Salmon-Safe Certified Malt

This year as part of Skagit Valley Malting’s ongoing conservation and sustainability efforts we are beginning to certify Salmon-Safe grain! We are excited to announce that all of our Organic barley from the 2019 harvest is now certified Salmon-Safe!

Our longtime farmer, Hedlin Family Farms, has just renewed their Salmon-Safe certification which means their 2019 harvest is now certified! Hedlin Farms is our primary organic barley grower and this year they grew barley right on the banks of the Skagit River which sparked a conversation about Salmon-Safe. It turned out Hedlin Farms had been certified in the past and while they weren’t currently certified they had maintained the same Salmon-Safe practices so recertification was an easy process. Skagit farmers are dedicated to the preservation of the Valley and many of their farming practices reflect this. While there aren’t certifications for every farmers best practices the Salmon-Safe certification is a great reflection of what they strive to accomplish, “That farmland is key to the health of Puget Sound and that protecting and preserving farmland is a strategic part our action plans for improving the health of Puget Sound and the recovery of salmon” (Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland) 

Another farmer of ours, Fraserland Organics in Delta, BC is now also certified Salmon-Safe. Much like our Skagit farmers, Fraserland Organics is situated on land that is made up of a river delta, the Fraser River delta. We share the same growing region and they have been an amazing source for organic barley for malting! 

Why the Salmon-Safe certification important to the Skagit Valley?

The Valley’s soil has been rated within the top 2% of soil in the world and one of the biggest contributors to this rich soil is the Skagit River delta. The Valley was formed by water-deposited (alluvial) soils and most of the cropland in the county is located in the floodplain-delta area (WSU Skagit Extension). These floodplain soils are highly productive for dryland farming and have been a key part of the success Skagit farmers have in growing high-value rare crops.  

The connection between the Skagit River and the malting barley grown by local farmers is inseparable. The combination of rich soil, sustainable farming practices, and a maritime climate form a growing region not seen anywhere else in the United States and in turn creates a barley not seen anywhere else. Furthermore, the water from the Skagit River makes its way through our local municipality and then into our malting machines where we steep and germinate our barley. When we actively protect the Skagit River we are working to ensure the productivity of our Valley and all that is provides and produces for us! 

Being an advocate for Salmon-Safe malt doesn’t just stop at one farm, we will be working closely with the Salmon-Safe organization to convert more of our farmers to Salmon-Safe. We are also excited to join over 20 other breweries in this effort to create our craft while also preserving and protecting native salmon in the PNW. 

About Salmon-Safe

Salmon-Safe has become one of the nation’s leading ecolabels with more than 95,000 acres of farm and urban lands certified in Oregon, Washington, California, and British Columbia. Through our peer-reviewed certification and accreditation program, we are leading the movement to implement farming practices and developments that protect water quality, maintain watershed health and restore habitat.

Salmon-Safe Farms

The Salmon-Safe farm certification program is focused on management practices in six primary areas: riparian area management, water use management, erosion and sediment control, integrated pest management and water quality protection, animal management, and biodiversity conservation. 

Skagit River Facts:

• The Skagit River begins in southwestern British Columbia and flows for 150 miles through the North Cascades where it flows into the Skagit bay. 

• The Skagit River is the largest and most biologically important river feeding into the Puget Sound and one of the last strongholds that contain all five species of Salmon. 

• The Skagit Valley also hosts the largest chum and pink salmon populations in the entire lower 48, as well as the most abundant population of wild Chinook salmon in Puget Sound. 

• The Skagit River Delta supports 70 percent of Puget Sound’s shorebirds during migration. Skagit farmland is the reason why the Skagit Delta is one of the most important waterfowl wintering areas in the Pacific Northwest, supporting over 90 percent of the waterfowl wintering in western Washington. (Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland)