Duncan Family Farms Achieves Sustainably Grown Certification From SCS Global Services; Patty Emmert and Kevin Warner Detail
GOODYEAR, AZ - Backing its fourth-generation farming operation with a key credential, Duncan Family Farms revealed that it earned the Sustainably Grown Certification. With this certification in hand, the company will meet rising demand for socially and environmentally responsible products in the produce department.
“Since the fall of 2020, we’ve been committed to prioritizing this effort to earn this top certification as a reinforcement of our company values,” said Patty Emmert, Community Relations and Marketing Manager for Duncan Family Farms. “We are committed to leaving the soil better than we found it by responsibly managing and maintaining the land that produces our premium fresh products. With this extensive investment in time, dedication, and capital, Duncan Family Farms will meet our own standard of excellence before providing our products to consumers in the United States and Canada.”
Through SCS Global Services’ Sustainably Grown Certification Program, companies are able to recognize opportunities for innovation when it comes to sustainability, identifying supply chain risks, and establishing pathways for the continual improvement of farming practices, according to a press release.
“We take extra care to ensure we are going above and beyond the organic standard of today, and look forward to continuing to be intentional and thoughtful with our farming techniques now and in the future,” added Emmert.
Currently, Duncan Family Farms utilizes cover crops, on-farm composting, water conservation, recycling, and tree planting to grow clean, healthy food, while mitigating environmental damage.
“In my work with Duncan Family Farms over the last two years, I have been repeatedly impressed by their ongoing commitment to continuous improvement across their farming operations,” said Kevin Warner, Director of ESG Certifications and Strategy at SCS Global Services. “They want to be the best in the industry and are always looking for opportunities to push the envelope in terms of land stewardship, community engagement, and the fair treatment of their farmworkers.”
The process required to achieve the Sustainably Grown Certification is rigorous and requires compliance with several self-assessments backed by third-party audits. Not only did the company achieve this certification status, but also incorporated the framework for the program into its business models and practices.
“Sustainably Grown certification is a big undertaking for any operation, but Duncan’s case was especially complicated by their year-round production across multiple states. Fortunately, they were up to the challenge and successfully implemented the Sustainably Grown program at their operations in Arizona, Oregon, and California,” continued Warner.
How will this certification impact Duncan Family Farms’ growth? Stick with AndNowUKnow for updates.
