SALINAS, CA - Anticipation for this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show continues to mount as Naturipe prepares to highlight its sustainability efforts and breeding program in Orlando, Florida.

“The IFPA show is a big event for our industry and a terrific opportunity to tell our story. Since our last in-person event three years ago, our growers have made tremendous strides, investing in the future of their farms through sustainable practices, variety development, and technology,” said CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing. “You may have heard about many of our initiatives before, but this year, our goal is to show the breadth of our owners’ forward-thinking efforts and the impacts they have made.”

The global producer will be highlighting its incredible advances in the area of environmental sustainability and breeding. Sustainability is a priority in every aspect of the company. It guides decisions and actions related to environmental protection, resource conservation, and ethical business practices in addition to the health and safety of Naturipe’s employees and community.

According to the release, Naturipe’s Cultivate with Care™ program was established in 2015 to reinforce the organization’s commitment to operating its business in a way that minimizes environmental impact and simultaneously supports local and global communities.

“Sustainability is driven by our growers. They love what they do, the land they farm, and the community they thrive in. But most of all, they want their families to have a future in farming. For this reason, they continue to innovate, from solar energy to pollinator habitats, they’re driving the positive change,” Janis McIntosh, the company’s first Director of Marketing Innovation and Sustainability, said. “This purpose-driven focus is also seen in the significant investments our owners have made in their proprietary breeding programs.”

Since this program’s inception, Naturipe and its grower owners have made substantial advancements in packaging optimization. Recently, the grower just passed the over 1 million pounds mark for the reduction of plastic in their fresh blueberry line, is currently on track to have industry-compliant wash away labels, and has added the How2Recycle logo on all its corrugated boxes and wash-away labels. In addition to its packaging having an extremely high level of post-consumer recycled content (PCR), the grower is also now using certified ocean-bound plastic where possible.

Also featured at this year’s show will be Naturipe’s expansion of its owners’ state-of-the-art berry breeding program, which focuses on the most flavorful varieties with the size and texture to wow customers.

“With 55 varieties released over the last 15 years, our owners’ recent investments will exponentially increase the pace of and quality of our proprietary varieties,” stated Jim Roberts, President of Sales. “Growers, retailers, and consumers all have characteristics they look for in their favorite berry, and Naturipe will continue to strive for that pursuit of the best berries year round.”

Naturipe’s owners’ breeding programs are offering new and unique consumer experiences by developing the best, most agile, and sustainable genetics in berries. With eight R&D facilities and over a dozen experimental farms across five continents, Naturipe is innovating at an accelerated pace.

Curious to learn more? Check out booth #2843 to hear from the grower’s team themselves.

Naturipe