I. What is Salmon-Safe?

The Salmon-Safe standard system was developed over a two-year period with biologists, agronomists and farmers, and has been tested in the field at more than 300 farms in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, across a variety of crops. Salmon-Safe California was launched in 2006 as a project of Marin Organic, in partnership with Salmon-Safe, Inc.

“Salmon-Safe” is a certification program designed to verify local producers’ environmental stewardship of waterways and riparian habitats. The program is available in California due to an exciting partnership between Marin Organic and Salmon-Safe, Inc. (based in Oregon).

When issued, certification applies for a 3-year period and certified producers will benefit from the Salmon-Safe marketing materials and online promotions which market their products to environmentally-conscious consumers in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the Pacific Northwest. An environmental-stewardship label such as Salmon-Safe provides a powerful differentiation for your products in a discerning marketplace.

II. The Salmon Safe Label

The Salmon-Safe label on a product means it was created using healthy farming practices that keep rivers clean enough for native salmon to spawn and thrive. Farms earn Salmon-Safe certification after a rigorous assessment that includes on-the-ground inspection by expert independent certifiers. Land managers can do much to promote healthy landscapes for salmon by planting trees along riverside areas, improving irrigation systems to reduce erosion, and limiting pesticides and other pollution from reaching waterways. On a product, the Salmon-Safe logo refers to how the crop is produced, not to the food or beverage product itself.

Salmon-Safe foods may or may not be certified organic. While organic certification is primarily concerned with chemical inputs used in production, Salmon-Safe certification examines the overall affect of the farming system in a watershed. Salmon-Safe farms may use synthetic or naturally occurring pesticides and fertilizers that are chosen with consideration for having the least impact on aquatic ecosystems.

III. The Salmon-Safe program in California

“(The Salmon-Safe) program demonstrates that collaborative efforts and mutual understanding can result in an improved environment, farming viability, habitat improvements, enhancement of biodiversity, and the protection of threatened and endangered species.”. - Marin Agricultural Commissioner Stacy Carlsen

Many individuals and groups, such as the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN), have been working for years to protect the rivers and streams of Marin County and restore riparian habitat in an effort to foster the return of the salmon to Marin County. The Salmon-Safe program provides an opportunity for Marin agricultural producers to verify that they are doing their part as well.

Through the program, Marin Organic offers certification services to California producers, technical assistance to meet the strict guidelines if needed, and incentives in the form of a recognizable label which designates a product as grown with the health of local waterways and their residents in mind. The program is not just for organic producers, though it may be added to an existing organic certification to further differentiate your products in the marketplace. Salmon-Safe certification is also available to any producer who wants to make a verifiable step toward less toxic land management practices and environmental stewardship.

Thirteen properties are currently Salmon-Safe certified in Marin:
(Click on the farm names to view their profiles and to find out what Salmon-Safe products are available.)

• Blackberry Farm


• Chileno Valley Ranch


• Cow Track Ranch


• Creekside Gardens


• Commonweal Gardens (Regenerative Design Institute)


• Drake's Bay Family Farms


• Fresh Run Farm


• Green Gulch Farm


• La Tercera


• Mt Barnabe Farm


• Paradise Valley


• Slide Ranch


• Star Route Farms

IV. Salmon-Safe Certification Requirements

A. Farm
Salmon-Safe works with farmers to encourage the adoption of ecologically sustainable agricultural practices that protect water quality and native salmon. Operations endorsed by our independent professional certifiers are promoted with the Salmon-Safe label. Salmon-Safe farms gain competitive advantage in the marketplace through our public education efforts and the marketing efforts of our participating farmers.

For most farm operations, Salmon-Safe certification focuses on erosion prevention and soil management measures, fertilizer usage, integrated pest management practices, and conservation of native biodiversity. In the case of dairies, inspections include riparian area management, erosion and sediment controls, and manure management. Irrigation practices, erosion control and cover crops, and minimizing pesticide demand are key factors in our work with fruit and vegetable growers.

West Marin has become a focal point for salmon recovery efforts in California. Lagunitas and San Geronimo creeks and their tributaries in the area support 10 percent of California's Coho population. Marin Organic and several local partners launched Salmon-Safe in 2007 with the goal of helping transition local growers to further protection of salmon-bearing streams while creating market-based incentives to promote wildlife habitat and water quality protection.

Download the Salmon-Safe certification standards for California farms

B. Urban
Corporate campus certifications are unique from agricultural operation standards and handled by Salmon-Safe, Inc.

Download the Salmon-Safe, Inc. certification standards for Corporate Campuses

C. Wine
Erosion and runoff from hill side vineyards can bring silt into streams, reducing the ability of native salmon to spawn and thrive. Salmon-Safe helps vineyards protect and restore salmon habitat by planting trees on streams, growing cover crops to control run-off, and apply natural methods to control weeds and pests. Vineyards that meet our rigorous standards earn certification, giving them the honor of using the Salmon-Safe label.

Look for the Salmon Safe label in your favorite wine shop or supermarket and get the satisfaction of knowing that your purchase is helping keep our rivers safe for salmon.

V. Get Certified!

Salmon-Safe certification inspections and evaluations are conducted by independent consultants and experts in the field who evaluate the extent to which a candidate farm's management practices impact water quality and stream ecosystem health. Marin Organic provides Salmon-Safe certification services to farms, vineyards, ranches and in urban areas.

Choosing Salmon-Safe certification allows you to communicate to your customers and neighbors that you are using management practices that steward the land and water resources in a way that will support the return of California’s native anadromous fish populations. Make your statement boldly with the Salmon-Safe label in a few simple steps:

Farms that participate in Salmon-Safe are asked to pay the cost of their initial field assessment and subsequent verification visits, which typically start at $250, depending on the farm size and location. Marin Organic and Salmon-Safe also seek outside funding to subsidize certification and marketing costs. Certification costs depend on the type of certification (agricultural or urban) and the scale of the operation. Expenses covered by the certification fees include:

• Travel


• Inspection review by independent third-party expert inspector,


• Issuance of the certification.

Contact us for more information and to develop a quote for certifying your farm, ranch, vineyard or corporate campus.

Apply Now!

The Marin Organic Salmon-Safe Certification Process for California:

1. Contact Marin Organic to arrange an inspection.
   Call: 415-663-9667
   Email: info@marinorganic.org


2. Inspection. Your application will be reviewed by Marin Organic staff. An expert, Salmon-Safe trained inspector will then perform an onsite evaluation.


3. Certification status notification. Upon completion of the review process, you will receive a letter from Marin Organic/Salmon-Safe to inform you of your certification status and any requirements for ongoing certification.

VI. Support the Salmon!

To support this program and the return of Coho salmon and Steelhead trout to Marin County, look for the Salmon-Safe label at Farmers' Markets, restaurants, and natural food stores throughout Marin, California, and all of the Pacific Northwest. For questions about Salmon Safe certification and more information, please contact the Marin Organic office at (415) 663-9667.

VII. Links

For more information about the history of Salmon-Safe, Inc. and other regional partners, visit the Salmon-Safe, Inc. website at www.salmonsafe.org