Sustainability
Outgoing Executive Director Peter O’Driscoll shares why now is the right time for Gonzalo Martinez de Vedia to navigate a new era of organizational growth.
Measure to Improve explains why produce businesses should ditch over-ambitious targets and why starting small is the only way to ensure long-term credibility with retailers.
At 60, “Farmer Steve” transformed an overgrown Connecticut property into a joyful garden, orchard and sunflower room that became a viral TikTok inspiration, proving it’s never too late to start growing.
There were some big stories in 2025 that dealt with less common supply problems, such as high honeybee losses and too many apple trees.
The newly launched hub is a statewide collaboration to strengthen Arizona’s $30 billion agriculture industry through resilient and sustainable farming practices.
The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer is supporting a coral comeback with Force Blue by installing a field nursery of coral-decorated “trees” in the Florida Keys.
The author of What to Eat Now, says agricultural subsidies, rising relative prices and retail consolidation combine to make fresh fruits and vegetables harder to sell, even as they remain central to public health and sustainability.
The International Fresh Produce Association introduces a collaborative framework designed to create a common language and practical guidance for sustainability efforts, empowering growers and enhancing market differentiation by late 2026.
Potato growers share how they’re increasingly incorporating sustainable practices into their operations to drive efficiency and more.
A recent impact report out of Westlands Water District in California found wide-reaching ripple effects of water restrictions for San Joaquin Valley growers.
The Potato Sustainability Alliance provides a variety of services to help companies incorporate sustainable operating practices into their businesses.
Giorgi Mushroom Company says the partnership with Modern Soils expands its regenerative agriculture portfolio, offering both consumers and commercial growers regenerative products that enhance biodiversity, improve soil health and reduce carbon footprints.
The company’s president explains how its farming practices have led to record productivity, larger fruit size and environmental responsibility, dispelling the myth that sustainability is too costly for growers.
The industry was estimated to reach $42.9 billion in annual sales in 2023, according to the Flexible Packaging Association, a figure that is expected to reach $47.3 billion in 2028.
Packaging has become as important to the fresh produce industry as water, or at least next in line behind water, says Emerald Packaging CEO Kevin Kelly.
Leadership says the new program aims to lower farmer production costs while tipping a hat to Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA initiatives.
The company is helping retailers recover value and reduce shrink by diverting 84,000 pounds of food waste per day through tech-enabled partnerships.
The Watsonville, Calif.-based berry grower says this recognition demonstrates its commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
As interest in sustainable packaging intensifies, companies are introducing advanced solutions to reduce environmental impact.
Atlas is developing a spray-applied coating made from sugar kelp, a brown seaweed, that can extend shelf life, reduce spoilage and provide a sustainable new raw material stream for the produce industry.
The collaboration aims to enhance access to hands-on STEM learning, sustainability education and next-generation career pathways for millions of students.
Many major U.S. brands are scaling back packaging sustainability goals they set for 2025 because of economic, regulatory and infrastructure hurdles, according to RaboResearch.
Together, the three organizations say they are advancing a cutting-edge approach to breeding and growing high-quality strawberries indoors.
Companies say efficient operations and regenerative agriculture are part of good business.
Started in 2016, the San Francisco-based market’s food recovery program continues to rescue and donate an incredible 4,000 pounds of produce a day from its 20 merchants.
The Netherlands-based company has entered a strategic agreement to license Pairwise’s precision plant breeding tools, with the goal of accelerating the development of improved vegetable varieties that meet the evolving needs of growers, retailers and consumers.
Nathan Pumplin, the CEO behind the Empress Purple Tomato, says we’re just a few years away from consumers seeing “bioengineered” as a premium, sought-after label in produce.
As demand for food assistance rises by 20% to 30%, Sabrina Thakkar, farm to family director for the California Association of Food Banks, talks about the critical role growers and retailers play in efficiently moving excess produce to ensure communities receive vital fresh food.
Together with Albert Heijn and Banasan, the partnership has invested over $500K in the five-year Building Dreams initiative.
According to ReFED, 320 million pounds of Thanksgiving food, which includes 75 million pounds of produce, is headed for the trash bin.