MONTEREY, CA - As consumer demand for sustainable products increases, so too do the expectations that retailers have for their suppliers. Both sides of the supply chain can work in tandem to deliver that preferred experience to the shopper, and the Organic Produce Summit’s (OPS) recently announced educational session—The Value of Sustainability Compliance—will discuss how.

“When the fresh produce industry started receiving buyer surveys from large retailers, there was hesitation, and the value of reporting was unclear. Today, they have become a cost of doing business,” said Nikki Cossio, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Measure to Improve (MTI). “While there is a cost in responding to buyer surveys, that doesn’t mean they have no value. If leveraged properly, buyer surveys are a great tool to start looking at your organization from a sustainability perspective or a foundation for building a larger sustainability program.”

According to a press release, The Value of Sustainability Compliance session will explore why retailers are asking for in-depth information, how suppliers can utilize it to improve their operations, and how the two sides can better align their sustainability efforts.

Moderated by Kieran Ficken McNeice, Director of Sustainability Programs at MTI, panelists for the session include Dana Brennan, Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Responsibility at Grimmway Farms; Laura Himes, Senior Merchandising Director at Walmart; and John McKeon, Director of Organic Integrity and Compliance at Taylor Farms.

OPS 2023 is a two-day event being held July 12–13 in Monterey, California. The Value of Sustainability Compliance session is the fourth of five sessions announced for the event this year. The Retailer Roundtable, a selection of field tours, a gala opening night reception, and a sold-out trade show floor await attendees. General registration is open here.

Stay tuned for more event coverage from ANUK.

Organic Produce Summit