Growers across the Interior Columbia Basin have long carried both Salmon-Safe and GLOBALG.A.P. certifications. These environmentally innovative growers inspired the standards’ overlay by seeking a combined certification process. With the successful completion of pilot assessments utilizing the overlay in 2018, these growers and others can now be assessed for GLOBALG.A.P. and Salmon-Safe certification in a single integrated farm visit.
“We think it’s a great complement to GLOBALG.A.P. Certification,” said Roberta Anderson, Executive Vice President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America, Inc. “While GLOBALG.A.P. IFA covers food safety, traceability, occupational health and safety, and environment, Salmon-Safe offers a targeted, science-based focus on watershed impact. The Salmon-Safe certification is a great way to recognize GLOBALG.A.P. certified farmers committed to continually improving stewardship of their streams and waterways.”
Salmon-Safe conducted an 18-month development process of aligning its certification guidelines with the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Version 5 Crops Standard. The new Salmon-Safe overlay will enable a more efficient audit process for farmers seeking both certifications.
“Pacific Northwest farmers who are leading the way to healthier and more progressive agriculture will be interested in this combined audit option,” said Dan Kent, Salmon-Safe executive director. “ By combining GLOBALG.A.P. and Salmon-Safe practices, growers can ensure a safe and responsible product while advancing ecologically sustainable agriculture here in the Pacific Northwest and nationally.”
The Salmon-Safe overlay standard includes riparian area management, water management, water quality protection, and biodiversity enhancement guidelines beyond those within the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance Standard. Salmon-Safe also offers farmers the use of a consumer label free of charge.
Michael Roy, president of the hop and blueberry divisions of Roy Farms, a Yakima-based diversified farming operation, said: “After separately seeking Salmon-Safe and GLOBALG.A.P. Certification, we’re happy to see a fast track to joint certification. We also know our wholesale buyers appreciate that our farming practices help conserve our local Yakima river watershed; Salmon-Safe helps us deliver that message.”
“The Whole Foods Market Responsibly Grown program for produce and floral items includes the important issues of watershed conservation and biodiversity protection in addition to baseline requirements regarding food safety,” said Robin Foster, Whole Foods Market Global Produce & Floral Responsibly Grown Team Leader. “Products that have been certified under the Salmon-Safe and GLOBALG.A.P. Certification Programs receive credit towards these criteria under Responsibly Grown.”
