Our Standards

SFRAW Rating System

We have extremely high standards for the producers we choose to work with and the products that we sell. Our suppliers and producers go through a rigorous vetting out and interview process - truth is, not many make the cut! Below you will find the selection criteria we consider when rating our products/producers. We hope you find this information meaningful and helpful when determining which products you choose. 

At a minimum, we do not buy/sell any foods that are:

1) Made from non-USDA inspected and actually certified “fit for human consumption” ingredients (the only exception made is for GreenTripe products) - being made in a USDA facility is not the same as an ingredient being USDA-licensed and inspected (ingredients must each have USDA "bug" seal on each package or case produced/certifying that USDA inspection was made)

2) Made from non-organic produce; we do not buy eggs or produce that is made with non-organic products/ingredients

3) Foods or ingredients that have gone though a final "kill step" such as High Pressure Pasteurized (HPP), ultra, vat or flash "high-temperature short-time" (HTST) pasteurized

4) Irradiated

5) Homogenized

6) Animals raised with the use of hormones or antibiotics

7) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), also known as "factory farmed", meats/poultry: we purchase and sell meat/poultry/dairy/eggs from animals that are either grass-finished, pasture-raised/truly pastured, organic, free-range/range-grown only.

8) Added natural flavors or preservatives of any kind (other than real, actual food)

9) Denatured with anything other than ground bone (dyes, chemicals/other contaminants, charcoal)

10) Relies on the use of a “vitamin-mineral pack” type supplement/supplementation instead of using 100% whole/wholesome, real foods to balance the nutrition of a prepared food. This eliminates many pet food products on the market. In my personal opinion, these "vitamin-mineral packs" are the single most dangerous elements of pet food today, second only to the problems associated with the reliance and use of starches/carbohydrates and vegetable matter, as well as HPP processing. 

 

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Gold Standard (meets 75% criteria from each category)

Essential Criteria

  • 100% Grass-Finished or Truly Pastured
  • 100% USA Grown/Processed
  • Antibiotic-Free
  • Cage-Free (No Confinement)
  • Hormone-Free
  • Humanely-Handled/Raised with Care/Honor
  • Lovely People To Do Business With
  • Lower Carbon Footprint
  • Never Altered (beaks cut/tails removed)
  • No Crowding
  • Range-Free/Range-Grown
  • The Most Nutritious & Best Tasting/Flavor
  • Transparency (Facility/Farm Tours, Provides Information Willingly)
  • USDA/State Certified/Licensed Facility

The Product Considered (By Category) 75% 

  • 100% California Grown & Processed
  • Air-Chilled Processing
  • Certified Hallal
  • Compostable Packaging
  • Dry-Aged (Beef/Lamb)
  • Farm Harvested/Processed
  • Freshest You Can Buy
  • Genuinely Artisanal
  • Gluten-Free
  • GMO-Free Certified
  • HACCP Program
  • Handmade
  • Nutrient Dense/Tradtional Methods
  • Plastic-Free Production/Harvest
  • Soy-Free

The Business and The People

  • Alternative Energy Used (Solar/Biodiesel, etc.)
  • Certified Green Business
  • Cooperative/B-Corporation
  • Cottage Food Operation
  • Fair Trade Certified
  • Family Owned/Operated
  • Family/Hobby Farm
  • Locally Produced (Northern CA)
  • Minority Owned
  • SFMade Product
  • SFRAW Member Producer
  • Waste Reduction Program (Re-Use/Reduce/Re-Cycle)
  • Water Conservation/WaterSmart Certified
  • West Coast Producer (CA/WA/OR)

The Animals & Land

  • Animal Welfare Approved
  • Biodynamic Farming
  • Certified Organic
  • Closed Herd
  • Enhanced Outdoor Access
  • Enriched Environment
  • Global Animal Partnership Rating
  • Heritage Breeds
  • Holistic Management/Savory Practices
  • Humane Certified
  • Marine Conservation Society Rating
  • Naturally Reared (herbs/homeopathy)
  • Never Transported/Moved (Until Slaughter)
  • Organic/Chemical-Free (not certified)
  • Predator Friendly Certified
  • Rotational Grazing
  • Salatin/Polyface Practices
  • Seafood Watch Rating (favorable)
  • Vaccine-Free

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Silver Standard Essential Criteria

