Oregon’s Crosby Hop Farm received a designation that confirms its commitment to the earth and to ethical practices. The Pacific Northwest agricultural business is now certified as a B Corporation, joining over 1,700 other companies around the world and 68 business organizations in Oregon that have shown their commitment to the planet and its people.
B corporations receive their certification from the nonprofit organization known as B Lab. The standards set forth by B Lab are rigorous and very few companies reach the level of commitment to positive business practices necessary to receive this designation. Andy Fyfe of B Lab says the qualifications are tough and is happy to see Cosby Hop Farm take the industry lead in ethical and environmental practices.
“Certified B Corporations distinguish themselves by committing to higher standards of transparency, accountability and performance, creating a better way of doing business,” said Fyfe. “Crosby Hop Farm joins a bold and growing community of B Corps in the craft beer movement that values not just the beer, but the total impact of beer making. We look forward to being a platform for the leadership of Crosby Hop Farm locally and globally.”
B Corporation designation is similar to the Fair Trade certification common to the coffee industry. To gain B Corp status, Crosby Hop Farm had to prove it engages in environmentally friendly practices; treats its employees fairly and with dignity; improves the community and the lives of customers; and operates its business in the most transparent way possible while adhering to strong accountability and governance standards. Crosby Hop Farm CEO Blake Crosby is thrilled that his business has earned this prestigious designation.
“We are excited to be the first brewing industry raw materials supplier to join fellow craft beer leaders in the pursuit of this very important global movement,” said Crosby. “The B Corp impact assessment provides a great framework for planning and continuous improvement across all aspects of our business. Just as it takes many quality ingredients to make a good beer, brewers now have the ability to select hops sourced from a Certified B Corporation.”
Crosby Hop Farm has been a strong candidate for B Corp recognition for some time. The business has a zero waste initiative, biodiversity and native habitat restoration goals, an active solar energy project, etc. On the human side of the equation, Crosby Hop Farm provides generous employee benefits, encourages and promotes ride sharing, and offers flexible scheduling. In the future, the company plans to create a community garden, expand training and professional development, and get involved even more in the community and in schools. Crosby Hop Farm Quality and Sustainability Manager Staci Wallace says the company has always looked at more than just the bottom line when making decisions.
“It’s our responsibility to look beyond just financial performance and commit to the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit,” said Wallace. “Drawing from the inspiration and support of the B Corp community, we have a tremendous opportunity to continuously improve our impact on the communities Crosby Hop Farm serves and the land that sustains us.”
Crosby Hop Farm helped create a special beer just recently at the Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia, partnering with Certified B Lab breweries and supplying them with hops for a collaborative beer. The beer was called Brew the Change and it was crafted and brewed at Canada- based Beau’s All Natural Brewing in April, 2016. Breweries involved in the effort included Aslan, Beau’s, Bison, Brewery Vivant, Bull City, Hopworks, New Belgium, Persephone, and Picaroons. These breweries, like Crosby Hop Farm, have a shared vision that business should work to improve life for everyone, protect the environment, and be a model for social and ethical good.
Cheers to Crosby Hop Farm for achieving this prestigious designation!
Leave a Reply