| |
click to magnify |
Rainforest Alliance Certified
 |
|
| |
| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Highly |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
| |
LABEL CATEGORY:
Pest Management, Social Responsibility, Sustainable Agriculture |
| |
WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS LABEL:
 FOOD
BEVERAGES
: coffee, orange juice
CANDY
: chocolate bars
COCOA
: Chocolate
FRUIT
: bananas
|
| |
|
| |
WHAT THIS LABEL MEANS:
Rainforest Alliance (RA) follows standards set by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN)(also formally known as the Conservation Agriculture Network) that are designed to promote tropical conservation and steer commercial agriculture practices in the tropics. SAN is an international coalition of nonprofit conservation groups and Rainforest Alliance serves as the international secretariat of SAN. Rainforest Alliance Certified growers follow the criteria and standards designed by SAN. Rainforest Alliance verifes that certified products have been grown using environmentally responsible management practices including integrated pest and disease management practices , soil and water conservation, fair labor treatment practices and good community relations. The Rainforest Alliance Certified label standards have been tailored to crops in specific regions. There are nine main criteria areas for each crop and corresponding standards that must be met. Within pest and disease management, there is also a list of pesticides that are prohibited for use and includes the Pesticide Action Network's (www.panna.org) "dirty dozen" and EPA red lists. Within water resource standards, waterways must be protected with buffer zones and monitored for contamination. Workers must be paid minimum wage and have the right to organize. RA does not have an official policy regarding the use of genetic engineering; however this technique is not being used in growing any certified crops at this time.
|
| |
CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
The Rainforest Alliance Certified label is clear and meaningful in support of sustainable agriculture, social responsibility and integrated pest management. The label is consistent in meaning among all certified. The does not consist of farmers and non of the members are certifiedby the Rainforest Alliance. In this sense, the organizations behind these labels are independent from the products that they certify. Board members of the Rainforest Alliance do not have any vested interest in the products that are certified and therefore there are no conflicts of interest. The RA is also transparent, providing information about funding, board of directors and standards on its website.
|
| |
PROGRAM NAME:
Sustainable Agriculture Program |
| |
ORGANIZATION NAME AND CONTACT INFO:
The Rainforest Alliance (RA)
665 Broadway, Suite 500
New York , NY
10012 -2331
Phone: 212-677-1900
Fax: (212) 677-2187
URL: www.rainforest-alliance.org/
Email Contact: info@ra.org
|
| |
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:
HISTORY
The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an environmental organization based in New York City and dedicated to the conservation of tropical forests. RA is a member of the Sustainable Agricultural Network (SAN). The Rainforest Alliance began certifying sustainable agriculture products in 1992. The SmartWood label program was wstablished in 1989, was later accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council in 1993, and issues the FSC and SmartWood labels on wood products.
FUNDING
Funding for Rainforest Alliance is provided by foundations including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Moriah Fund, Summit Foundation, Tinker Foundation Goldman Fund, Wallace Genetic, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Spray Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Prospect Hill foundation and by individual contributions, membership dues, certification fees, corporate donations and fundraising events.
STRUCTURE
Program decisions at RA are made by the board of directors. The sustainable agriculture program is jointly managed by RA and SAN.
ACCREDITATION
The Rainforest Alliance often accredits local organizations within the Sustainable Agriculture Network to certify according to the Rainforest Alliance Certified label program. All farm evaluations are forwarded to Rainforest Alliance for final certification approval. In cases where there is no local certifying organizations, RA will perform the certification directly.
|
| |
LABEL STANDARDS AND CRITERIA DETAIL:
click here for label standard - criteria test and analysis
|
| |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Labeeb M. Abboud- Vice Chair
Bert Aerts
Adam Albright
Dr. Noel Brown
Karen Clark
Daniel Cohen
Roger Deromedi
Dr. Frank A. Dottori
Dr. Karl Fossum
Wendy Gordon
Robert M. Hallman, Esq.
Diane Jukofsky**
Henry E. Juszkiewicz
Sudhakar Kesavan
Mary Stuart Masterson
Anthony Rodale
Eric Rothenberg
Peter M. Schulte- Treasurer
Kerri A. Smith
Martin Tandler
Annemieke Wijn
Chris Wille**
Mary Williams
Alan Wilzig
Henry P. Davison, III
Patricia J. Scharlin
Dr. Judith Sulzberger
Tensie Whelan- Executive Director
Please visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about.cfm?id=board_all for full bios on members of the Rainforest Alliance Board.
|
