FOOD ALLIANCE

The Food Alliance is an alliance that provides the food and agriculture industry with sustainability standards, evaluation tools and certification programs. Their goal is to:

▪ Protect, conserve and enhance soil, water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity

▪ Conserve energy, reduce and recycle waste

▪ Reduce use of pesticides and other toxic or hazardous materials

▪ Maintain transparent and traceable supply chains

▪ Support safe and fair working conditions

▪ Guarantee food product integrity, with no genetically engineered or artificial ingredients

▪ Ensure healthy, humane animal treatment

▪ Ensure continual improvement of practices

Definitely worth checking out if sustainability and buying local is on your radar. They even have this nifty map showing the location of certified suppliers. Another step local businesses can take is to become Food Alliance certified, which will guarantee that all the food products they are sourcing fit the code.