  • 100% USA Grown/Processed
  • Antibiotic-Free
  • Cage-Free (No Confinement)
  • Hormone-Free
  • Humanely-Handled/Raised with Care/Honor
  • Lovely People To Do Business With
  • Lower Carbon Footprint
  • Never Altered (beaks cut/tails removed)
  • No Crowding
  • Range-Free/Range-Grown
  • Transparency (Facility/Farm Tours, Provides Information Willingly)
  • USDA/State Certified/Licensed Facility

The Product Considered (By Category) 50% 

  • 100% California Grown & Processed
  • Air-Chilled Processing
  • Certified Hallal
  • Compostable Packaging
  • Dry-Aged (Beef/Lamb)
  • Farm Harvested/Processed
  • Freshest You Can Buy
  • Genuinely Artisanal
  • Gluten-Free
  • GMO-Free Certified
  • HACCP Program
  • Handmade
  • Nutrient Dense/Tradtional Methods
  • Plastic-Free Production/Harvest
  • Soy-Free

The Business and The People Over 50%

  • Alternative Energy Used (Solar/Biodiesel, etc.)
  • Certified Green Business
  • Cooperative/B-Corporation
  • Cottage Food Operation
  • Fair Trade Certified
  • Family Owned/Operated
  • Family/Hobby Farm
  • Locally Produced (Northern CA)
  • Minority Owned
  • SFMade Product
  • SFRAW Member Producer
  • Waste Reduction Program (Re-Use/Reduce/Re-Cycle)
  • Water Conservation/WaterSmart Certified
  • West Coast Producer (CA/WA/OR)

The Animals & Land Over 50%

  • Animal Welfare Approved
  • Biodynamic Farming
  • Certified Organic
  • Closed Herd
  • Enhanced Outdoor Access
  • Enriched Environment
  • Global Animal Partnership Rating
  • Heritage Breeds
  • Holistic Management/Savory Practices
  • Humane Certified
  • Marine Conservation Society Rating
  • Naturally Reared (herbs/homeopathy)
  • Never Transported/Moved (Until Slaughter)
  • Organic/Chemical-Free (not certified)
  • Predator Friendly Certified
  • Rotational Grazing
  • Salatin/Polyface Practices
  • Seafood Watch Rating (favorable)
  • Vaccine-Free

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Bronze Standard Essential Criteria

  • 100% USA Grown/Processed
  • Antibiotic-Free
  • Cage-Free (No Confinement)
  • Hormone-Free
  • Humanely-Handled/Raised with Care/Honor
  • Lovely People To Do Business With
  • Lower Carbon Footprint
  • Never Altered (beaks cut/tails removed)
  • No Crowding
  • Range-Free/Range-Grown
  • Transparency (Facility/Farm Tours, Provides Information Willingly)
  • USDA/State Certified/Licensed Facility

The Product Considered (By Category) 25% 

  • 100% California Grown & Processed
  • Air-Chilled Processing
  • Certified Hallal
  • Compostable Packaging
  • Dry-Aged (Beef/Lamb)
  • Farm Harvested/Processed
  • Freshest You Can Buy
  • Genuinely Artisanal
  • Gluten-Free
  • GMO-Free Certified
  • HACCP Program
  • Handmade
  • Nutrient Dense/Tradtional Methods
  • Plastic-Free Production/Harvest
  • Soy-Free

The Business and The People Over 25%

  • Alternative Energy Used (Solar/Biodiesel, etc.)
  • Certified Green Business
  • Cooperative/B-Corporation
  • Cottage Food Operation
  • Fair Trade Certified
  • Family Owned/Operated
  • Family/Hobby Farm
  • Locally Produced (Northern CA)
  • Minority Owned
  • SFMade Product
  • SFRAW Member Producer
  • Waste Reduction Program (Re-Use/Reduce/Re-Cycle)
  • Water Conservation/WaterSmart Certified
  • West Coast Producer (CA/WA/OR)

The Animals & Land Over 25%

  • Animal Welfare Approved
  • Biodynamic Farming
  • Certified Organic
  • Closed Herd
  • Enhanced Outdoor Access
  • Enriched Environment
  • Global Animal Partnership Rating
  • Heritage Breeds
  • Holistic Management/Savory Practices
  • Humane Certified
  • Marine Conservation Society Rating
  • Naturally Reared (herbs/homeopathy)
  • Never Transported/Moved (Until Slaughter)
  • Organic/Chemical-Free (not certified)
  • Predator Friendly Certified
  • Rotational Grazing
  • Salatin/Polyface Practices
  • Seafood Watch Rating (favorable)
  • Vaccine-Free