Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets has moved away from foam produce trays and has switched to a local supplier of greenhouse-grown tomatoes as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s environmental impact.
Director of produce and floral Jeff Cady has elected to use CFK Inc.’s Earthcycle products in place of foam trays, which are not biodegradable, are considered a main source of marine debris, and emit hydrofluorocarbons during manufacturing that negatively impact the ozone, according to a news release.
Earthcycle products, on the other hand, are made of a compostable, recyclable blend of virgin wood and wood pulp, and the Earthcycle products keep produce fresh longer, per the release. Tops plans to transition its produce trays from foam to fiber by the end of the summer, with stores getting their first shipments of the new trays this weekend.
Another move Tops has made in an effort to reduce its environmental impact is by making local producer Intergrow its sole supplier of greenhouse tomatoes.
“Now instead of bringing this product from Leamington, Ontario, (255 miles away) or Mexico (2,000 miles away), product will be transported from Albion, N.Y. (45 miles away) or Webster, N.Y. (75 miles away),” Tops wrote in the release.
