Oregon Food Processors Opt for 'Middle-way' CertificationSome food processors in Oregon who are interested in letting the public know that their products are sustainably grown have developed a new certification program, according to Oregon State University Extension Service News. Oregon State University Extension and the organization Food Alliance helped NORPAC, a farmer-owned cooperative of 165 farms, and the largest fruit and vegetable processor in the Willamette Valley, develop a voluntary certification system. The system includes four performance standards: soil and water conservation, responsible pest management, safe and fair working conditions, and wildlife habitat conservation. Developers call the program a "middle way" between conventional and organic production, that emphasizes sustainability and stewardship.
