combined greener field together case studies
DESCRIPTION
Case studies done for Greener Fields Together partners.TRANSCRIPT
Meet Greener Fields Together National Farms Partner: Naturipe® is a partnership between four fresh berry growers: Hortifruit S.A.; Michigan Blueberry Growers; Munger Farms; and Naturipe Berry Growers. Naturipe growers are found throughout the Western Hemisphere, providing year-round strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries, as well as local varieties when in season.
The Greener Fields Together
National Farm program is
designed to build and
manage a farm supplier
network dedicated to
examining and improving
sustainability in their
operations. Through 5Ps
of Sustainability™ Verified
Case Studies, SureHarvest
will assist Greener Fields
Together National Farm
partners to evaluate their
sustainability efforts
according to the 5Ps.
SureHarvest then conducts
on-site verification to ensure
accuracy and authenticity.
“IPM is an art that
draws its inspiration
from a desire to be a
good steward of the
land, but is based in
science. A farmer who
applies IPM will fail
if there is no under-
standing of the biology
and chemistry of the
ecosystem where the
IPM is being practiced.” –Tom Am Rhein, Vice President
of Naturipe Berry Growers
5Ps Verified Case Study: Pest Management
Naturipe practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—an effective
and environmentally sound approach to pest management—as a
matter of company policy. For more than thirty years, Naturipe has
advanced its IPM program to enhance pests’ natural enemies and
reduce pesticide use in managing Lygus bug, a major pest for
California strawberries. SureHarvest documented and verified this
Lygus bug IPM program using the 5Ps of Sustainability.™
Sustainabllity Highlights
Naturipe has a long-standing, highly refined IPM program for Lygus
bug. From field operations to executive management, the company
marries up-to-date science with on-farm realities in its California
strawberry operations. Naturipe has established itself as an industry
leader in Lygus bug IPM and is well positioned to continuously
improve its pest management program.
Naturipe allows the natural ecosystem to help keep Lygus bug
in check by enhancing natural habitat and promoting beneficial
plants around its farms. The company consistently finds that its IPM
program substantially reduces pest populations and crop damage.
Naturipe knows that proper implementation of its IPM program for
Lygus bug results in fewer resistance problems, less overall pesticide
use, and more high-quality fruit.
Greener Fields Together Case Study SummaryNaturipe: Integrated Pest Management of California Strawberries
Verified Case Study: Naturipe IPM of California Strawberries March 2013 Page 1
VERIFIEDSureHarvest
TM
1. Sustainability Principles
Naturipe strawberries are grown with a
company commitment to:
• Provide consumers a healthy, enjoyable
eating experience
• Create an enjoyable work environment
that allows employees to achieve their
full potential
• Operate in a legal, ethical and socially
responsible manner
2. Sustainablity Processes
Naturipe is committed to using IPM in its
farming operations to economically manage
pests with the least possible hazard to people,
property, and the environment. Naturipe
realizes the importance of its IPM program to
manage Lygus bug, a serious pest in the company’s
main strawberry growing regions in California.
For more than three decades, Naturipe has
been dedicated to IPM and supporting industry-
wide research and education efforts.
3. Sustainability Practices
As part of its IPM program, Naturipe uses a
suite of practices including: weekly field sampling
for Lygus bugs; establishing action thresholds;
protecting natural habitat surrounding cropland;
weed-host control; utilizing non-spray methods
such as bug vacuums when effective; and care-
fully selecting and timing necessary pesticide
applications for optimal efficacy. Naturipe walks
the fields frequently to observe first-hand if
Lygus bug and other pests are causing damage
to the plants and fruit.
The company has highly trained, certified field
and management team members who remain
up-to-date on the latest research in IPM
methods. Central to its program is participation
in industry and university IPM research trials.
This basic research is then taken and adapted
to meet the site-specific conditions at each
Verified Case Study: Naturipe IPM of California Strawberries March 2013 Page 2
Principles
The core values that define the
business strategy
Processes
The sets of managed activities that
create internal and external value
Practices
The methods used to accomplish
the desired operational results
Performance
The metrics and measurements
used to evaluate practice and
process results
Progress
The approach used to document,
communicate and drive continuous
improvement over time
SureHarvest
utilizes its
5Ps of
Sustainability™
–a continuous
improvement
business management methodology
–to craft case studies that evaluate
the alignment and execution of Greener
Fields Together National Farm partners’
sustainability efforts that contribute to
financial profitability, environmental steward-
ship and social progress. Each case study
goes through a verification step to confirm
that the reported information is accurate,
thorough and authentic.
