Salmon-Safe brand materials and marketing channels
No additional inspections or costs
It’s an efficient way for producers to gain visibility in values-driven markets while contributing to healthier watersheds.
These collaborations have been built on shared values: a science-based approach, strong verification processes, and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.
“This partnership creates a win-win for growers and the environment,” says Dan Kent, Salmon-Safe co-founder and Executive Director. “By aligning our standards and offering dual recognition, we’re making it more efficient for producers to demonstrate their commitment to clean water and healthy ecosystems, while giving them access to new markets and the recognition they deserve.”
Looking Ahead: Thriving Salmon, Thriving Communities
The overlay program for grain growers reflects what’s possible when like-minded organizations work together. By harmonizing standards and streamlining certification, we can help producers adopt—and be rewarded for—practices that protect our shared water resources.
At Food Alliance, we value our partnership with Salmon-Safe as much for its proven environmental impact as for the vision it represents: vibrant ecosystems where salmon runs flourish, communities thrive, and the land and water are cared for with intention. “Partnerships with like-minded organizations like Salmon-Safe are essential to our mission,” says Joost Besijn, Executive Director of Food Alliance. “When we work together, we can scale our impact, reduce barriers for producers, and ensure that sustainable practices reach more farms, more watersheds, and more communities.”