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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone,</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">We’re very happy to announce that <a href="http://www.sranfamilyorchards.com/index.php">Sran Family Orchards</a>, an almond grower based in Kerman, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, has just become the first <a href="https://beebettercertified.org/">Bee Better Certified</a> farm. Gaining this certification is recognition for the Sran family’s years of dedication to sustainable farming, and we couldn’t be happier that Sran Family Orchards is the first farm to receive this accolade.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Bee Better Certified was launched last June. It is the only food and farming pollinator conservation certification program that requires third-party inspection. Farm assessment and certification is undertaken by <a href="https://tilth.org/">Oregon Tilth</a>, a leading national nonprofit certifier for organic agriculture and products, whose team of inspectors ensure that the process is rigorous and that standards are met. To be certified, a grower must meet strict standards that cover provision of habitat and mitigation of pesticide impacts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">For more about Sran Family Orchards’ efforts to help bees, read the article on the <a href="https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-the-first-bee-better-certified-farm/">Xerces blog</a> and the <a href="https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-becomes-first-bee-better-certified-grower/">press release</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Blog: <a href="https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-the-first-bee-better-certified-farm/">https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-the-first-bee-better-certified-farm/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Press release: <a href="https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-becomes-first-bee-better-certified-grower/">https://xerces.org/2018/01/10/sran-family-orchards-becomes-first-bee-better-certified-grower/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Happy New Year to you all!</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Matthew</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">----------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Matthew Shepherd</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Communications Director</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><img border="0" width="160" height="60" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D38ABA.B454E8D0" alt="Email-Outlook_Xerces-logo-CMYK"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Protecting the Life That Sustains Us</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Connect: </span><a href="http://www.xerces.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">www.xerces.org</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/xerces.society/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/xercessociety" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/xercessociety/?hl=en" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><a href="http://www.xerces.org/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">Blog</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span><a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001HTk7N6nZumLPinBr8VACbNdTXCe732bGu6KpqC13JAKPti_HBe5xyr7t0p4mDfKe2dOsd-TB1qvv772s6GQfVa_SbKKfwBiwl4blH4KvCjq4dpmA2M9UNZ2axlQwu_1Gvjrl2Rb53WUZwsddwCzyorgxedLAaMy3" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">E-newsletter</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232, USA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Office: (503) 232-6639 x110</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Cell: (503) 807-1577</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:matthew.shepherd@xerces.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:blue">matthew.shepherd@xerces.org</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>