Intensive monitoring of the Lygus bug population is key to prevent the build-up of this pest population and detect when it reaches economically significant levels. Through prevention, biologic control methods, and carefully timed pesticide applications, Lygus bug can be optimally managed. Source: photo of Lygus pratensis courtesy of E.Balocchi. August 2009, Busalla, Genova.
As a key component of Naturipe’s commitment
to social responsibility and continual improve-
ment, the Board of Directors develops an annual
business plan that includes its social responsibility
priorities, and meets quarterly to evaluate
progress. Upper management team members tie
their annual work plans and compensation
directly to these strategic goals. Naturipe holds
meetings at all levels in the company during the
year to consider progress within its California
strawberry operations toward the company’s
strategic goals. Each fall, a large group of Naturipe
district and country representatives come
together to evaluate and refine their strategies
for strawberry operations.
company farm. In addition to managing its own
1,500 acres using IPM, Naturipe meets regularly
with its third-party growers to conduct trainings
and encourage information sharing within its
growing community.
4. Sustainablity Performance
Naturipe’s metric for success of its IPM program
is documenting that the protocols are put in
place and properly followed. Research and experi-
ence shows that regardless of what Lygus bug
populations or fruit damage might have occurred
in any given year, the results would have been
worse if the protocols had not been applied.
Naturipe carefully tracks and compiles field data
into a spreadsheet to chart Lygus bug popula-
tions throughout the season. To monitor and
evaluate its in-house and third-party grower IPM
programs, the company collects pesticide use
reports, conducts monthly random pesticide
residue tests, and adheres to a strict fruit
grading system.
5. Sustainablity Progress
Naturipe conducts internal trainings for field crews
and requires that key personnel attend external
trainings on IPM methods for California straw-
berries. The strawberry IPM team is in constant
communication about pest pressures and other
variables to insure that proper methods are used
to manage Lygus bug populations. Each winter,
farm-level group meetings are held to recount the
prior season and make plans and adjustments for
the next season.
During a typical growing season, a quality IPM program helps keep the Lygus bug population low, and reduces total pesticide use.
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
.5
0
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep
Oct
Non IPM
IPM
Verified Case Study: Naturipe IPM of California Strawberries March 2013 Page 3
“When I first started
farming strawberries
years ago, I felt like
we were spraying
all the time. As we
applied and improved
our IPM program
over the years, we
have been able to
really reduce our
pesticide use.” –Mario Aguas-Alvarado,
Proud Grower for Naturipe
Naturipe is a partnership between four
fresh berry growers: Hortifruit S.A.;
Michigan Blueberry Growers; Munger
Farms; and Naturipe Berry Growers.
Naturipe growers are found throughout
the Western Hemisphere, providing
year-round strawberries, blueberries,
blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries,
as well as local varieties when in season.
The number one priority at Naturipe
is to provide healthy, nutritious and
tasty berries.
Since 1917, Naturipe Berry Growers
has brought berries, both conventional
and organic, to market. Based in Salinas,
California, Naturipe Berry Growers
produces berries within the very special-
ized maritime climate of the Pacific
coastline, including Irvine, Oxnard, Salinas,
Watsonville and Santa Maria. Naturipe
Berry Growers has ninety years of
experience, dedication, exclusive growers,
and safe growing practices.
For more information, please visit
www.naturipefarms.com
The Greener Fields Together National
Farm program was launched in 2012,
with the intent to build and manage a
supplier network of national farms dedi-
cated to examining sustainability in their
operations. Through the completion of
5Ps of Sustainability™Verified Case Studies
and reporting, the program will reveal
the efforts being made toward more
sustainable operations.
Sustainability process areas in the
Greener Fields Together National Farm
program include:
• Community
• Employee Wellness
• Energy and Climate
• Packaging
• Pest Management
• Soil Management
• Waste Management
• Water Management
The Greener Fields Together effort will
demonstrate the commitment farmers
are making toward ensuring a future
for food.
For more information, please visit
www.greenerfieldstogether.org
SureHarvest is an agri-food sustainability
solutions company delivering practical
strategies, proven technologies, and
exceptional services to accelerate financial
profitability, environmental stewardship
and social progress.
Clients span the agri-food value chain and
benefit from SureHarvest’s market-leading
expertise and experience in the design,
execution and verification of sustainability
initiatives. Our services are often coupled
with farm management and sustainability
program management software technolo-
gies to provide turnkey solutions.
