Environmental Stewardship Tour Demonstrates Complexities of Sustainable Almond Farming

The Almond Board's Environmental Stewardship Tour in May illustrated to regulators, public policy makers and the media how California Almond growers have shifted production practices over time to address environmental issues while improving profitability.

Fresh start for pears and for California Pear Advisory Board

According to Chris Zanobini, Executive Directory of the California Pear Advisory Board, the 2011 season marks a “fresh start” for the California Pear Advisory Board.

On the sustainability front, “An assessment of our pear farms has verified a very high percentage have adopted innovative and environmentally-friendly farming practices,” said Zanobini.  “In fact, we have a wonderful story to tell about our efforts to achieve sustainability that is important for our customers to know.”

Chef's Survey: What's Hot in 2011

National Restaurant Association surveyed its members and identified sustainability and buying local meats and produce as some of the hottest trends for 2011.

Defining Sustainable Viticulture from the Practitioner Perspective

University of California-Davis researchers examined the the definitions of agricultural sustainability by surveying 14 winegrape growers participating in the LodiRules certification program and 108 outreach professionals in the California winegrape community. The researchers used a theme network and statistical analysis to determine the most frequently occuring themes among survey responses. An overriding theme in the definition of sustainability was "continuation through time" meaning, growers think about passing their farms on to the next generation, most likely their children. The next most central themes were "resource stewardship, systems thinking, yield, generational succession, and water quality and conservation" respectively. The scientists make several recommendations, in particular, the need to provide explicit attention to including succession planning in sustainability outreach, education and certification programs.

How energy efficient is agriculture?

Some agricultural commodity groups see market opportunity when buyers like Walmart and their customers are looking for greener products to buy. This Extension economist discusses his work to help farmers assess their energy efficiency and carbon emissions through lifecycle analysis.

Del Monte Food Formalizes Environmental Sustainability Goals

Del Monte Foods formally announces its sustainability goals for reducing environmental impact, including work with their growers to "introduce agricultural practices that help farmers grow stronger, more productive crops using less acreage, and with less fertilizer, water and other materials. Today, this focus extends to the Company's manufacturing facilities to reduce its environmental impact from its cannery operations, and to its supply chain to reduce its impact from the sourcing and distribution of goods. At the same time, Del Monte has found that sound environmental practices coincide with improved business efficiencies. Read article.

Healthy spuds one step away from organic

As consumers become more concoius of the effects their choices have on the environment, sustainable agriculture is becoming more in demand. With the costs of organic growing high, many farmers are now opting to grow their crops in a sustainable fashion that takes human and environmental factors into account.

Self-assessment helps almond growers

Farmers in the Central Valley have found the Almond Sustainability Program to be very effective in analyzing their resource management practices. In particular, the recent sustainability workshops have shown that many farmers could improve the efficiency of their resource use by adopting a few simple modifications to their current practices.

Three Stages of Sustainability Leadership

There are three steps to environmental leadership when it comes to sustainability. First, a leader must take charge by recognizing the need for action and then persuading others of the cause. Second, a plan to translate the need for change and a vision for the future must be developed so that ideas can morph into actions. Third, a long-term strategy must be developed to synthesize sustainable practices with an effective business model.

Rabobank Sustainable Agriculture and Trade Survey 2010

Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices is on the rise, according to Rabobank's Sustainable Agriculture and Trade Survey released in May 2010.

How Can a Vineyard be Carbon Neutral?

Cliff Ohmart, of SureHarvest, explains what a carbon footprint is and how to reduce a vineyard’s carbon footprint.  Ohmart discusses some of the problems with measuring a vineyard’s carbon footprint due to a lack of research in certain aspects of the measurement process.

Wisconsin Whole-Farm Potato Growers Make Strides in Conservation and Sustainability

The Healthy Grown eco-label, overseen by Protected Harvest, is gaining notice as a trustworthy eco-labeling program as consumers and businesses become increasingly skeptical of misleading eco-friendly claims.  The Wisconsin Eco-Potato partnership and the Healthy Grown eco-label work to increase and improve sustainability practices on Wisconsin potato farms.

ChalkTalk with Jeff

Sustainability compliance...threat or opportunity?

Food companies are asking SureHarvest, what is Walmart's Sustainability Index all about? Is this just another compliance hoop we have to jump through? Will Walmart pay us more for sustainability? Dr. Jeff Dlott takes on these questions and raises another - Is there value in complying with Walmart's 15 questions?

Ecofriendly potatoes take hold in Wisconsin

The Packer reports the Healthy Grown Potato Program is a collabrative of Wisconsin Poatao and Vegetable Growers Association, the World Wildlife Fund and the University of Wisconsin. Now in it's 13th year, the Healthy Grown Potato program is poised for success in the sustainability market place. Growers are feeling pressure from buyers, such as Sysco and Wal-Mart, who are asking for data. Healthy Grown potato growers who are certified have the advantage of already having that data.

Sustainability could expand to help feed the world

Jeff Dlott and Kerry Tucker, both Food Foresight trends panelists, outline the breadth and scope of sustainability initiatives in government, foundations, NGO's and private sector food companies, including Wal-Mart and Safeway in this Sept. 18 editorial in The Packer. They conclude, that with a growing population, there is opportunity for growers to align products to target markets, whether those are commodity or niche markets.

Why Sustainability Is Now the Key Driver of Innovation

The September 2009 issue of Harvard Business Review includes an article titled "Why Sustainability Is Now the Key Driver of Innovation" that is worth reading. The authors argue that "only companies that make sustainability a goal will achieve competitive advantage. That means rethinking business models as well as products, technologies, and processes." Also included is a 5-stage process of innovation based on sustainability that provides a useful framework for companies considering a sustainability strategy.

Selling Sustainability

Being certified is only the first step in marketing sustainability, according to Annie Gardiner, a marketing communications expert, who shares her strategic advice for how to leverage certification to build your brand in this American/Western Fruit Grower magazine article by Laura Dretloff and Annie Gardiner.

Consumers Skeptical of Organic, All-Natural Cliams But Still Buy: Study

A recent study issued by Pavone indicates that while consumers are skeptical of organic and all-natural claims, the majority are very interested in purchasing, especially if comparably priced.

Walmart's Sustainability Product Index

In July 2009, Walmart announced its Sustainability Index for its product suppliers, including 15 Questions for Suppliers to answer regarding their environmental and social impacts of their production processes.

Specialty crops join sustainability trend

Len Richardson of the California Farmer reports on the efforts of the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, a group of stakeholders throughout the fruit, vegetable and nut industry working together to develop a comprehensive system for measuring sustainability performance throughout the supply chain.

8 out of 10 Consumers Buying Green: Study

Four out of five people say they're still buying green products and services in the midst of a recession -- despite the fact that these items sometimes carry higher costs, according to a new study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing and conducted by global market research firm Opinion Research Corp.

Produce industry leaders discuss sustainability issues, successes

Sustainability was a key theme at the PMA Fresh Summit 2008.