Faced with mounting environmental, economic and marketing pressures, more potato growers are incorporating sustainable growing practices into their operations.
Idaho Potato Commission
“I don’t think I’ve seen an industry that cares more about sustainability than the Idaho potato farmer,” says Ross Johnson, vice president of retail sales for the Eagle-based Idaho Potato Commission.
IPC invests more than $1 million a year in research and development, he says, and part of those funds is focused on improving sustainable agricultural practices.
“We’ve seen great strides in watering, fertilizing and washing our product to get it to market,” Johnson says. “We continue to have the strictest marketing order in the country, which helps us maintain the highest standards.”
Eagle Eye Produce
The approach to sustainability at Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Eagle Eye Produce is centered around efficiency, says Coleman Oswald, director of sales.
“We continually improve our processes so the resources we use go further, supporting both our business and the health of the planet,” he says.
Precise irrigation systems on the farms help the company use water wisely through the growing season, he says.
“In our packing facilities, we reuse fresh water and invest in technology to reduce waste and improve the number of potatoes that make it into a marketable pack,” Oswald says. “We have also upgraded to LED lighting, use electric forklifts and have added renewable energy solutions in some of our facilities.”
Offices have dramatically reduced the use of paper by going mostly digital, says Oswald, who adds that packaging is another focus for the company.
Eagle Eye uses recycled corrugated and paper packaging whenever possible and has introduced potato bags made with up to 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
“We have also invested in reusable packaging, like RPCs, to cut down on single-use waste,” he says. “We have found that sustainability only works when it is practical, efficient and delivers value for everyone involved.”
A.V. Thomas Produce
Sustainability efforts also are ongoing at A.V. Thomas Produce, Livingston, Calif., and will continue where it makes sense, says Jeremy Fookes, director of sales.
“From our solar power production, water conservation, crop rotation, recycling and upcycling programs, our sustainability efforts have reduced our carbon footprint and improved our local community respectively,” he says.
The company has experienced an increase in the number of consumer inquiries about sustainable packaging, he says. But finding packaging that performs equally or better from a shelf life and marketing perspective has been challenging.
“As those challenges are met, at a comparable price point, we’ll see implementation taking place,” Fookes says.
Source: https://www.thepacker.com/
