Latest News From Social Responsibility

Readers' opinion: What is the most important value associated with the terms of sustainable or sustainability?

Fyffes Anexco pineapple farm in Costa Rica earned Sustainable Agriculture Standard certification by Rainforest Alliance.

The Southeast Produce Council is issuing what it calls the Golden Rule Challenge for exhibitors at Southern Exposure.

The Standard Fruit Co. of Costa Rica S.A., a subsidiary of Dole Food Co., received the Social Responsibility in Action award from The Costa Rican-North American Chamber of Commerce.

Chelan Fresh, Chelan, will be supplying fresh apples to 7,000 Texas students and families through a Brighter Bites partnership.

Indoor farming companies made the inaugural FoodTech 500 list, created to rate and celebrate companies showing a successful trifecta of food, sustainability and technology.

Dublin-based Fyffes Ltd. is sharing its strategies of adding value and sustainability at Fruit Logistica.

Avocados From Mexico has renewed its partnership with Brighter Bites, extending the program that brings avocados and nutrition programs to families in cities served by Brighter Bites.

The Allen Lund Co. wrapped up its fourth year of Acts of Kindness, with 86 good deeds in 2019.

With the backing of a $5 million pledge, the California State University board of trustees has approved establishing the Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business at the Bakersfield campus.

Del Monte Fresh Produce North America Inc., Coral Gables, is introducing pineapple tags to highlight sustainability efforts.

One Banana helped more than 8,000 children in 2019 through its corporate social responsibility programs.

Organics Unlimited, San Diego, recently gave tours of its Mexico farms to employees from Portland, Ore.-based New Season Market.

The Equitable Food Initiative has promoted Ana Luisa “Lulu” Rivera Collazo to workforce development specialist, a new position for the organization.

Onion grower and importer G&R Farms, Glenville, Ga., is shipping Peruvian sweet onions that are Rainforest Alliance Certified.

Brighter Bites, Houston, recently elected three new board members.

SpartanNash is renewing its Double Up Food Bucks program, with shoppers at 46 Family Fare, VG’s and ValuLand stores throughout Michigan giving food stamp recipients the opportunity to double fresh produce purchases.

Fair Trade USA, which certifies fair trade products marketed in North America, has promoted Nathalie Marin-Gest as head of Fresh Goods, overseeing produce, floral and seafood.

The Ricchiuti family, whose brands include P-R Farms, Clovis, Calif., has donated a packing line to the Central California Food Bank.

Carrier Transicold has provided Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan with three transport refrigeration units.

The public conversation around food waste in the U.S. has ramped up in recent years, and so has the produce industry conversation around the topic.

Nature Fresh Farms, Leamington, Ontario, spent the days leading into Christmas helping area families in need.

Taking a look back at 2019, IFCO used company resources, expertise and employee engagement to help those in need.

The Allen Lund Co. has participated in Navidad en el Barrio for the 15th year in a row.

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association and Toronto Wholesalers Produce Association are delivering 250 boxes with fresh produce to an isolated First Nation Community.

Plant-based dips company Good Foods has donated $65,000 to the No Kid Hungry campaign to help fight childhood hunger.

Brighter Bites, Houston, has received the RESULTS Houston Seeds of Hope Award, recognizing the organization’s mission to provide fresh produce to underserved communities.

Wholesome Wave has selected Joe Cahalan as interim executive director.

Harvest Sensations, Miami, has a partnership with Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD).

What began as a way for the Organically Grown Co., Portland, Ore., to focus on “purpose over profit into perpetuity” is gaining ground as a movement that places an emphasis on values-aligned ownership models.

Rio Rico Farms, Hermosillo, Mexico, which supplies Bridges Produce Inc., Portland, Ore., with organic vegetables, views social programs as a way to change workers’ lives on and off the farm.

After touring vegetable fields, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced a new program to support and promote food recovery efforts, making it easier for food banks to collect leftover produce from fields.

Chiquita Brands International is the banana sponsor for the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon for the second year in a row.

Equitable Food Initiative has created a free responsible recruitment scorecard, available in English and Spanish.

For the seventh consecutive year, Fyffes refueled runners of the Marine Corps Marathon with bananas as they crossed the finish line.

Arrowfarms along with Gold Bell, DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic have detailed their charitable donations and sustainability initiatives in a new a report.

The Oppenheimer Group has joined more than 175 brand owners and retailers in the How2Recycle label program for their products.

Newark, N.J.-based AeroFarms won the Responsible Business Award for Sustainable Innovation at the Ethical Corporation Awards, a Reuters event.

Executives from reusable plastic container company IFCO are attending the 2019 Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, where they will highlight efficiency, cost-savings and sustainable benefits of the RPCs.

West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., has received the Fairtrade America Fairtrade Mark, a recognition the company ensures it ethically sources product.

Organics Unlimited is set to feature organic produce, eco-friendly packaging, growing practices and sustainability at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

Pelion, S.C.-based WP Rawl donated more than 350 bags of fresh produce to four local schools in September.

BOSTON — Rich Dachman had two goals at the keynote speech he presented at the New England Produce Council’s 20th anniversary Produce, Floral and Foodservice Expo.

Stewart and Lynda Resnick, whose companies include Halos marketer The Wonderful Co., are pledging $750 million to Caltech, for sustainability research.

Peace River Citrus Products and Scott Family Cos. and its partners plan to invest more than $25 million in planting a quarter million grapefruit trees in Florida.

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, and Linda Fritz is living proof.

The Texas International Produce Association is teaming with Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) and CIERTO Global to host two workshops on labor challenges.

Santa Paula, Calif.- based Calavo Growers, Inc. has announced the publication of their first sustainability highlights report.

With many companies using top-seal containers to cut down on plastic use to promote sustainability, ProSeal is showcasing the focus on sustainability at Pack Expo.

Shuman Farms, Reidsville, Ga., is revamping its organic onion packaging with a netted bag that uses less plastic.