May 24, 2023

Pollinator Partnership adds third-party verified option to Bee Friendly Farming certification

As the world celebrated World Bee Day on May 20, Pollinator Partnership released a new third-party verification option for its Bee Friendly Farming Certification.

The certification program is designed to encourage farmers and growers to provide safe habitats for bees and other pollinators. The option was developed in partnership with and overseen by verifier Where Food Comes From.

California almond suppliers Harris Woolf Almonds and Treehouse California Almonds are among the first brands participating in the program through their support for the system’s initial beta test.

By beta-testing a portion of their almond volume in the Bee Friendly Farming Certified third-party verified program, the partners demonstrate their leadership in sustainable action for almond production, according to a news release. Bee Friendly Farming Certification has more than 450 farms in its second-party verified program. The third-party option carries the same standards, with an additional third-party review, and will be available for all growers and brands starting with its official launch in the Summer of 2023, according to the release.

The Bee Friendly Farming® (BFF) Certified program is administered by Pollinator Partnership, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to protecting pollinators and their ecosystems. The new third-party option complements the existing second-party Bee Friendly Farming Certified program, using the same standards and support for farmers and growers to implement regenerative practices that help pollinators, according to the release.

The growers deliver forage and nesting sites and avoid pesticide use by implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with the additional potential to realize improved soil health, increased carbon sequestration, elevated water quality and ensured pollination efficacy, according to the release. Where Food Comes From verifies the compliance in the new third-party certification option.

“Harris Woolf is always eager to support and collaborate with Pollinator Partnership in the many projects pertaining to conservation, protection and health of pollinators,” Justin Morehead, Harris Woolf Almonds’ CEO, said in the release. “As a fellow Certified B Corporation, we appreciate the unique opportunity to partner with Danone Canada to develop a sustainably-minded supply chain that will amplify its reach by giving consumers the confidence of a third-party certified label.”

Through the partnership, Silk Canada and KIND Snacks protect and promote the health of pollinators through their diligence in trying to find ways to grow almonds more sustainably, and have paved the way for other brands and growers to adopt these practices, according to the release.

“The team here at Treehouse and our small network of growers are proud to be leading this initiative. As one of the first Bee Friendly Farming Certified® almond handlers and a leading almond ingredient supplier to the world’s most distinguished food brands, this is an obvious step forward as we continue to build transparency and traceability into our supply chain and sustainability targets,” Mauro Trevisani, Treehouse California Almonds’ CEO, said in the release.

“By working together, we can help build and enhance critical pollinator habitats across North America and promote sustainable agriculture practices that benefit both farmers and pollinators,” Laurie Davies Adams, Pollinator Partnership’s director of programs, said in the release.