Sustainability Initiatives

“SureHarvest can talk both grower-speak and environmental-speak. And be credible. The SureHarvest team understands that at the end of the day, the bottom line is the most important thing for growers.”

– Gabriele Ludwig, Almond Board of California

SureHarvest delivers the latest insight and market intelligence through strategic planning, trends analysis and survey research to position clients for emerging market opportunities. 

Sustainability: The Almond Version

View this slide presentation given by Dr. Cliff Ohmart, VP Professional Services for SureHarvest at the 2009 Almond Industry Conference in Modesto, CA on December 9, 2009. SureHarvest is collaborating with the Almond Board of California to design a water and nutrient resource management sustainability program for the almond industry.

California Wine Industry - Providing Turnkey Solutions for Sustainability

Beginning in 2001, SureHarvest led the California wine industry, organized as the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, through a comprehensive process of creating a sustainability program that has won the California wine industry recognition as a national leader in agricultural sustainability. Read more.

Stewardship Index for Speciality Crops

The Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops is an initiative to develop a system for measuring, benchmarking and comparing sustainable performance throughout the specialty crop supply chain. A 30-member Coordinating Council made up of farmers, buyers, NGO’s, trade associations and additional experts governs the effort. In 2009 a Metrics Review Committee consisting of more than 300 stakeholders drafted a set of metrics. The Coordinating Council recently approved the following draft metrics for pilot testing on farms and real-world supply chain situations in 2010: energy, greenhouse gases, air quality, pesticides, water use, soil, nutrient and water quality, biodiversity, and waste. This initial pilot phase is being supported through a NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant through March 2011.

California Pear Industry Sustainability Program

SureHarvest has helped guide the California pear industry through a needs assessment and strategy setting process to define its initial sustainability program that launched in 2009.  The program will help the industry document and benchmark sustainable pear growing practices in the following management areas: pests, soil & nutrients, energy, water, ecosystems and employer practices.  Initial benchmark data will be used to help the industry tell its “good story” in environmental stewardship, allow subsequent self-assessments to measure continuous improvement efforts, and identify targeted education opportunities.  The California pear industry has taken a proactive approach to meeting the sustainability challenge of both the fresh and processed markets head on.

California Multi-Commodity Sustainability Initiative

SureHarvest is leading the development of a sustainability program for more than 8 specialty crop commodities, including the development of a sustainable strategic plan, selection of an education/outreach model, and an agreed upon sustainability practice and performance metrics framework.  The team will then create self-assessment tools using the selected education/outreach model and sustainability practice and performance metrics framework, convene grower self-assessment workshops, benchmark important practices and performance, and track progress against them.

Hazelnut Sustainability Program Needs Assessment

SureHarvest recently conducted a needs assessment and strategic planning effort for a collaborative effort between the Hazelnut Marketing Board and Oregon Hazelnut Commission. This involved conducting a survey of growers and stakeholders to test interest in designing a hazelnut sustainability program and explore potential targets and program elements.

Clean Stream Dairies Project in Chesapeake Bay

Clean Stream Dairies, through a partnership between SureHarvest and Environmental Defense Fund, is a collaborative with dairy producers to advance water quality and energy improvements in a way that makes economic and logistical sense on the farm. The project includes a farm water quality assessment and energy audit program connected directly to a variety of drivers – economic incentives and rewards such as, facilitated access to nutrient trading programs and cost-share assistance programs, favorable bank loans, reduced insurance rates, premium prices based on an environmentally-friendly label on certified milk, and more.  It is this connection between environmental performance and public and private sector financial benefits that fuels the project.

California Cut Flower Commission

SureHarvest is currently conducting a needs assessment for the Commission to determine the competitive advantages that a sustainability program might offer for their industry.