SureHarvest is the pioneer in adapting
business process approaches (e.g. Total
Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean,
etc.) to the more variable conditions of
farming, harvest logistics, and packing/ship-
ping. Titled the 5Ps of Sustainability™, this
business process management approach is
used as the principal strategic framework
for creating value with our customers.
For more information, please visit
www.sureharvest.com
Verified Case Study: Naturipe IPM of California Strawberries March 2013 Page 4
Naturipe: Integrated Pest Management of California Strawberries
TM
Meet Greener Fields Together National Farms Partner: Founded in 1996, NewStar Fresh Foods is built on a legacy that spans centuries as the result of merging leading Salinas and Pajaro Valley family farmers. NewStar’s roots are steeped in innovation, having built a reputation as the innovators of packaged spinach, and pioneered the development of iceless green onions. Today, NewStar stands out as the world’s largest shipper of iceless green onions, and continues to focus on industry leadership in value-added spinach, asparagus, and tender leaf products.
The Greener Fields Together
National Farm program is
designed to build and
manage a farm supplier
network dedicated to
examining and improving
sustainability in their
operations. Through 5P’s
of Sustainability™ Verified
Case Studies, SureHarvest
will assist Greener Fields
Together National Farm
partners to evaluate their
sustainability efforts
according to the 5P’s.
SureHarevest then conducts
on-site verification to ensure
accuracy and authenticity.
Being one of the first
farming operations in the
region to adopt drip
irrigation, NewStar is
using less water and
energy to grow crops
while improving
food safety.
30% CROPLAND CONVERTED TO DRIP IRRIGATION
5P’s Verified Case Study: Water Management
NewStar is committed to the spirit and practice of doing the right
thing. A key component of this commitment is conserving water.
In the fall of 2012, NewStar made significant progress in water
conservation at its Mexicali, Mexico operations by converting nearly
one third of its acreage to drip irrigation and implementing other
water saving techniques. SureHarvest documented and verified the
Mexicali operation’s water saving program.
Sustainabllity Highlights
NewStar Fresh Foods is bringing innovative water saving practices
to the Mexicali growing region. NewStar is making significant prog-
ress in formally establishing and maintaining its process of continual
improvement in water management at its Mexicali farming opera-
tions, and has benefited from culturally and geographically adapting
water conservation techniques used in its other farming regions.
In the 2012-2013 growing season, NewStar expects to see signifi-
cant water savings through better irrigation efficiency. The company
projects their investment in the drip system to result in reduced
water costs, increased yields, and higher product quality.
Greener Fields Together Case Study SummaryNewStar Fresh Foods: Mexicali Water Management
Verified Case Study: NewStar Fresh Foods: Water Management December, 2012 Page 1
VERIFIEDSureHarvest
1. Sustainability Principles
NewStar sustainability embodies the spirit and
practice of doing the right thing, in balance
with the business, the employees, and Mother
Nature herself.
NewStar’s principles for “Doing the right thing”
include:
• Providing a quality work environment
• Investing in our communities
• Reducing our environmental footprint
• Engaging in responsible practices
2. Sustainablity Processes
The company’s staff and management identified
multiple sustainability benefits that would be
achieved by implementing water conservation
processes including reducing long-term irriga-
tion costs, improving food safety, and optimizing
water use. NewStar took the initiative to con-
vert 600 of its more than 2000 acres farmed in
Mexicali, Mexico to drip irrigation. NewStar is
one of the first operations in the Mexicali basin
to convert to drip irrigation.
3. Sustainability Practices
NewStar implemented a suite of water use
efficiency practices including the installation of
drip irrigation, monitoring the irrigation system
at all times to insure it is operating properly,
irrigating at night during times of extreme heat,
eliminating tailwater runoff through optimizing
water use, and returning unused water back to
the irrigation canal for other users.
The Mexicali growing region relies entirely
on irrigation water provided from the Colo-
rado River. From a food safety and resource
conservation perspective converting nearly one
third of the Mexicali acreage to drip irrigation
was important and timely. The transition away
from the long-standing tradition of furrow or
sprinkle irrigation required retraining of local
field personnel who make up a set of highly
experienced on-site irrigators.
Verified Case Study: NewStar Fresh Foods: Water Management December, 2012 Page 2
Principles
The core values that define the
business strategy
Processes
The sets of managed activities that
create internal and external value
Practices
The methods used to accomplish the
desired operational results
Performance
The metrics and measurements used
to evaluate practice and process
results
Progress
The approach used to document,
communicate and drive continuous
improvement over time
SureHarvest
utilizes its
5P’s of
Sustainability™
-- a continuous
improvement
business management methodology
-- to craft case studies that evaluate
the alignment and execution of Greener
Fields Together National Farm partners’
sustainability efforts that contribute to
financial profitability, environmental steward-
ship and social progress. Each case study
goes through a verification step to confirm
that the reported information is accurate,
thorough and authentic.
employing years of experience in making
judgments on when and how much to irrigate.
