Sustainability
A new Columbia Business School study, “From People to Produce: How Appearance Bias Fuels Food Waste,” reveals how consumer preference for cosmetically perfect fruits and vegetables contributes to billions of pounds of food waste — meanwhile, companies like Misfits Market are working to change perceptions and reduce waste.
Beginning in January 2026, Mexican avocados will need to be certified deforestation-free to be exported out of the country.
The Packer’s Sustainability Insights 2024 survey found that more than three-quarters of consumers place at least some priority on sustainability in their buying decisions, with 30% placing primary priority on it.
At Climate Week NYC, WRAP is demonstrating how collaborative Food Pacts and targeted interventions across retail supply chains and households transform perishable produce waste from a carbon burden into immediate financial savings.
The produce recovery organization solves a challenge by redirecting truckload-scale commercial surplus to hunger relief networks, delivering 2.8 billion total servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to communities experiencing food insecurity.
Elevated Foods is connecting small-scale specialty crop growers directly to major retailers, using lab-backed soil health data and streamlined logistics to bring regenerative agriculture into mainstream grocery aisles.
A pioneering pilot from the U.S. Food Waste Pact reveals that redirecting farm-level surplus strawberries into commercial kitchens can deliver an 80% revenue boost over juicing channels for growers while offering foodservice operators a 22.4% cost savings.
Advanced nutrient analysis is giving fresh produce growers the hard data they need to prove soil health directly translates to superior crop quality, opening the door for better margins at retail.
By partnering with nonprofits ReFED and World Wildlife Fund alongside major industry peers, the distributor aims to build on its 85% diversion rate through shared best practices, enhanced food recovery and improved operational efficiency.
By combining hands-on climate resilience trials with cooperative aggregation strategies, Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus is demonstrating how regional specialty crop producers can scale up to meet commercial buyers’ standards without incurring massive financial risk.
With consumer demand outstripping domestic availability, Rodale Institute’s new “10 Million Acre Solution” aims to scale U.S. organic farmland through research, training and a new $24 million innovation hub.
With over half of American households adopting food-saving habits, food retailers have a prime opportunity to align their inventory, packaging and promotional strategies with consumer demand for affordability and waste reduction.
To drive produce sales, Zespri’s new “Jam-Packed” campaign equips retailers with vibrant, character-driven displays and distinct varietal flavor profiles that simplify whole-food nutrition education and help shoppers easily increase their weekly plant intake.
While renewable natural gas often dominates the food waste conversation, Divert is proving that full circularity requires extracting clean nutrients and recycled water from the grocery supply chain.
Following a successful three-year pilot of its Kind Almond Acres Initiative, Kind demonstrates regenerative agriculture can be a scalable business model while delivering measurable on-farm improvements.
Grounded in a millennia-old legacy of Indigenous stewardship and unique regional pride, Maine’s native lowbush barrens face a turning point as local growers battle climate whiplash and infrastructure shortages to ensure this irreplaceable crop remains a thriving, working landscape.
Driven by a consumer desire for health, sustainability and transparency, the sector is experiencing remarkable market growth, which growers are meeting through third-party certifications, supply chain management and high-volume, reliable retail programs.
The report highlights a milestone year of record-breaking growth, featuring a 21% increase in organic produce volume alongside measurable advancements in natural pest management, plastic reduction, employee well-being and fair trade community investments.
While AI-driven demand forecasting has prevented millions of pounds of waste and boosted retail profits, its full potential is restricted by store managers who override technological insights to avoid the risk of empty shelves.
The company has released its inaugural impact report, highlighting over $5.8 million generated for banana farming communities alongside rapid growth, business awards and a firm commitment to ethical, women-led industry leadership.
The Allentown, Pa., Giant stores have become the first grocers in the region to earn Blue Zones Project Approved status, implementing evidence-based wellness initiatives to make healthy, plant-forward shopping choices easier for the community.
AmpleHarvest.org connects America’s 62 million home gardeners with local food pantries, turning surplus backyard produce into a fresh, same-day solution for neighborhood food insecurity.
At the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit in Charlotte, N.C., The Farmlink Project CEO, Eliza Blank, highlighted how the organization is moving away from volume-heavy metrics like “pounds diverted” to act as a sophisticated, rapid-response logistics partner capable of clearing surplus farm produce within a tight 24-to-48-hour window.
The industry faces a pivotal tension between using packaging to extend shelf life and to reduce food waste and navigating emerging material regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility mandates, according to a panel at the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit.
Deep Roots CPS Farm uses regenerative family homesteading, ancestral agricultural science and circular community partnerships to dismantle food insecurity and build an independent economic engine for growers in Charlotte, N.C.
The facility supports food retailers, distributors and manufacturers by diverting organic materials from landfills and delivering renewable energy and fertilizers to the region.
Retailers can capitalize on 2026 AHA dietary guidance by positioning the hass avocado as a smart fat swap for consumers, leveraging peer-reviewed research to turn heart-health science into a simple, plant-based shopping solution.
While water scarcity often dominates the conversation, emerging data suggests that deteriorating water quality and overfertilization are becoming critical vulnerabilities that threaten crop health, soil longevity and the long-term financial viability of specialty growers.
According to the Avocado Institute of Mexico, this announcement marks new progress towards the Mexican avocado industry’s sustainability goals.
The initiative invites customers to support regenerative organic farming through pledges, purchases and register donations from April 1-30.