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(Elk Grove, CA – September 23, 2008) – The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance (a national organization of land trusts based in Washington, D.C.) recently announced that California’s Central Valley Farmland Trust has been awarded accredited status. The Central Valley Farmland Trust works with farmers in California’s Central Valley to preserve our nation’s most productive farmland.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission presented the award to an inaugural group of 38 land trusts from throughout the United States at the annual Land Trust Alliance conference in Pittsburgh, PA. The Central Valley Farmland Trust is one of only three California land trusts that received this award, and is the only accredited land trust in California’s Central Valley.

“Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land.”

“Central Valley Farmland Trust accredited status demonstrates our commitment to organizational excellence in achieving our goal of protecting the best farmland in California’s Central Valley,” says Bill Martin, Executive Director. “Our land trust is a stronger organization today having gone through the rigorous accreditation program.”

Central Valley Farmland Trust was founded in 2004, and works in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. To date the land trust has worked with 19 conservation-minded landowners to protect nearly 11,000 acres of farms in the region.

“The accreditation seal lets the people we work with know that we have the systems in place to ensure the long-term success of our organization and the protection of the most important farmland in the world,” said Bill Martin. “Additionally, it lets our partners know they are working with a land trust that meets the national quality standards for conservation organizations. We are proud to display the accreditation seal.”

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The Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. Our mission is to work with landowners and conservation partners to preserve agricultural lands in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties. Our board includes farmers and agricultural business professionals with expertise and interest in protecting farmland.

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For additional information about this topic, please call Bill Martin at (916) 687-3178 or email Bill at bmartin@valleyfarmland.org.