The investments made in water conservation in
Mexicali reflect the company’s strong commit-
ment to advance sustainability in its operations.
4. Sustainablity Performance
NewStar has recently incorporated flow meter
readings to track water use as part of its stan-
dard operation and is committed to “measuring
and managing” water use efficiency by adopting
improved data collection and management tech-
niques throughout its Mexicali operations. Very
few ranches in the Mexicali growing region utilize
flow meters and instead rely on the local irriga-
tion district records to track daily and seasonal
water use.
5. Sustainablity Progress
A key component of NewStar’s continuous
improvement approach is the annual review and
selection of capital improvement projects. Each
year department or regional operations develop
a list of their high-priority projects that meet
multiple company objectives including food safety,
cost reduction, resource conservation and social
responsibility. Management reviews and selects
the final projects. Once implemented, projects
are evaluated to insure they meet the anticipated
benefits and cost savings.
The success of the Mexicali water management
efforts ultimately depend on the day-to-day
decisions made on the farm. NewStar operation
and quality assurance staff remain abreast of
basin-wide water management issues and
monitor on-farm water usage over time by
reviewing annual irrigation records. At the field
level, NewStar personnel bring an awareness to
minimize water use and they take pride in
With drip irrigation, more of the applied water, about 90%, makes it to the plant and soil.
Flow meters allow irrigation crews to keep an accurate
accounting of water being applied to NewStar crops.
Verified Case Study: NewStar Fresh Foods: Water Management December, 2012 Page 3
NewStar expects to use
approximately 50% less
water per unit harvested on
the 600 acres they have
converted to drip irrigation.
PROJECTED D ECREASE IN WATER USE PER CARTON
50%
Traditional flood irrigation delivers only 50% of the water applied to the crop.
IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
Flood Sprinkler Drip
Founded in 1996, NewStar Fresh Foods
grows and harvests on farms in premier
growing regions, and has grown to
become a leader in providing superior
quality value added produce. NewStar
offers a broad line of commodities
and its flagship items: green onions,
asparagus, and value-added spinach and
tender leaf greens. Steeped in innova-
tion, NewStar built a reputation as the
innovators of packaged spinach (Fresh
Choice® brand), and were pioneers of
the development of iceless green onions.
Today, NewStar stands out as the
world’s largest shipper of iceless green
onions. NewStar operates process-
ing facilities in Salinas, California, Yuma,
Arizona, and Mexicali, Mexico. NewStar’s
Mexicali operation—EstrellaNueva—is
a major producing region for NewStar
green onions and other specialty crops.
For more information, please visit
www.newstarfresh.com
The Greener Fields Together National
Farm program was launched in 2012,
intent to build and manage a supplier
network of national farms dedicated to
examining sustainability in their opera-
tions. Through the completion of 5P’s of
Sustainability™Verified Case Studies and
reporting, the program will reveal
the efforts being made toward more
sustainable operations.
Sustainability process areas in the
Greener Fields Together National Farm
program include:
• Community
• Employee Wellness
• Energy and Climate
• Packaging
• Pest Management
• Soil Management
• Waste Management
• Water Management
The Greener Fields Together effort will
demonstrate the commitment farmers
are making toward ensuring a future
for food.
For more information, please visit
www.greenerfieldstogether.org
SureHarvest is an agri-food sustainability
solutions company delivering practical
strategies, proven technologies, and ex-
ceptional services to accelerate financial
profitability, environmental stewardship
and social progress.
Clients span the agri-food value chain
and benefit from SureHarvest’s market-
leading expertise and experience in the
design, execution and verification of sus-
tainability initiatives. Our services are
often coupled with farm management
and sustainability program management
software technologies to provide
turnkey solutions.
SureHarvest is the pioneer in adapting
business process approaches (e.g. Total
Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean,
etc.) to the more variable conditions of
farming, harvest logistics, and packing/
shipping. Titled the 5P’s of Sustainability™,
this business process management ap-
proach is used as the principal strategic
framework for creating value with our
customers.
For more information, please visit
www.sureharvest.com
Verified Case Study: NewStar Fresh Foods: Water Management December, 2012 Page 4
NewStar Fresh Foods: Water Management
Meet Greener Fields Together National Farms Partner:
Formed in 1893, Sunkist is a not-for-profit marketing cooperative owned by and
operated for its citrus grower members in California and Arizona. In 1907, the
growers formed Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS) to provide most of the
materials to help grow, harvest, and package fresh citrus.
