Growers: Market does not sufficiently reward sustainability investments
Three out of four growers surveyed by The Packer’s Sustainable Insights Survey believe the reward for investing in sustainability is not necessarily found in the market.
“Do you, as the grower, feel that you are fairly compensated in the market for extra costs in the market for extra costs incurred by implementing sustainability practices on your operation?”
- No: 76%
- Somewhat: 20%
- Yes: 4%
However, only one in three growers say they would support a uniform sustainability standard, according to The Packer’s survey.
Making sustainability measures a “cost of doing business” for all produce marketers found limited support among growers surveyed.
Responding to the question, “How much would you support efforts to create one uniform sustainability standard that would apply to all produce growers?”
- Support: 34%
- Neither support nor oppose: 40%
- Oppose: 26%
Along the same line, growers generally feel that they are most responsible in moving sustainability efforts forward.
Asked “Who do you feel is most responsible for leading and promoting sustainability practices and policies?”
- Growers: 40%;
- Federal government (e.g., USDA): 22%;
- Retailers: 11%;
- Local/state government: 7%;
- Academia/universities: 7%;
- Other (please specify) 5%;
- None of the above: 4%;
- Consumers: 3%;
- Food processors/manufacturers: 2%; and
- Fertilizers & additives manufacturers: 1%.
