Divert, Inc., a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted, and General Produce, a leading produce distributor, are partnering to transform food that can’t be sold or donated into renewable energy and soil amendment in the Northern California region.
Divert will accept unsold, non-donatable food from General Produce’s distribution center to Divert’s Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility in Turlock, Calif., according to a news release. There, it will undergo Divert’s depackaging and anaerobic digestion processes, which destroy branded packaging and transform organics into carbon-negative renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment. The energy and soil amendment are returned to the community to power homes and enrich local soils, the company says.
Divert will also conduct data collection and analysis to support waste mandate compliance, produce sustainability reporting and identify additional opportunities to reduce waste. Divert says it services over 1,900 locations across California for customers, including Blue Diamond Growers, Raley’s, United States Cold Storage and more.
“Together with Divert, we’re keeping organic waste out of landfills, transforming what can’t be donated into renewable energy and continuing to drive meaningful change across our industry,” says Brian Hamilton, general produce’s director of operations for General Produce. “As a leading produce distributor, we know firsthand how important it is to make the most of every food item that comes through our warehouse, and this partnership allows us to do just that. Combining Divert’s innovative technology with our long-standing commitment to sustainability and core values of continuous improvement and concern for people creates a smarter, cleaner and more responsible supply chain.”
This program will help General Produce meet the compliance requirements of California’s Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), a statewide organic waste policy that mandates diversion of organic waste from landfills. California produces nearly half of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, so it’s critical the nutrients and value in any unsold produce are repurposed into beneficial products, such as renewable energy and soil amendment, the company says.
“Our partnership with General Produce builds on the work we are doing across California to eliminate wasted food in the state and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the food value chain,” says Andrew Johnston, vice president and general manager, industrials for Divert. “Divert’s work with food and beverage manufacturers, distributors and other commercial operators across the country helps these businesses simplify their operations and drive supply chain efficiencies, all while reducing their carbon footprints in an immediately tangible way. This collaboration not only exemplifies General Produce’s commitment to sustainability but also their inspiring stewardship of their customers’ products in ensuring no food, including packaged and recalled material, goes to waste.”
In 2024, the company opened its Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility in Turlock to support rapidly growing demand from its customer base. The Turlock facility complements Divert’s existing in-state infrastructure that helps provide edible food to communities in need. Since 2018, Divert says it has facilitated 17.8 million pounds of food donations — the equivalent of 14.8 million meals.
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