Nursery and Greenhouse Operations
This covers woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, foliage plants, potted flowering plants and cut flowers.
Getting Started
Food Alliance certification is a voluntary means for agricultural producers and food companies to address growing customer demand for traceability, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. This page is specifically for nursery and greenhouse operations.
For producers interested in certification, they need to download and and review these documents:
Food Alliance Nursery and Greenhouse Overview
Food Alliance Nursery and Greenhouse Sustainability Standard
Food Alliance Evaluation Tool
Food Alliance Policy and Procedures Manual
What is the Food Alliance Nursery and Greenhouse Sustainability Standard?
The standard applies to field, container, and greenhouse operations in North America producing one or more of the following products: woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, foliage plants, potted flowering plants and cut flowers.
The Food Alliance sustainability standard for crop operations describes in general terms a vision and goals to improve management in the following areas of concern:
Safe and fair working conditions
Adaptive management of pests, diseases, and weeds,
Soil and water conservation,
Wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation, , and,
Operational efficiencies (energy use, recycling, etc.).
The standard does not currently apply to Christmas trees, tree farms, etc.
What is the Food Alliance Evaluation Tool for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations?
The Food Alliance Evaluation Tool for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations describes criteria and indicators used to assess sustainability practices and outcomes. The Evaluation Tool has two purposes:
Growers may use the Evaluation Tool as a self-assessment to benchmark current management practices and sustainability performance.
Third-party inspectors will use the Evaluation Tool to determine if an operation meets the requirements of the Food Alliance Certification program.
Please note that applicants for Food Alliance certification must meet both the criteria for their production type(s) and the Wildlife and Working Conditions criteria.
What is the Food Alliance Policy and Procedures Manual?
The Food Alliance Policy and Procedures Manual lays out rules that govern the certification program.
Certification Process
Application > Site Inspection > Inspection Report > Review > Certification
Step 1: Application
Complete, sign and date the application, contractual agreement, and licensing agreement (if applicable). The initial inspection fee with application deposit must be included in order for an application to be processed.
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.
This application covers woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, foliage plants, potted flowering plants and cut flowers.
Producers should review the Food Alliance Sustainability Standard for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, the Evaluation Tool for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations, and the Policy and Procedures manual before applying for certification.
Step 2: Site Inspection
The second step of the process is to host an inspection. Food Alliance will assign your application to a qualified inspector with experience in your particular production system. During the on-site visit, the inspector will verify the information presented in your application and assess your management practices. Your inspector will contact you to set up your inspection visit.
Step 3: Inspection Report Review
The third step is a review of the inspection results. During the inspection, your inspector uses the evaluation criteria found in relevant inspection tools to assess your management practices. Following the inspection, the completed inspection tools and inspection documentation are submitted to Food Alliance to determine if requirements have been met.
If the reviewer determines requirements have been met, an Inspection Response Form is issued which lists suggestions for continual improvement. You will be asked to complete and return the Inspection Response Form, indicating your agreement to implement the suggested improvements. Once improvement suggestions are finalized and the reviewer issues final approval, Food Alliance certification is issued.
If the reviewer determines requirements have not been fully met or additional information is needed, the reviewer will contact you to request additional information and/or assign certification conditions (listed on the Inspection Response Form).
If the reviewer determines certification cannot be issued, you will be sent the inspection review findings, with an explanation of the “certification denied” decision.
Step 4: Certification Decision
Once the inspection report is received, the certification decision will be made. Upon final approval, Food Alliance will issue your certification letter. If you are certified independently and will be engaging in a licensing agreement to market Food Alliance certified product(s), Food Alliance will contact you to complete some final steps prior to issuing your Food Alliance certification certificate.
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 5: Food Alliance Certification Certificate, Licensing Agreement and Label Approval
The final step in the certification process is the issuance of a certificate number and a Food Alliance Certification Certificate. Food Alliance will assign certificate holders a certificate number and will issue an official certificate which lists products on which certification claims are approved. Food Alliance will countersign the licensing agreement submitted with your application. A copy of the licensing agreement, certification certificate, and licensing fee invoice will be mailed to you. You will also be sent information on Food Alliance labeling rules, certification seal usage, and certification claims guidance. All product labels and/or marketing materials asserting Food Alliance certification claims or using the Food Alliance certification seal must be approved prior to use.
Step 6: Maintaining Certification
All Food Alliance certified operations will be sent an Annual Update form in January of each year which must be completed and returned. All Food Alliance certificate holders (producers & handlers) must report sales of Food Alliance certified products annually, and pay licensing fees according to the agreed upon invoicing schedule. Additionally, all Food Alliance certified producers must update their application and be re-inspected once every 3 years. Food Alliance certified handlers must update their application and be re-inspected on an annual basis.
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.
If you have any questions, or would like to receive these application forms in Word format by e-mail or a hard copy by mail, please contact our Certification Manager at (425) 466-7168 or certification@foodalliance.org.
Nursery and Greenhouse FAQs
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The standard applies to North American nursery and greenhouse operations producing one or more of the following products:
Nursery: Container and in-ground grown woody ornamentals for landscaping.
Annuals: Bedding plants/hanging baskets/containers typically sold for summer/fall use.
Perennials: Container grown.
