Janis McIntosh has been named director of marketing innovation and sustainability for Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms.
McIntosh will be responsible for Naturipe’s sustainability initiatives, according to a news release, including the Cultivate with Care program, which she helped develop.
A 14-year Naturipe veteran, McIntosh’s expertise in the design and development of sustainable packaging made her a clear fit to take on the new role, according to the release.
“Janis’ passion for the environment has always shone through in her work, and after two decades in the fresh berry business, she understands the opportunities to bring innovative solutions that address the needs of our growers, retailers and our consumers,” Dwight Ferguson, CEO and president of Naturipe Farms, said in the release.
McIntosh led collaborations with retailers to reduce the use of plastics in food packaging, according to the release.
McIntosh counts the development of the top-seal packaging for blueberries as one her most notable achievements.
“To be sustainable you must be dynamic. You have to be willing to try new things and ask the tough questions,” McIntosh said in the release. “The more curious and tenacious we are as an industry, the more likely we are to enact true, lasting change that benefits us all.”
She has studied sustainability trends and has received certificates in Packaging Management and Packaging Science from Clemson University as well as Completion of Food Packaging Basics from Michigan State University, according to the release.
With her new position, McIntosh’s initial projects will involve working with a customer on a waste-reduction study and developing Cultivate with Care. The updated sustainability program leverages the company’s current systems to gather and disseminate information for a digital platform, according to the release.