The Greener Fields Together
National Farm program is
designed to build and
manage a farm supplier
network dedicated to
examining and improving
sustainability in their
operations. Through 5Ps
of Sustainability™ Verified
Case Studies, SureHarvest
will assist Greener Fields
Together National Farm
partners to evaluate their
sustainability efforts
according to the 5Ps.
SureHarvest then conducts
on-site verification to ensure
accuracy and authenticity.
Sunkist prioritizes
recycling throughout the
life cycle of its fully
recyclable cartons by
optimizing recycled
content to maintain
carton integrity and
also recycling 100%
of the trimmings
from production.
65% recycled cardboard in cartons
5Ps Verified Case Study: Packaging
As part of its commitment to sustainable packaging practices, Sunkist
is dedicated to improving the material sourcing and manufacturing
of the FGS® corrugated cartons at the plant in Ontario, California.
In 2010, FGS was awarded Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®)
certification for the 328,000 acres of forestlands the company
owns and harvests, and in 2012, for the carton manufacturing plant.
SureHarvest documented and verified the Ontario plant sustainable
packaging program using the 5Ps of Sustainability.™
Sustainabllity Highlights
Sunkist has a history of innovation and stewardship that is demon-
strated in its effort to reduce the environmental impact of its fresh
fruit packaging. Sunkist’s initiative to obtain SFI certification highlights
its efforts, and illustrates the company’s commitment to make con-
tinual improvements to its package manufacturing.
By sourcing 100% SFI-certified materials for the production of its
cartons, Sunkist supports forests managed to promote biodiversity,
sustainable harvesting methods, and healthy habitats. The company
expects SFI certification will help ensure a future fiber supply to
meet global packaging needs while promoting long-term forest and
community health.
Greener Fields Together Case Study Summarysunkist: carton Manufacturing
Verified Case Study: Sunkist Carton Manufacturing March 2013 Page 1
VeriFiedSureHarvest
TM
1. Sustainability Principles
Proud of its long history of adopting sustain-
able principles in packaging of citrus and other
fresh fruit, Sunkist is dedicated to sustainable
packaging practices that are good for the
environment, productivity, and business.
2. Sustainablity Processes
Control over the carton manufacturing process
was an area in which Sunkist could achieve signifi-
cant gains toward good sustainable packaging
practices. The foodservice corrugated cartons
used to transport Sunkist® fruit are manufac-
tured in the FGS plant in Ontario, California,
where the processes, practices and controls
enable Sunkist to reduce the environmental
footprint of packaging production.
3. Sustainability Practices
Dedicated to reducing the company’s environ-
mental footprint, Sunkist took the initiative to
adopt sustainable materials and methods to
produce its corrugated cartons. Key carton
design features include the use of water-based
inks for printing, corn-based adhesives, un-
coated cartons that are fully recyclable, using
65% recycled content, and virgin material from
SFI-certified sources.
FGS has integrated many resource conserva-
tion practices into its Ontario facility and
manufacturing process. The plant captures
100% of its processing waste-water for in-plant
reuse to manufacture the carton adhesive.
Since 2010,100% of irrigation for landscap-
ing is reclaimed, recycled water from the city,
cutting fresh water use at the plant by 7.8
million gallons per year. All carton trimmings
and remnants are recycled. Lighting efficiencies
include the installation of skylights for natural
Verified Case Study: Sunkist Carton Manufacturing March 2013 Page 2
Principles
The core values that define the
business strategy
Processes
The sets of managed activities that
create internal and external value
Practices
The methods used to accomplish
the desired operational results
Performance
The metrics and measurements
used to evaluate practice and
process results
Progress
The approach used to document,
communicate and drive continuous
improvement over time
SureHarvest
utilizes its
5Ps of
Sustainability™
–a continuous
improvement
business management methodology–
to craft case studies that evaluate
the alignment and execution of Greener
Fields Together National Farm partners’
sustainability efforts that contribute to
financial profitability, environmental steward-
ship and social progress. Each case study
goes through a verification step to confirm
that the reported information is accurate,
thorough and authentic.
Water-based inks
Corn-based adhesives
Uncoated, fully recyclable
Recycled content
SFI-certified sourced materials
are monitored regularly, and reviewed through-
out the year by facility staff. A packaging meeting
is convened monthly to evaluate performance
and improve efficiencies of the packaging
and operations.
