The Food Alliance Guiding Principles apply to all commodities and serve to unite Food Alliance-Approved dairies, ranches, and fruit and vegetable farms.

Farmers seeking to market their products as Food Alliance-Approved submit a detailed Farm Plan and sign a set of Guiding Principles. apply to all commodities and serve to unite Food Alliance-Approved dairies, ranches, and fruit and vegetable farms.

The Farm Plan section of the application asks farmers to supply information about their operation and farming experiences while describing farming goals and philosophies. In addition, farmers are asked to complete pest, weed, and disease charts and supply The Food Alliance with a map of their operation. A site inspection is then conducted to evaluate the farm in three different areas:

• pest and disease management
• soil and water conservation
• human resource development

In addition to meeting strict eligibility requirements in three sectors, Food Alliance-Approved farmers are also required to submit farm improvement plans. The Food Alliance recognizes that making the transition to sustainable agricultural practices is a process. For many farmers, this process requires a series of small, realistic steps. The flexibility of The Food Alliance program and the use of farm improvement plans, make those steps viable options for farmers.

The Food Alliance is dedicated to the creation of sustainable farming systems with a long-term goal of helping farmers and ranchers become more economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible. As (Midwest) Food Alliance farmers and ranchers we believe in:

Protecting and conserving water resources

We protect our water resources by using methods such as: creating buffer zones along waterways, reducing chemical and sediment runoff, managing animal wastes to prevent ground and/or surface water contamination, and using tillage practices that conserve organic matter and soil aggregation. We conserve water by encouraging infiltration and storage of rainfall in the soil. We increase our irrigation water efficiency through soil moisture monitoring and the use of new irrigation technologies.

Protecting and enhancing soil resources

For example, we reduce erosion and protect our soils by maximizing plant cover throughout the year, by establishing permanent vegetative cover in orchards and vineyards, by using pastures and management intensive grazing, and locating crops and livestock according to appropriate land uses. We use crop rotations that include cover crops in order to build soil organic matter and productivity. We select tillage technologies that minimize degradation of soil quality.

Reducing, if not eliminating, the use of pesticides

For example, we employ prevention strategies designed to eliminate the need for a pesticide application. We select the least harmful, or ecologically disruptive pesticides. We monitor pest pressures closely in order to establish the need for an application. We reduce the impact of pesticides on our environment by fine tuning our equipment in order to make more precise applications, and by closely monitoring weather conditions.

Conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat

We foster vegetative cover, food, and water resources necessary for habitat by using methods such as establishing or maintaining biological corridors, managing mowing and grazing cycles, restoring or protecting wetlands, prairies and woodlands. We take steps to provide habitat for beneficial insects in order to reduce the need for insecticides.

Conserving and recycling nutrients

We conserve and recycle nutrients by converting organic wastes into productive uses and by seeking ways to generate nutrients on farm through such methods as cover cropping and integrating livestock into farm production.

Providing safe and fair working conditions for our employees and our families

For example, we develop farm polices in order to establish open channels for communicating workplace safety and satisfaction. We provide incentives and opportunities for the development of employee skills. We incorporate quality of life issues into our daily decision making process for ourselves, our families, our employees and our broader communities.

Producing crops without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO's)

Inputs containing transgenic, genetically modified organisms may not be used in the production of crops or livestock products that are sold as "Food Alliance-Approved".

Raising livestock in healthy and humane living conditions, and without administering either growth stimulating hormones or sub-therapeutic antibiotics

Some examples of healthy and humane living conditions include providing livestock with grazing in fresh air on pastures and/or range, providing animals with deep bedded lodging, designing animal holding areas and animal movement strategies that allow for the expression of normal animal behaviors.

Continually improving farm practices

We set goals and assess our progress toward these goals by monitoring for impacts of our decisions on our farm, our family, employees and the environment. We seek out new and innovative management techniques to integrate into our farm and ranch management. When possible we take leading roles in our communities by participating in community groups and industry associations that share information and expertise, and by serving as mentors to others.

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