Yamhill Valley Grown, Your Guide To Local Food | Página 5

Common Certifications
The certifications listed below are a sample of some of the terminology you may come
across when trying to make informed eating decisions for your family. This is by no
means a complete list, but a great starting point.
Biodynamic: biodynamics.com
An organic agriculture practice, which considers
the farm as a whole organism and employs
various plant preparations and techniques to grow
nutritious, ecologically based foods. Methods
unique to biodynamics include the use of
fermented herbal and mineral preparations as
compost and field sprays, and an astronomical
sowing and planting calendar.
Dolphin Safe: earthisland.org/dolphinSafeTuna
Earth Island International “Dolphin Safe”
certification requires that tuna companies meet
the following standards: no encirclement of
dolphins or other marine mammals during an
entire fishing trip, no accidental deaths or serious
injuries to any dolphins, and no use of drift gill
nets.
Food Alliance: foodalliance.org
As a third-party certifier, the Food Alliance
distinguishes foods produced by farmers,
ranchers, and food processers who use
environmentally and socially responsible
practices while educating consumers about the
food system.
Grass-fed: Americangrassfed.org
American Grass-fed Association certification
states ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, etc.) have
continuous access to pasture during the growing
season and are fed a lifetime diet of forage
(grasses and hay-like grasses). Animals are never
treated with hormones or antibiotics.
Humanely Raised and Handled:
certifiedhumane.com
Certified Humane Raised and Handled label means
that an egg, dairy, meat or poultry product has
been produced with the welfare of the farm animal
in mind. Animals must be raised with shelter,
resting areas, sufficient space, the ability to
engage in natural behaviors, and given no
antibiotics or hormones.
LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology):
liveinc.org
LIVE is a non-profit organization providing
education and certification for vineyards using

international standards of sustainable viticulture in
wine grape production.
Naturally Grown: naturallygrown.org
Naturally Grown is an alternative to the USDA’s
organic certification program. This label applies to
small, direct-market farms who follow the same
guidelines as certified organic farms.
Predator Friendly: predatorfriendly.com
Through pasture management strategies, guardian
animals such as dogs and llamas, and vigilant
observation, Predator Friendly® producers reduce the
risk of conflict between livestock and wildlife. Certified
farms and ranches use humane practices to keep
livestock safe and wildlife alive.
Salmon Safe: salmonsafe.org
Salmon-Safe is a 501(c)3 agricultural and urban
certification non-profit focused on the restoration of
Northwest salmon watersheds. Salmon-Safe certified
farms, vineyards, orchards, and dairies meet rigorous
standards for protection of water quality and habitat
as well as the conservation of native biodiversity.
USDA Certified Organic: ams.usda.gov/NOP
The USDA certifies food that is organically grown,
harvested, preserved, or processed without pesticides,
hormones, antibiotics, toxic inputs, irradiation, or
genetically modified organisms. The USDA designates
private and state agencies to inspect and certify
organic food.
Oregon Tilth Certified Organic: tilth.org
Oregon Tilth is a not-for-profit organization accredited
by the USDA for certifying agricultural producers and
product manufacturers of their organic status. Oregon
Tilth is nationally known and respected for their
robust organic certification process including strict
production standards, on-site inspections, and legally
binding contracts.

Thank you to Willamette Food
and Farm Coalition for sharing
practice and certification
overviews