5lighting so electrical lights are used only when
needed. Light-misers are in place to detect when
light conditions are low and high-efficiency bulbs
are used to further reduce electricity use.
4. Sustainablity Performance
Committed to SFI certification as a matter
of company policy, Sunkist and FGS regularly
conduct management reviews, evaluate program
performance (in part internally and also through
third party audits), and drive toward continual
improvements through education and training.
The employees at the carton plant are highly
engaged in the daily operations. Company em-
ployees regularly monitor machinery to ensure
it is operating properly to achieve quality, safety
and efficiency standards. Energy use at the plant
is meter monitored and tracked using the local
electric utility company’s tools and resources.
Water use is tracked monthly through two flow
meters, one for total plant fresh water use, and
another for recycled water used to irrigate the
landscaping.
5. Sustainablity Progress
Sunkist is committed to the continual evaluation
and improvement of its packaging program.
Sunkist and FGS management share corporate
offices, which facilitates regular communication
and weekly meetings. Carton plant staff regularly
engages with management to balance goals with
operational challenges. Energy consumption,
water use and reuse data, and carton waste
Enough water saved to supply 53 U.S. families of four for one year.
SFI certification is science-based and supports the responsible
production of wood and paper products, communities, jobs
and conservation values that are derived from working forests.
saVed: 7.8 Million Gallons oF FresH Water Per year.
Water Conservation Program
Verified Case Study: Sunkist Carton Manufacturing March 2013 Page 3
Switching to recycled water
to irrigate its landscaping
allows FGS to reduce
demands on valuable fresh
water resources while staying
in compliance with city code
that requires landscape
maintenance.
conVersion to recycledWater ForlandscaPe
100%
Sunkist is a not-for-profit marketing coop-
erative formed in 1893. It is entirely owned
by and operated for its approximately
3,000 California and Arizona citrus growers.
Sunkist members grow oranges, tangerines,
mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit, organic
citrus and table grapes.
In 1907, grower members of the Sunkist
cooperative formed Fruit Growers Supply
Company to source wood and produce
cartons for packing fresh citrus. Fruit
Growers Supply Company shares many of
the same board members with Sunkist,
including the chairman. Today, the company
has a carton manufacturing plant in Ontario,
California and owns approximately 328,000
acres of Sustainable Forestry Initiative
certified forestlands in Oregon, Washington,
and California.
For more information, please visit
foodservice.sunkist.com
Sunkist is a registered trademark of Sunkist Growers, Inc.,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, USA, All rights reserved.
fgs is a registered trademark of Fruit Growers Supply
Company, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, USA, All rights reserved.
The Greener Fields Together National
Farm program was launched in 2012, with
the intent to build and manage a supplier
network of national farms dedicated to
examining sustainability in their opera-
tions. Through the completion of 5Ps of
Sustainability™Verified Case Studies and
reporting, the program will reveal
the efforts being made toward more
sustainable operations.
Sustainability process areas in the
Greener Fields Together National Farm
program include:
• Community
• Employee Wellness
• Energy and Climate
• Packaging
• Pest Management
• Soil Management
• Waste Management
• Water Management
The Greener Fields Together effort will
demonstrate the commitment farmers
are making toward ensuring a future
for food.
For more information, please visit
www.greenerfieldstogether.org
SureHarvest is an agri-food sustainability
solutions company delivering practical
strategies, proven technologies, and
exceptional services to accelerate financial
profitability, environmental stewardship
and social progress.
Clients span the agri-food value chain and
benefit from SureHarvest’s market-leading
expertise and experience in the design,
execution and verification of sustainability
initiatives. Our services are often coupled
with farm management and sustainability
program management software technolo-
gies to provide turnkey solutions.
SureHarvest is the pioneer in adapting
business process approaches (e.g. Total
Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean,
etc.) to the more variable conditions of
farming, harvest logistics, and packing/ship-
ping. Titled the 5Ps of Sustainability™, this
business process management approach is
used as the principal strategic framework
for creating value with our customers.
For more information, please visit
www.sureharvest.com
TM
Verified Case Study: Sunkist Carton Manufacturing March 2013 Page 4
sunkist: carton Manufacturing
Meet Greener Fields Together National Farms Partner:
Taylor Farms California, Inc. processes fresh produce to make a variety of salads, vegetable and healthy snack products for consumers throughout North America. Operating in Salinas, California and Yuma, Arizona, Taylor Farms makes about one out of every three salads consumed in restaurants and foodservice outlets in the United States.Taylor Farms aligns itself with family farmers in California and Arizona who grow fruits and vegetables for its fresh products.
