Think Like a Tree, Act Like a Forest

At Clif Family we’re guided by our values.

We call them our Five Aspirations – Sustaining Our People, Community, Planet, Brands and Business.

This means growing a healthy company; maintaining the integrity of our brands; taking care of our employees; supporting the communities where we live and work; and working to reduce our ecological footprint in all aspects of our business. This starts with Thinking Like a Tree. Trees run on renewable energy, recycle all waste, and sustain and improve the places they grow. Clif Family is working to think like a tree through organic food and farming, sustainable production, zero waste practices and conserving and restoring our natural resources.

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Clif Family Five Aspirations
Sustaining Our People Sustaining Our Business Sustaining Our Brands Sustaining Our Planet Sustaining Our Community

Sustaining Our People

Create an environment where our employees can grow and succeed:

  • Create a company culture that inspires and supports our people in and outside of work.
  • Sustain our people with competitive pay and benefits, wellness o erings and other innovative benefits.
  • Hire the right people to the right positions and support them to grow in their current and future roles.

Sustaining Our Business

Build a sustainable and resilient company:

  • Live within our means, ensuring our company is viable and lasting.
  • Be profitable, but not just exist for profit.
  • Be dynamic and thought provoking, pushing ourselves to be leaders in our industry.

Sustaining Our Brands

Create brands with integrity, quality and authenticity:

  • Connect with our consumers through authentic experiences and our shared values.
  • Strive for relevancy, authenticity and innovation in everything that we do.
  • Deliver excellence in wine, food and hospitality.

Sustaining Our Planet

Conserve and restore our natural resources, operating in harmony with nature:

  • Support sustainable food and agriculture, with an emphasis on organic farming.
  • Strive to reduce waste across our business.
  • Conserve natural resources and protect the places we eat, farm and play.
  • Lead by example with our customers, business partners and community partners.

Sustaining Our Community

Support the local communities where our employees live and work:

  • Be a gathering point that fosters community connection.
  • Work in partnership with local non-profit and community organizations.
  • Support communities directly with volunteer time, cash and product donations.

Clif Family Co-Owner, Kit Crawford

“We’re working to run a different kind of company: The kind of place we’d want to work, that makes the kind of food we’d like to eat, and that strives for a healthier, more sustainable world – the kind of world we’d like to pass on to our children.”

KIT CRAWFORD

Clif Family Sustainablity Process

Organic Food & Farming

Certifed Organic Farmland

Maintain 100% CCOF organic certification on all Clif Family vineyard and farm land with over 100 acres certified.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTS

Maintain CCOF organic certification on all eligible food products.

LOCALLY GROWN, ORGANIC PRODUCE

Supply our Food Truck and Tasting Room with organically grown produce from our Organic Howell Mountain Farm.

NAPA GREEN CERTIFICATION

One of the 1st five vineyards in Napa Valley certified under the new Napa Green Vineyard Certification.

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Cliff Solar Grown honey jars

Sustainable Production

CLIMATE ACTION

Climate Commitment via SME Climate Hub to halve our carbon emissions by 2030, aligned with the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign.

USE 100% GREEN POWER

Utilize clean energy to operate our business through our enrollment in MCE's 100% Deep Green Power.

SOLAR GROWN™ HONEY

Expand Solar Grown product offerings to multiply benefits of clean energy and pollinator habitat.

Zero Waste

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Source packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable and ensure our partners are using sustainable packaging.

ACHIEVE FSC CERTIFICATION ON ALL PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS

Source FSC certified materials for office use, shipping and packaging.

REDUCE PACKAGING USED IN SHIPPING

Identify opportunities to decrease the amount of packaging required for shipping and operations.

COMPOST PROGRAM

Create and maintain robust composting programs at the farm and kitchen.
The Climber wine bottle in front of climbing gear
Planting a tree

Conserve & Restore Natural Resources

PLANT TREES, RESTORE FORESTS

Partner with American Forests to restore healthy forests in areas devastated by wildfires in California. Learn more about our partnership here.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Continue community service on company time and contribute over 1250 hours annually as a business. Support community events and local non-profits through our monthly Sip & Support program.

HELP EMPLOYEES CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS

Continue supporting sustainability benefits for employees including reimbursement for national park passes and athletic events. Support bike to work programs and participation in local cycling community.
 

Industry Leaders

DEDICATED TO SUSTAINABILITY

CLIF FAMILY SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIPS & AWARDS

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2020 GREEN COMPANY OF THE YEAR

The prestigious California Green Medal recognizes the leadership of wineries and vineyards committed to sustainability. It is presented by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners and Sonoma County Winegrowers Association. In 2020, Clif Family received the Community Award, given to the vineyard or winery that is a Good Neighbor & Employer using the most innovative practices that enhance relationships with employees, neighbors and communities.
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Certified Organic – Clif Family’s 90 acres of Estate Vineyards and 5 acres of olive and fruit orchards and vegetable gardens are farmed and certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers. Our Savory Nut Mixes, Dark Chocolates, Preserves, Hot Sauces and Olive Oil are also certified organic.

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Certified Land – The first wine industry sustainability certification to focus on climate action, regenerative farming and social equity. Napa Green Vineyard Certification provides a pathway to growers to improve soil health, become carbon neutral to negative within six to nine years, and increase the resilience of vineyards, businesses and our community.
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Climate Collaborative –A community of businesses joining forces to create pathways to action, connecting companies to resources and working together to create solutions. Through Clif Family’s participation in the Climate Collaborative, we have made public commitments to climate action in the following areas: Carbon Farming, Energy Efficiency, Reducing Food Waste in our Supply Chain, Reducing the Climate Impact of our Packaging, Responsibly Engaging in Climate Policy and 100% Renewable Power.
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Fish Friendly –The Fish Friendly Farming Certification Program is run by the California Land Stewardship Institute. This certification program is for agricultural properties managed to restore fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality.

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Clean Energy –MCE is a public, not-for-profit electricity provider that gives all PG&E electric customers the choice of having 60% to 100% of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources—such as solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydroelectric—at competitive rates. As a Deep Green customer, 100% of Clif Family’s energy comes from renewable sources.