Cost is a major challenge produce growers face when considering implementing sustainable practices, say those within the specialty crop industry. Some practices may offer growers a quick return on investment, while others may have higher up-front costs and take longer to provide a financial impact.
“Oftentimes, the ROI in sustainability is quick, like a solar panel for energy sourcing in California, while other times it is slower or even obscure,” said Brianna Shales, marketing director of Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers, a packer-grower-distributor of pears, apples and stone fruit.
Emanga Alobwede, head of environmental science for BX, an artificial intelligence-powered environmental farm management software, said that balance of economic viability and environmental pressure is a huge hurdle for smaller growers.
“Sustainable practices, like regenerative agriculture, can improve long-term soil health and biodiversity, but they often come with higher costs and lower short-term yields,” she said. “That can put financial pressure on growers, especially smaller farms.”
But sustainability shouldn’t be looked at negatively but as a positive asset for an operation, said Brightly Ventures founder and CEO Andy Levitt.
“At a high level, sustainability in the fresh produce industry is no longer optional — it’s a competitive advantage and a business imperative,” said Levitt, whose company partners with food rescue operations to quantify and monetize the climate impact of the food diverted from landfills through its climate-tech platform.
Economic viability and environmental protection
Alobwede said many operations struggle with finding the right balance of logistics and sustainable packaging.
“Reducing plastic waste is essential for sustainability, but alternatives like compostable packaging can be more expensive and may not always provide the same shelf life, leading to more food waste,” she said. “Similarly, transitioning to electric or low-emission transport is great for reducing carbon footprints, but the upfront investment can be a barrier for many businesses.”
But sustainability and profitability aren’t always in conflict, Alobwede adds.
“In many cases, smarter resource management — like precision irrigation, better cold storage, or renewable energy — can reduce costs while also benefiting the environment,” she said. “The challenge is making these solutions affordable and practical for farmers so they can stay competitive without sacrificing sustainability.”
Levitt said it’s an outdated belief that sustainability and economic success are at odds.
“The real challenge is aligning incentives so that sustainability drives financial performance,” he said.
Levitt said reducing food waste can benefit operations through reduced cost of logistics, storage and disposal fees. Measuring emissions and insetting, which reduces emissions throughout an operation’s value chain, can benefit a company’s reputation as well as its bottom line. And, Levitt said, carbon credits offer an additional revenue stream.
“The key is to make sustainability solutions operationally practical and financially attractive,” he said.
Shales said as Stemilt sought out a sustainable packaging solution — which became its EZ Band — it needed to find something that worked for both consumers and the supply chain.
“When approaching sustainable packing solutions for fresh fruit, cost is a factor as well as finding a solution that checks the box for quality and freshness,” she said. “EZ Band is made from paperboard and is composed of a tray and tension band that holds four apples together in a convenient pack. It can be recycled in at-home containers and is especially appealing to the organic shopper who values environmentally friendly packaging.”
Technology at work
Both BX and Brightly Ventures use technology to help growers track sustainability efforts.
BX collects data from growers’ fields to help provide insights into areas primed to implement sustainable practices.
Tirma Garcia-Suarez, sustainability manager for BX, said the company worked with Borton & Sons Fruit to track the carbon emissions generated across the life cycle of its Rockit apples to generate carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per pound of packaged apples. An example, Garcia-Suarez said, is tracking the amount of diesel or fuel used on the farm. Following data collection, BX calculates the gallons of fuel needed to produce a ton of the crop and the subsequent carbon footprint of the crop using emissions factors from established databases.
“We do this with all the activities related to the growing, processing (including packaging), distribution and (sometimes) end of life (depending on the scope of the study) of the product and scale it down to e.g. a 3-pound bag of produce,” she said.
BX currently focuses on fruit trees, winegrapes and hops with its product carbon footprint exchange assessment.
Garcia-Suarez said that, through the study, BX learned that fuel consumption contributes significantly to an operation’s carbon footprint; this discovery will help Borton & Sons fine-tune future sustainability improvements in reducing emissions.
“Another significant finding was that the iconic Rockit apple packaging is one of the largest contributors to the overall carbon footprint,” she said. “While packaging is a core part of Rockit’s brand identity, exploring opportunities for emissions reductions in this area could be a key focus for future sustainability improvements.”
Levitt said Brightly Ventures tracks and validates the environmental impact of food waste reduction efforts. The company also partners with food rescue organizations to generate carbon credits, which operations can purchase to offset emissions. Brightly Ventures also converts the food waste reductions into internal emission reductions, which directly impact the supply chain.
“Our platform aligns with reporting frameworks like CSRD, GHG Protocol, and Science-Based Targets Initiative, making sustainability efforts both measurable and actionable,” he said. “For the fresh produce industry, this means tangible emissions reductions, operational efficiencies, and enhanced sustainability reporting — all without disrupting core business operations.”
Future of sustainability
“[Stemilt] founder Tom Mathison believed sustainability and social responsibility was how we showed care for the land and people during the short time we are on Earth,” Shales said. “He felt it was our responsibility to leave it as good as we can or better if we can.”
Shales points to Stemilt’s efforts in composting as well as its sustainability and social responsibility program, Responsible Choice. She said the company is also Equitable Food Initiative certified.
Stemilt has trained more than 100 people on EFI’s standards throughout its orchards and packing facilities and has nine leadership teams that dedicate a combined 8,000 hours annually toward EFI, which directly benefits 3,000 employees, Shales said.
“The EFI certification brings continuous improvement practices into our operations,” she said. “The ROI of these practices can be obscure, but we see dividends in improving the lives of our front-line workers through the EFI bonus that directly benefits them.”
And Stemilt has found success in communicating its efforts through social media, Shales said.
“Social media has been a great channel for educating consumers about Stemilt’s sustainability mission,” she said. “Looking ahead to March, we’ll be talking about Farmworker Awareness Week and celebrating the essential farmworkers who work to put food on our tables every day.”
As for the future of sustainability, Levitt said fresh produce companies have an “unprecedented opportunity to lead the charge in sustainability.” Reducing food loss in production, distribution and retail can help the industry slash its carbon emissions, he said.
“Instead of buying carbon offsets, companies can invest in emissions reductions within their own supply chain — a more credible and impactful approach,” Levitt said.
And he sees AI and data analysis as helping the industry better optimize inventory, reduce spoilage and enhance its sustainability reporting.
“By integrating smart technology, insetting strategies and data-driven insights, the fresh produce industry can drive sustainability while increasing profitability — positioning itself as a leader in climate action, supply chain efficiency and responsible business practices,” Levitt said.
