Guide to Sustainable Food Certifications

Third party sustainable food certifications identify products that have been grown or harvested according to uniform standards. These certified food products have been produced in an effort to enhance economic, environmental and social aspects of our communities. The following certifications contribute to earning MRc5: Sustainable Purchasing—Food.

USDA Organic

USDA Organic produce was farmed or processed with following regulations:

• Prohibit the use of irradiation, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms in organic production; 
• Reflect NOSB recommendations concerning items on the national list of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances; 
• Prohibit antibiotics in organic meat and poultry; and  
• Require 100% organic feed for organic livestock.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved four categories of organic labels, based on the percentage of organic content. The organic labels began to appear on store shelves on October 21, 2002:

• 100 Percent Organic - may carry USDA Organic Seal
• Organic - at least 95% of content is organic by weight (excluding water and salt) and may carry the USDA Organic Seal.
• Made With Organic - at least 70% of content is organic and the front product panel may display the phrase "Made with Organic" followed by up to three specific ingredients. (May not display new USDA Organic seal)
• Less than 70 % of content is organic and may list only those ingredients that are organic on the ingredient panel with no mention of organic on the main panel. (May not display new USDA Organic seal)

All USDA Certified Organic produce is noted with the logo noted above.

More information can be found on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.

Food Alliance

Food Alliance offers certification for farm and ranch operations, and for food packers, processors, and distributors.

Farm and Ranch Standards include:

• Provide safe and fair working conditions
• Ensure the health and humane treatment of animals
• No use of hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics
• No genetically modified crops or livestock
• Reduce pesticide use and toxicity 
• Protect soil and water quality
• Protect and enhance wildlife habitat
• Continuously improve management practices

Food Handler Standards include:

• Use  Food Alliance Certified ingredients
• Provide safe and fair working conditions
• Conserve energy and water
• Reduce use of toxic and hazardous materials
• Reduce and recycle waste
• Ensure quality control and food handling safety
• No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
• Continuously improve practices

By choosing Food Alliance Certified products, consumers and commercial food buyers can be assured they are supporting safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and good environmental stewardship.

More information can be found about the Food Alliance organization and certification at the Food Alliance website.

Protected Harvest Certification

In 2001, Protected Harvest was established as an independent certification organization, with the principal mission of advancing and certifying the use of sustainable agriculture practices through the development of stringent, transparent, and quantifiable standards. With strict Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated pest management (IPM) is the coordinated use of knowledge about pests, the environment, and pest prevention and control methods to minimize pest infestation and damage by the most economical means while minimizing hazards to people, property, and the environment. (IPM) requirements, products bearing the Protected Harvest certification label have met reduced-risk pesticide standards.

More information about Protected Harvest certification can be found on the Protected Harvest website.

Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance certificationRainforest Alliance certification is awarded to farms that protect wildlife by planting trees, control erosion, limit agrochemicals, protect native vegetation, hire local workers, and pay fair wages. is a comprehensive process that promotes and guarantees improvements in agriculture and forestry. Presence of the Rainforest Alliance seal on products identifies goods and services that were produced in compliance with strict guidelines protecting the environment, wildlife, workers and local communities.

In addition to its certification program, the Rainforest Alliance prepares tourism businesses to meet the standards of various global tourism certification programs through training and technical assistance, and work with companies on procurement of sustainable goods.

More information about the Rainforest Alliance programs can be found online.

Marine Stewardship Council’s Blue Eco-Label

The Marine Stewardship Council's fishery certification program and seafood eco-label recognize and reward sustainable fishing. A global organization working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public, MSC promotes the best environmental choice in seafood.

Fisheries are assessed on:

• Maintenance of the target fish stock
• Maintenance of the ecosystem
• Effectiveness of the fishery management system

Supply chains are required to:

• Have businesses in place to ensure MSC fish is kept separate from other fish
• Keep adequate records showing that the business uses MSC chain-of-custodyChain-of-custody (COC) is he path taken by raw materials, processed materials, and products from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution. A chain-of-custody certificate number on invoices for nonlabeled products indicates that the certifier’s guidelines for product accounting have been followed. A chain-of-custody certification is not required by distributors of a product that is individually labeled with the Forest Stewardship Council logo and manufacturer’s chain-of-custody number. Chain of Custody (CoC) certification requirements are determined by Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Standard 40-004 v2-1. systems for every batch of MSC fish it receives

More information about the Marine Stewardship Council programs can be found at the MSC website.

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade certified products have met the Fairtade Certification standards which are designed to tackle poverty and empower producers in the poorest countries in the world through the following goals:

• Ensure that producers receive at least prices that cover their costs of sustainable production;
• Provide an additional Fairtrade Premium which can be invested in projects that enhance social, economic and environmental development;
• Enable pre-financing for producers who require it;
• Facilitate long-term trading partnerships and enable greater producer control over the trading process;
• Set clear minimum and progressive criteria to ensure that the conditions of production and trade of all Fairtrade certified products are socially, economically fair and environmentally responsible.

The standards are set by an independent international certification company, FLO-CERT GMbH. Presence of the Fair Trade logo on a product indicates that its purchase contributes to the social-economic development of individuals and communities.

More information about Fairtrade and Fair Trade can be found at the Fairtrade website.