Food Alliance

Food Alliance Food Alliance defines and promotes sustainability in agriculture and the food industry.

Contact:
PO Box 86457
Portland, OR 97286
[email protected]

Food Alliance defines and promotes sustainability in agriculture and the food and beverage industry with comprehensive sustainability standards and a third-party certification program that ensures safe and fair working conditions, humane animal care, and careful stewardship of ecosystems. Certification by an independent non-profit org

anization, like Food Alliance, with clear standards and criteria, is a simple and effective way of demonstrating socially and environmentally responsible management. Purchasing Food Alliance Certified products helps ensure:
- better working conditions for farm and food workers,
- more humane treatment of livestock,
- reduced use of toxic and hazardous materials in food production and handling, and
- healthier soils, cleaner water, and enhanced wildlife habitat on millions of acres of range and farmland.

Shaila hit the road recently to attend an Conservation Ranching audit in March in Sweetwater, Texas at , a 2,000-acre c...
05/07/2026

Shaila hit the road recently to attend an Conservation Ranching audit in March in Sweetwater, Texas at , a 2,000-acre cow/calf beef cattle operation. During the visit, researchers from Texas A&M University were also onsite conducting a study to estimate plant mass across the ranch, an example of the valuable collaboration between ranchers, conservation leaders, and researchers working on the land.

Auditor Spotlight: Joe Franklin 📝🌱Joe Franklin is a rangeland management professional with more than four decades of exp...
05/06/2026

Auditor Spotlight: Joe Franklin 📝🌱

Joe Franklin is a rangeland management professional with more than four decades of experience in conservation planning, grazing management, and land stewardship across South, Central, and West Texas. He currently works as a private rangeland management consultant, advising ranchers on conservation planning, brush management, stocking rates, drought and wildfire recovery, and rangeland health assessments. Previously, Joe spent over 30 years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, serving in leadership roles including Zone Rangeland Management Specialist, Resource Team Leader, and Area Range Conservationist, where he managed large multi-county regions and worked directly with landowners to implement best management practices. Joe holds a BS in Range Management from Texas Tech University and an MS in Range Science from Texas A&M University. He is a Certified Professional in Rangeland Management and Certified Range Management Consultant, and has received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Tech University in 2025.

🌾 FREE Field Day - Moon Family Farm in WA | May 27 Calling all agricultural professionals! Join and in the field at Fo...
04/23/2026

🌾 FREE Field Day - Moon Family Farm in WA | May 27

Calling all agricultural professionals! Join and in the field at Food Allianced Certified ; a dryland, 100% no-till operation growing nutrient-dense grain with a regenerative philosophy rooted in soil health and biodiversity.

Learn from the land with sessions on:
🐝 Beneficial insects & pollinators
🌱 Cover crops, soil health & no-till
🚜 Dryland farming
🐦 Habitat improvement & hedgerow installation
🐟 Salmon Safe certification

📍 Horse Heaven Hills of Southeast WA; May 27, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST; Lunch provided!

RSVP: www.wildfarmalliance.org/moonfamily

04/04/2026

For Jason Saunders of Taber, Alberta, it isn't just a philosophy, it’s how he farms every day. Through regenerative practices and a deep respect for the land, Jason works to strengthen the soil, protect the surrounding environment, and grow wheat that reflects both care and consistency.

His commitment goes beyond today’s harvest. By focusing on long-term soil health and sustainable systems, Jason is helping ensure that future generations inherit land that is productive, resilient, and thriving.

04/04/2026

Wheat farming is a balance of precision and patience. From planting to harvest, every decision plays a role in the final crop.

Shepherd’s Grain farmers combine experience with regenerative practices to grow wheat that delivers strength, consistency, and performance in every bag of flour.

Board Member Spotlight 🌱Patric Connelly brings more than five decades of experience in agriculture, land stewardship, an...
03/28/2026

Board Member Spotlight 🌱

Patric Connelly brings more than five decades of experience in agriculture, land stewardship, and community leadership to the Food Alliance Board. Raised on the south side of Chicago, Patric moved to Eastern Oregon after high school to pursue a career in agriculture, attending Treasure Valley Community College and receiving an Associate degree in Range/Forestry. He spent the next seven years working as Ranch Foreman at the Squaw Butte Experiment Station in Burns, Oregon, run by Oregon State University and the USDA. His early career also included work as a Range Technician with the Okanogan National Forest in Tonasket, Washington, where he met his wife, Nancy. They moved to Quincy, WA, in 1983 to help manage the Three Toed Feedlot established by her family, gaining extensive experience in cattle production and farm operations. He later served as Farm Manager for Central Bean Co./Haricot Farms from 2005 until his retirement in 2024, overseeing diversified agricultural production and implementing practical, sustainable farming practices.

Patric’s agricultural background spans forestry, cattle, hay, beans, and wheat, giving him a broad and grounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing farmers and ranchers today. Even in retirement, he remains closely connected to the farming community, continuing to advise growers and support practical solutions that benefit both producers and the markets they serve. Patric has also been deeply involved in community service. He has served as an elected Port Commissioner for the Port of Quincy since 1996 and has held leadership roles as President of the local Chamber of Commerce and President of the Lions Club. He has also been active on several local committees, including his high school’s FFA Agricultural Advisory Committee and a school district facilities committee. Through his work alongside early Food Alliance advocate Tom Grebb, Patric saw firsthand the value of the organization’s mission and the potential of its ideals to support both farmers and the broader food system.