The Greener Fields Together
National Farm program is
designed to build and
manage a farm supplier
network dedicated to
examining and improving
sustainability in their
operations. Through 5P’s
of Sustainability™ Verified
Case Studies, SureHarvest
will assist Greener Fields
Together National Farm
partners to evaluate their
sustainability efforts
according to the 5P’s.
SureHarevest then conducts
on-site verification to ensure
accuracy and authenticity.
These savings were
achieved on top of
previously recognized
accomplishments; the
facility received a 2008
and 2009 “Energy
Champion Award” from
the U.S. Department
of Energy.
10% REDUCTION IN TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION
5P’s Verified Case Study: Energy and Climate
As part of its “Green Projects” initiative, Taylor Fresh Foods is
reducing energy use at its processing facilities throughout North
America. In early 2011, Taylor Farms California–an affiliate of Taylor
Fresh Foods–made significant upgrades to its refrigeration and
lighting systems at the Abbott Street processing plant in Salinas.
SureHarvest documented and verified the Abbott Street plant
energy program using the 5P’s of Sustainability.™
Sustainabllity Highlights
Taylor Farms has a sophisticated, highly responsive protocol for
evaluating success and challenges to its energy savings program.
With participation and buy in at every level within the company,
Taylor Farms is well positioned to make sustainable, continual
improvements for energy conservation at its Abbott Street plant.
In 2011,Taylor Farms realized annual energy savings of 1.74 million
kWh, enough to power 151 US households per year. These envi-
ronmental returns on investment are expected to yield a 3½ year
return on Taylor Farms’ financial investment in energy upgrades
at the plant.
Greener Fields Together Case StudyEnergy and Climate at Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant
Verified Case Study: Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant Energy and Climate September, 2012 Page 1
VERIFIEDSureHarvest
1. Sustainability Principles
Taylor Farms is dedicated to:
• Adopting effective processing techniques that
maximize value in production and use of natural
resources.
• Building a better sense of community among
its members and developing goodwill with
customers.
• Making environmental management decisions
that influence real and tangible factors that can
affect us all.
2. Sustainablity Processes
Dedicated to reducing the amount of energy
used in its processing facilities, Taylor Farms
took the initiative to make small, medium and
large energy conservation improvements in
its Abbott Street processing plant. This facility
was selected through company brainstorming
sessions to identify which areas in the process-
ing plant could benefit most from increased
attention and capital spending to meet a variety
of organizational goals such as cost reduction,
corporate responsibility, and performance
monitoring.
3. Sustainability Practices
Fresh produce arrives at the plant from the
farm fields and is cooled to 35-36°F. The
produce is maintained at this temperature
throughout processing through refrigeration
systems. These systems consume between
55-65% of the total electrical energy use at the
plant. Improving refrigeration energy efficiency
was a logical focal point.
An internal focus team for energy worked with
VaCom Technologies, an industrial refrigeration
company, to target optimal points in the refrig-
eration system for improvement. Upgrades to
the refrigeration system included installation
ENERGY USE AND LOSS THROUGH PROCESSING
PRE-COOLING
• Vacuum Coolers
• Forklifts
PRE-STORAGE
• Refrigeration
• Air Circulation
• Lighting
• Forklifts
• Building Seals
PROCESSING
• Refrigeration
• Air Circulation
• Processing Equipment
• Lighting
• Building Seals
• Compressors
POST-STORAGE
• Refrigeration
• Air Circulation
• Lighting
• Forklifts
• Building Seals
Verified Case Study: Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant Energy and Climate September, 2012 Page 2
Principles
The core values that define the
business strategy
Processes
The sets of managed activities that
create internal and external value
Practices
The methods used to accomplish the
desired operational results
Performance
The metrics and measurements used
to evaluate practice and process
results
Progress
The approach used to document,
communicate and drive continuous
improvement over time
SureHarvest
utilizes its
5 P’s of
Sustainability™
-- a continuous
improvement
business management methodology
-- to craft case studies that evaluate
the alignment and execution of Greener
Fields Together National Farm partners’
sustainability efforts that contribute to
financial profitability, environmental steward-
ship and social progress. Each case study
goes through a verification step to confirm
that the reported information is accurate,
thorough and authentic.
health and comparison data used to measure
performance on a quarterly basis. Additionally,
energy use performance is tracked remotely by
VaCom and reports are generated for Taylor
Farm’s use on a quarterly basis.