Foliage: Tropical plants mostly grown for indoor use.
Potted Flowering Plants: Holiday and general potted plants such as poinsettia, Easter lily, chrysanthemum, etc.
Cut Flowers
The standard does not currently apply to Christmas tree production or tree farms.
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Food Alliance developed the Sustainability Standard for Nursery and Greenhouse Operations upon industry request. Representatives of the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) approached Food Alliance after some of their members requested independent, third-party verification of their sustainability practices.
Because some of OAN’s members were already Food Alliance Certified for other crops, they were familiar with Food Alliance’s reputation for stringent, comprehensive standards and certification—and for constructive collaboration with farmers and supply chain members. This signal of industry support gave Food Alliance the confidence to raise funds and expand its standards development and certification services to horticulture.
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The Food Alliance evaluation criteria are used to evaluate performance and outcomes in areas of social and environmental responsibility. Initially, Food Alliance staff work with a consultant to develop the first draft of the criteria. A select group of scientific researchers, usually from universities and public agencies, provide the first round of review and comment.
Once those comments are integrated into the criteria, a second round of review gathers comments from those with expertise in the standard area, such as industry organizations, private consultants, and non-profit staff (e.g. consumer group representatives, farm labor representatives, and environmentalists). Second round comments are integrated into the criteria before Food Alliance inspectors, Food Alliance producers and handler/processors, and other practitioners provide final review.
The final draft is field tested prior to the adoption of the criteria. The names of all consultants and reviewers are listed at the end of the criteria, for those interested in seeing who had input.
Footnotes are also often provided to ensure clarity and consistency of interpretation.
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Individuals with professional experience and expertise in the nursery industry – agencies, universities and the private sector – contributed to criteria development and review, and provided opportunities for field testing.
The nursery evaluation criteria were developed in collaboration with Don Richards, Applied Horticultural Consultants.
The following individuals reviewed and provided comment on the evaluation criteria:**
James Altland, Research Horticulturist, Application Technology Research Unit, USDA-ARS
Sam Doane, Production Horticulturist, J. Frank Schmidt and Son, Co.
Alan Elliott, Operations Manager, Carlton Plants, LLC.
Jonathan Frantz, Research Horticulturist, Application Technology Research Unit, USDA-ARS
Kate Knox, Salmon Safe
John Lea-Cox, Professor and University Research and Extension Specialist, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland
John Majsztrik, University of Maryland
Robin Rosetta, Associate Professor, North Willamette Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University
Walter Suttle, Monrovia Nursery
Sarah White, Assistant Professor, Nursery Extension Specialist, School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University
** Not all reviewer comments and suggestions were incorporated in the final draft of our evaluation criteria, so recognition of their contribution does not constitute an endorsement.
The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) provided valuable support through industry contacts, research, and outreach. It is promoting the new standard and criteria as a set of tools the entire horticulture industry can use to assess operational sustainability and management practices. OAN views sustainability certification as a potential market differentiator for its members.
Salmon-Safe advised on water quality components of the criteria. It is supporting outreach and implementation of the nursery certification program in partnership with Food Alliance.
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Food Alliance received funding from:
USDA Specialty Crops Grant, administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture
Oregon Governor’s Fund for the Environment, granted to Salmon-Safe
Meyer Memorial Trust Willamette Restoration Initiative
Bullitt Foundation
Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation
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Food Alliance provides a trusted and independent third-party audit process for certifying socially and environmentally responsible management practices. As a voluntary program, Food Alliance Certification gives nursery owners a credible way to distinguish their operation and products to wholesale customers and end buyers. Food Alliance Certified plant materials are also already recognized and awarded points under the LEED Green Building Standard.
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Certified nursery operations pay both inspection fees and licensing fees.
Inspection Fees
A payment of $800 is due with the application. This includes a non-refundable $400 document processing charge and a $400 deposit towards the actual cost of the inspection.
The processing charge covers review of applications, coordination of the inspection, review of inspection reports, and the recommendation for certification.
Inspection costs include inspector time and travel expenses, which may vary depending upon the location, number of facilities, number of production lines, etc. The balance for inspection costs is invoiced upon completion of the inspection and is payable in 30 days.
In most cases, the total for nursery inspection fees averages between $900 and $1,500. Food Alliance certification is valid for 3 years, so you can think about the pro-rated cost for inspection fees being $300 to $500 per year.
On request, Food Alliance can provide an estimate for the cost of inspection before you submit your application for certification, based on your location and the size and complexity of the operation.
Licensing Fees
Nursery operations also pay an annual licensing fee based on a percentage of the company’s gross annual sales, as follows:.
Less than $100,000: $100 flat fee
Fee on sales from $100,000 – $1,000,000: 0.1%
Fee on sales over $1,000,000: 0.05%
LICENSING FEE CAP: $5,000 per year
Food Alliance licensing fees are applicable to the upcoming year. A quarterly billing option is available.
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Food Alliance certification is most suited to nurseries that:
Actively manage their operation with environmental and community impacts in mind,
Continually strive to innovate and do better; and
Wish to differentiate their company and its products in the marketplace with thoughtful marketing that highlights sustainable practices.
Producers interested in pursuing Food Alliance certification should understand that certification is a tool that helps add credibility to their sustainability claims through outside verification to meaningful standards.
