More than 100 farms and vineyards are now taking part in a growing trend in Washington state called Salmon-Safe. It’s a label designed for businesses and landowners to come together to protect the salmon habitat. Chateau Ste. Michelle and Novelty Hill Januik Winery are two of many jumping on board with this label.
“When people see the Salmon-Safe logo on the back of a wine bottle, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe for salmon what it means is that those grapes were grown in a way that was safe for salmon,” Stewardship Partners Daivid Burger said. “Those vineyard managers are growing the grapes in a way that provide buffers along the stream, that they irrigate efficiently, they provide increased native bio diversity and habitat for wild salmon and that helps protect water quality.”
Burger works with Stewardship Partners, the group behind the Salmon-Safe movement.
“The salmon-safe label doesn’t just certify vineyards, but it certifies farms, golf courses, residential developments, and it’s growing in terms of how it can be used,” Burger said. “What it means for vineyards and wineries is that they and others want to be part of the solution to bring back wild native salmon to the Pacific Northwest.”
