23 min
Earth Day Special Edition with Hans Sauter of Del Monte Fresh Produce The Produce Moms Podcast
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- Health & Fitness
“We believe that it is not only our duty to be sustainable in our own operations, but also to motivate and inspire other businesses to do the same during this critical moment our planet is going through.”
Hans Sauter (4:16 - 4:39)
Hans Sauter is the Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Agricultural Services at Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. He has over 30 years of experience in the produce industry, and he is responsible for developing programs to deal with Del Monte Fresh’s environmental impact consciously and efficiently. With Hans’ help, every day is Earth Day at Del Monte Fresh.
How Del Monte Fresh is promoting sustainability through its farming practices.
It’s that time of the year again - it’s time to celebrate Earth Day 2019. Earth Day is an annual event held in over 190 countries around the world in support of environmental protection. Since fresh produce and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand, now is a great time to take a look at what Del Monte Fresh, one of the leading suppliers of fresh produce in the world, is doing to promote sustainability.
Del Monte Fresh views sustainability from a scientific point of view. They measure their processes to create awareness within their organization. They’ve also developed programs to deal with their environmental impact in the most conscious and efficient ways. Along with prioritizing ecological consciousness in their own farming practices, Del Monte Fresh believes they can also inspire other businesses to embrace sustainability in this crucial moment for the planet.
“When it comes to sustainability, Del Monte Fresh is fully committed to the common good and to the mission at hand. They even work hand-in-hand with their direct competitors to promote sustainability.” - Lori Taylor (12:19 - 12:35)
The following are just some of the measures and practices Del Monte Fresh has adopted as they aim to bring high-quality, healthy, and nutritious foods to people in a way that protects the environment, and builds strong ties to the communities they operate in.
Protecting Flora and Fauna
The reality of farming is that it has an effect on flora and fauna. It affects the local ecosystem by displacing the species that previously inhabited there. Del Monte Fresh recognizes that if they don’t provide a new space for them to flourish, then they’d be competing with the local flora and fauna, which harms the environment.
Before farming on new lands, Del Monte Fresh studies them carefully to decide which new areas would be best suited to be set aside for the displaced flora and fauna. They also take into account the impact on the water supply which is not only critical to the farming process, but also to the local communities.
Protecting and Conserving Natural Resources
Del Monte Fresh makes it a priority to protect and conserve as many natural resources as possible. Resources like air, water, soil, and energy are essential for any agricultural activity. Del Monte Fresh has invested in more efficient irrigation systems like Drip Tape, which delivers water right at the plants where it is needed instead of wasteful and inefficient spreading of water. They’ve also redesigned the water tanks in some of their packing houses so that they can operate with less water.
Additionally, they have designed agricultural process to limit soil erosion, and they continue to invest heavily in solar and wind energy, both in the United States and internationally.
Sustainable Waste Management Practices
Del Monte Fresh has been practicing sustainable waste management practices. They reduce, re-use, and recycle waste to diminish the impact on the environment. They were early adopters of plastic recycling in their banana farms. They’ve also been using drone technology and GPA-guided tractors to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, to localize them only where they are needed.
Sustainable Packa
“We believe that it is not only our duty to be sustainable in our own operations, but also to motivate and inspire other businesses to do the same during this critical moment our planet is going through.”
Hans Sauter (4:16 - 4:39)
Hans Sauter is the Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Agricultural Services at Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. He has over 30 years of experience in the produce industry, and he is responsible for developing programs to deal with Del Monte Fresh’s environmental impact consciously and efficiently. With Hans’ help, every day is Earth Day at Del Monte Fresh.
How Del Monte Fresh is promoting sustainability through its farming practices.
It’s that time of the year again - it’s time to celebrate Earth Day 2019. Earth Day is an annual event held in over 190 countries around the world in support of environmental protection. Since fresh produce and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand, now is a great time to take a look at what Del Monte Fresh, one of the leading suppliers of fresh produce in the world, is doing to promote sustainability.
Del Monte Fresh views sustainability from a scientific point of view. They measure their processes to create awareness within their organization. They’ve also developed programs to deal with their environmental impact in the most conscious and efficient ways. Along with prioritizing ecological consciousness in their own farming practices, Del Monte Fresh believes they can also inspire other businesses to embrace sustainability in this crucial moment for the planet.
“When it comes to sustainability, Del Monte Fresh is fully committed to the common good and to the mission at hand. They even work hand-in-hand with their direct competitors to promote sustainability.” - Lori Taylor (12:19 - 12:35)
The following are just some of the measures and practices Del Monte Fresh has adopted as they aim to bring high-quality, healthy, and nutritious foods to people in a way that protects the environment, and builds strong ties to the communities they operate in.
Protecting Flora and Fauna
The reality of farming is that it has an effect on flora and fauna. It affects the local ecosystem by displacing the species that previously inhabited there. Del Monte Fresh recognizes that if they don’t provide a new space for them to flourish, then they’d be competing with the local flora and fauna, which harms the environment.
Before farming on new lands, Del Monte Fresh studies them carefully to decide which new areas would be best suited to be set aside for the displaced flora and fauna. They also take into account the impact on the water supply which is not only critical to the farming process, but also to the local communities.
Protecting and Conserving Natural Resources
Del Monte Fresh makes it a priority to protect and conserve as many natural resources as possible. Resources like air, water, soil, and energy are essential for any agricultural activity. Del Monte Fresh has invested in more efficient irrigation systems like Drip Tape, which delivers water right at the plants where it is needed instead of wasteful and inefficient spreading of water. They’ve also redesigned the water tanks in some of their packing houses so that they can operate with less water.
Additionally, they have designed agricultural process to limit soil erosion, and they continue to invest heavily in solar and wind energy, both in the United States and internationally.
Sustainable Waste Management Practices
Del Monte Fresh has been practicing sustainable waste management practices. They reduce, re-use, and recycle waste to diminish the impact on the environment. They were early adopters of plastic recycling in their banana farms. They’ve also been using drone technology and GPA-guided tractors to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, to localize them only where they are needed.
Sustainable Packa
23 min