Food Alliance
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) manages the National Organic Program (NOP). It describes organic as food grown in ways that stress the conservation of soil and water as well as the utilization of renewable resources to improve the quality of environment. For food to be categorized as organic, a certifier permitted by the government examines where farming takes place to ascertain that USDA organic standards are met. Oregon Tilth, on the other hand, is a USDA NOP accredited certifier. Unlike the USDA, which does not inspect farmers, the Oregon Tilth directly interacts with growers. While there are several certifiers, Oregon Tilth is one of the largest and most respected organic certifiers. Food Alliance is a non-profit organization that particularly focuses on addressing traceability, transparency, and environmental as well as social responsibility, unlike Oregon Tilth that primarily offers certification for organic food.
Fair Trade is an organization established to assist customers in supporting products coming from farms that have been certified to provide safe working conditions and fair salaries. It certifies farmers that meet these conditions. Fair Wild, on the other hand, is a foundation that offers a comprehensive framework for implementing a sustainable and fair trading system for wild plant products and ingredients (“Wild Plants”, n.d.). Also, it protects those who collect the plants.
Demeter is a leading global organization in the certification of Biodynamic agriculture. Moreover, it deals with organic food certification. Through its certification, Demeter helps protect the integrity of Biodynamic farming. Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW is the only third-party animal welfare foundation that is approved by the USDA. It ensures that animals are reared outside on ranches for their whole lives on a self-reliant farm through genuinely high-welfare and sustainable farming practices.
Real food refers to the whole, single-ingredient food. In most cases, it is unprocessed, contains nutrients, and lacks chemical additives. The four key stakeholders are producers, earth, consumers, and communities (“What is Real Food?”, n.d.). Producers include farmworkers, food chain workers, and farmers. They are responsible for providing real food to customers. Concerning earth, our farming practices must protect the climate and natural resources. About consumers, they should have access to healthier food, which leads to happy living. Lastly, communities as key stakeholders should support farmers that promote sustainability.
Indeed, Southern Oregon University (SOU) has offered substantial support to the Real Food Challenge (RFC). Notably, SOU was the first university to accept RFC in Oregon. SOU has vowed to support food systems that are humane, environmentally sustainable, and socially equitable. For instance, SOU pledged to spend 20 % of its food budget on real food (“SOU first in Oregon to accept “Real Food Challenge””, 2018). Further, the university is committed to developing a transparent reporting system to assess its food purchasing practices.