Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769179
cy, such as QAI, has verified that the product labeled as "organic" is true to claim. QAI is the only USDA organic certifying agency able to offer joint certification to GFSI standards. QAI is a member of NSF International, which conducts food safety audits and training, develops sustainability standards, and verifies sustainability claims. qai-inc.com Rainforest Alliance Certified A symbol of sustainability that can be found on products like coffee, tea, chocolate, and fruit. Denotes products that support a healthy environ- ment and decent working and living conditions on farms and in forests and their surrounding communities. To earn the seal, farms and forests must meet the comprehensive third-party standards of the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Agriculture Network. Farms are audited annually and surprise audits are carried out for certified farms at least once a year. rainforest-alliance.org USDA Organic Regulates the standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced. Companies that handle or process organic food can be certified as well. A government-approved certifier inspects the farm or business to ensure it meets USDA organic standards. Seals include: "100% Organic" (all ingredients are wholly organic); "Organic" (95 percent of a product's ingredients are organic); and "Made with organic ingre- dients" (ingredients are at least 70 percent organic). ams.usda.gov/nop Whole Grain Stamp Manufacturers must join the Whole Grain Council to use the stamp, which denotes that the product contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per labeled serving. Two stamps are available: The 100% Stamp means all of the grain in a product is whole grain and has at least 16 grams of whole grain; the Basic Stamp may include a mix of whole and refined grains and contains at least 8 grams of whole grain. Companies sign a legal agreement to abide by all rules and guidelines of the Stamp program. wholegrainscouncil.org COMPANY CHARACTERISTIC CERTIFICATIONS Following are some commonly used certifications issued on a compa- ny level that speak to mission, ownership makeup, business practices, and sustainability efforts. B-Corp Certification B-Corp certified companies are committed to making a difference in the world through business, aiming to use the power of markets to solve social and environ- mental problems. These mission-driven companies wear a label that tells consumers that the company is committed to meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal account- ability. bcorporation.net EPA Green Power Partnership (GPP) The EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages orga- nizations to use green power—solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact biomass, and low-impact hydro resources—as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. Partners must meet a minimum percentage of their annual electricity use with green power from renewable energy facilities put into ser- vice within the last 15 years, and report on their current green power use and Partnership status annually. epa.gov/greenpower Export Achievement Certificate Issued by the United States Department of Commerce, this certificate was created to rec- ognize small and medium-sized enterprises that have successfully entered a new market or the international marketplace for the first time. Nominations are encouraged and can be accepted throughout the year from local businesses, elected officials, and community lead- ers. 2016.export.gov Minority Owned Businesses For-profit businesses that are at least 51 percent minority-owned, operated, and controlled may be qualified for certifica- tion under the National Minority Supplier Development Council. For the purposes of NMSDC's program, a minority group member is an individual who is at least 25 percent Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Minority eligibility is established via a combination of screenings, interviews and site visits. nmsdc.org/ mbes/mbe-certification/ Women's Business Enterprise National Council Certification (WBENC) Validates that a business is 51 percent owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. Businesses go through a rigor- ous and stringent certification process. Members use their certifica- tion credentials to gain access to WBENC Corporate Members, as well as a number of federal, state, and local government agencies. They also gain access to more than 10,000 other WBENC certified Women's Business Enterprises in order to purchase products or ser- vices and partner on joint venture opportunities. wbenc.org Denise Shoukas is a contributing editor to Specialty Food Magazine. 98 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com