5. Sustainablity Progress
Taylor Farms has a sophisticated, highly responsive
protocol for evaluating success and challenges to
their energy savings program that values full
participation and buy-in at every level in the
company, starting from the ground up. Through
its process of continual improvement, Taylor
Farms evaluates practice efficacy and future
energy savings on a regular basis.
The energy focus group communicates regularly
through email and group meetings. Weekly
operation and maintenance meetings are
conducted between the Engineering Department
and refrigeration contractor. Taylor Farms carries
out monthly internal energy use reviews and
holds quarterly meetings to review usage and
system performance with VaCom.
To keep its guiding principles current and
evaluate company-wide performance, Taylor
Farms holds an annual managers’ meeting. Prior
to the annual meeting, each department holds
smaller group meetings to generate ideas and
evaluate high-level issues to optimize effective-
ness at the managers meeting. Employee input is
valued and suggestions help identify areas for
improvement.
of state of the art refrigeration software and
hardware technologies.
Other key steps include installation of top of
the line air compressors with modern insulation
systems, automated doors to maintain low tem-
peratures inside the plant, and improved lighting
placement and fixtures.
4. Sustainablity Performance
Taylor Farms utilizes a range of metrics to assess
the energy use reductions achieved as a result of
the equipment upgrades and practice improve-
ments made at the Abbott Street plant.
Total energy use is evaluated using Pacific Gas
and Electric (PG&E) on-line tools that allow
month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons of
energy usage and resulting savings. Taylor also cal-
culates energy use of each large refrigeration unit
in real-time, which provides a baseline of system
Energy saved in 2011 was enough to power 151 US households for an entire year.
A state of the art computer system enables engineering staff
to achieve optimal power usage to meet refrigeration needs
throughout the plant.
Verified Case Study: Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant Energy and Climate September, 2012 Page 3
Operating seasonally from April
to November, the Abbott Street
plant is saving about 7,200
kWh of energy every day,
enough to power 1,500 HD
TV’s for the day.
K I L O W A T T H O U R SS A V E D E V E RY M I N UTE
5.0
Each house equals five US households’ annual energy use.
30
25
20
15
10
5
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
ENERGY SAVINGS EQUIVALENT (US Households)
Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc. (known as Taylor
Farms) was founded by Bruce Taylor and
several partners in 1995 with the quest
of becoming “America’s Favorite Salad
Maker”. Headquartered in Salinas, Cali-
fornia, Taylor Farms is the world’s largest
producer of fresh-cut vegetables. Taylor
Farms has strategically positioned itself
with eleven US processing plants and
one in Mexico to supply its customers
and end consumers with the freshest and
greatest tasting products industry wide.
Taylor Farms California, Inc.—an affiliate
of Taylor Fresh Foods—operates season-
ally in Salinas, California and Yuma, Arizo-
na. From April until mid-November, Taylor
Farms California processes fresh produce
in their processing facilities in the Salinas
area. In mid-November operations shift
south to Taylor Farm’s processing plant in
the Yuma area.
For more information, please visit
www.taylorfarmsfoodservice.com
The Greener Fields Together National
Farm program was launched in 2012,
intent to build and manage a supplier
network of national farms dedicated to
examining sustainability in their opera-
tions. Through the completion of 5P’s of
Sustainability™Verified Case Studies and
reporting, the program will reveal
the efforts being made toward more
sustainable operations.
Sustainability process areas in the
Greener Fields Together National Farm
program include:
• Community
• Employee Wellness
• Energy and Climate
• Packaging
• Pest Management
• Soil Management
• Waste Management
• Water Management
The Greener Fields Together effort will
demonstrate the commitment farmers
are making toward ensuring a future
for food.
For more information, please visit
www.greenerfieldstogether.org
SureHarvest is an agri-food sustainability
solutions company delivering practical
strategies, proven technologies, and
exceptional services to accelerate financial
profitability, environmental stewardship
and social progress.
Clients span the agri-food value chain and
benefit from SureHarvest’s market-leading
expertise and experience in the design,
execution and verification of sustainability
initiatives. Our services are often coupled
with farm management and sustainability
program management software technolo-
gies to provide turnkey solutions.
SureHarvest is the pioneer in adapting
business process approaches (e.g. Total
Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean,
etc.) to the more variable conditions of
farming, harvest logistics, and packing/ship-
ping. Titled the 5 P’s of Sustainability™, this
business process management approach is
used as the principal strategic framework
for creating value with our customers.
For more information, please visit
www.sureharvest.com
Verified Case Study: Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant Energy and Climate September, 2012 Page 4
Energy and Climate at Taylor Farms’ Abbott Street Plant