Following its annual strategic planning meeting in January 2023, which featured industry leaders, government officials and retail influencers, Measure to Improve LLC identified several initiatives for 2023.
To date, MTI has achieved B Corporation certification, completed an industrywide pilot program is introducing a portfolio of services developed to enable companies to achieve sustainability goals, according to a news release.
MTI said its five core programs and services include a full suite of solutions that address sustainability needs unique to growers, shippers, and processors in the fresh produce industry.
“MTI not only focuses on providing excellent services, but also training, educating and empowering clients to take over where MTI’s team leaves off,” MTI found and CEO Nikki Cossio said in the release. “The best reflection of the work we do is to have a client take what we do, own it, make it better, and allow us to support the next area.”
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According to the release, the five programs that have been developed and refined by industry partners include:
1. The Sustainability Certification Support program, which guides clients through every step to achieving certification — from selecting the right standard to preparing documentation and completing an audit.
2. Buyer Survey Support, which allows MTI clients to respond accurately, completely and confidently to buyer sustainability surveys.
3. The Sustainability Strategy Planning Service, which helps clients identify, prioritize and communicate current sustainability efforts and target sustainability improvements that align with company values and have a strong business case.
4. Regenerative Agriculture Services, which empower clients to identify and develop a customized regenerative agriculture program approach that describes existing practices, highlights opportunities for increasing the adoption of regenerative practices and includes metrics for measuring progress.
5. Zero Waste/Waste Reduction Support Programs, which guide clients to establish a Zero Waste Program by providing the tools, resources and training to confidently manage waste.
“It is important to note that we never build a program prior to having a client that has a need or wants to focus on that topic. We have always worked with real clients on a new topic so that we understand the challenges, what works, what is practical, and what isn’t. We strive to find real solutions that work for the industry. These core programs and services are a product of that,” Cossio said in the release.
These core programs, along with the recent case study completed with industry partners, are available for review and download on the company’s updated website.