It’s Recertification Season 📝🌱Each spring, Food Alliance reaches out to producers whose certifications are coming due, r...
03/25/2026

It’s Recertification Season 📝🌱

Each spring, Food Alliance reaches out to producers whose certifications are coming due, requesting renewal applications so the recertification process can begin. This is an important moment in the certification cycle; one that helps ensure the continued integrity and credibility of the Food Alliance Certified program.

Food Alliance certification is built on a rigorous third-party audit system designed to verify sustainable practices across farms, ranches, and food operations. Through this process, certified producers demonstrate their commitment to responsible land stewardship, fair working conditions, humane animal care, and long-term environmental sustainability.

Head to our blog to learn more: https://foodalliance.org/blog/recertification-season-why-timely-renewal-matters

Client Spotlight: Kraemer Farms 🍇For more than 100 years, the Kraemer family () has stewarded land in Oregon’s Willamett...
03/03/2026

Client Spotlight: Kraemer Farms 🍇

For more than 100 years, the Kraemer family () has stewarded land in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with a long-term vision rooted in care, adaptability, and family values. What began as small-scale farming in the early 1900s formally became Kraemer Farms in 1964, and has since grown into a diversified operation producing wine grapes, hazelnuts, grass seed, and specialty crops across multiple ranches.

At the heart of the farm is a thoughtfully managed vineyard program along the eastern edge of the valley, where varied soils and microclimates support strong winery partnerships and site-specific farming. Innovation, from early mechanical harvesting to ongoing infrastructure investments, has helped the farm remain resilient while staying true to its roots.

Kraemer Farms’ vegetable production has been Food Alliance certified since 2008, a reflection of their long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, worker well-being, and continuous improvement. As Andy Kraemer shares, certification helps showcase the intention behind their work. With more than a century of family farming behind them, Kraemer Farms continues to demonstrate what long-term, values-driven agriculture looks like in practice.

Learn more about their operation on our blog:
https://foodalliance.org/blog/client-spotlight-kraemer-farms

Meet a Food Alliance auditor 🌱📝Teresa Matteson brings more than two decades of conservation leadership to her work as a ...
02/15/2026

Meet a Food Alliance auditor 🌱📝

Teresa Matteson brings more than two decades of conservation leadership to her work as a Food Alliance auditor. She recently completed a 22-year career with the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, where she helped advance soil health, water quality, and conservation education efforts in Oregon. Teresa’s impact spans generations— from introducing young students to salmon habitat through hands-on educational programs to encouraging farmers and landowners to adopt soil-health and regenerative management practices. Since 2002, she worked with Benton SWCD staff and hundreds of volunteers during the District’s annual Native Plant Sale, raising community awareness around native species and encouraging wildlife habitat restoration.

With a Master’s in Soil Science from Oregon State University, Teresa designed and led soil and water assessment programs, supported a Willamette Riverkeeper volunteer monitoring team, and authored the water quality monitoring proposal for the Upper Muddy Creek Strategic Implementation Area. She has mentored 28 interns, mostly students pursuing careers in natural resource management and many of whom now work in conservation fields. Known for combining her passion for soil health with collaborative, hands-on learning, Teresa is a trusted partner to farmers, researchers, and conservation professionals, and a valued member of the Food Alliance auditor community.

Meet one of our auditors 📝Don Ashby Jr. is an experienced conservation professional and the principal of D Rockin A Ranc...
01/24/2026

Meet one of our auditors 📝

Don Ashby Jr. is an experienced conservation professional and the principal of D Rockin A Ranch Consulting. He serves as an Audubon Conservation Ranching Program Auditor and a Food Alliance Whole Farm Crop Program Inspector, bringing decades of hands-on expertise to his work with farmers and ranchers across diverse landscapes.

Don retired in 2020 after a successful career spanning three federal conservation agencies. He held a range of roles with the Bureau of Land Management as a Rangeland Management Specialist, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as both a Rangeland Management Specialist and Soil Conservationist, and with the U.S. Forest Service in range management and as a Natural Resources Staff Officer. Over the course of his career, Don has worked on hundreds of farms and ranches, gaining a deep appreciation for the families who steward them. He finds particular fulfillment in working alongside producers who are progressive, proactive, and deeply committed to the long-term health of their operations. As he often says, “I get to see farms and ranches that most people will never see—and some don’t even know exist,” a privilege he does not take lightly. While his role includes auditing and inspection, Don values the opportunity to learn from the many innovative approaches he encounters, often reflecting, “I wish I knew back when.”

Outside of his professional work, Don enjoys hunting and fishing, taking on remodeling projects for family and friends, and, most importantly, spending time with—and happily spoiling—his wife and grandkids.

12/30/2025

Food Alliance is Hiring! Feel free to reach out to me with questions or for the rest of the details/job description.

Contract Auditor Position Description - Audubon Conservation Ranching Program

The National Audubon Society has created the Conservation Ranching Program as an innovative, market-based approach to connect conservation-conscious consumers to farmers and ranchers that employ bird-friendly management practices in raising their livestock. Participation in the program is voluntary and is open to beef cattle and bison farm and ranching operations located throughout the United States. Additional information on the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program can be found at Conservation Ranching | Audubon.

Farms and ranches wishing to participate in the Audubon Conservation Ranching program must demonstrate conformance to applicable Conservation Ranching Program Protocols, including the development and implementation of a site-specific Habitat Management Plan. Conformance to program requirements is verified through annual third-party audits managed by Food Alliance (www.foodalliance.org).

Food Alliance is seeking highly qualified independent contractors to perform on-site and/or desk audits of operations participating in the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program. Interested parties should submit a detailed resume and cover letter to:

Email: [email protected]

Address

PO BOX 1004
Carnation, WA
98014

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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