Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce says it is working on a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing its ecological footprint while driving long-term economic growth and supporting its network of growers.
“Sustainability is a core business philosophy and practice that has always existed within North Bay and its family of growers,” Nick Osmulski, president of North Bay Produce, said in a news release. “Some of the core principles encompassed in sustainability have been practiced by our grower owners for generations of farming. However, North Bay Produce is never going to stop pushing and striving for more innovative ways and practices to improve our sustainability efforts.”
From using data and predictive analytics to reducing plastic use and focusing on environmental stewardship, the cooperative says it is actively engaged in a variety of topics related to sustainability.
One area where the company has touted recent strides is in packaging. Using reduced plastic packaging, recyclable labels and a variety of materials, the company has cut plastic use by 94% in certain post-consumer goods, the release said.
North Bay Produce says it has returned dividends of over $70 million to its member growers since the cooperative was formed in 1991 and $8.35 million in 2023 alone.
The company plans a series of features where its farmers explain what they are doing around environmental stewardship and climate-smart practices on the farm, according to the release. Customers and consumers can expect to hear more about these stories beginning in the summer of 2024.
Jennifer Pulcipher, director of food safety and compliance, will be leading the company’s sustainability strategy.
“It is imperative for North Bay to support our network of growers and engage with them as our sustainability strategy evolves,” Pulcipher said in the release. “As has always been our priority to be true partners with our growers, our mission is to ensure that no one is left behind and that we all continually improve. We are also excited to share in the celebration of their success when milestones are met and encourage them to continue taking the next step.”
Pulcipher is helping to lead a sustainability-focused task force within the International Fresh Produce Association stemming from her leadership as chair of the Food Safety Council, the release said.
North Bay Produce recognizes that addressing complex sustainability challenges requires collaboration and partnership. The company is actively engaging with industry stakeholders, government agencies and non-profit organizations to drive collective action and make progress toward achieving thoughtful sustainability milestones in the specialty crops sector, according to the release.
The next evolution of sustainability for North Bay will be building out a sustainability team within the company, Osmulski said.
“Their mission will be to work even more closely with our growers and retail partners on pushing the limits of what can be achieved in terms of sustainability in all aspects of our business,” Osmulski said. “This will include growing to packing to shipping the fruits and vegetables we produce around the world.”
