LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO - It’s clear that consumers have latched on to sustainability, and they’re not letting go any time soon. But how does an enterprising and forward-thinking company turn this trend into a profit? Answer: packaging. NatureFresh™ Farms is acutely aware of the effect that packaging can have on a shopper, particularly those eco-friendly shoppers who seem to grow more discerning by the day. I spoke with Kara Badder, Marketing Manager, who wowed me with news of NatureFresh’s compostable packaging.

“Our company truly believes in sustainability and how vital it is for our future,” she said. “From the way we grow, to the way we operate in the office, to our packaging—we believe in finding long-term sustainable solutions. In addition to our compostable tray, we have been reducing the amount of plastic used by implementing fully recyclable plastics”

The compostable tray she speaks of is a new form of packaging that consumers can toss in their backyards and watch, astoundingly, as it decomposes completely within 60 to 90 days. Environmentally-minded consumers have taken note of the direction the company is moving towards, and their reaction is a positive one.

“The market’s response to this new packaging has been very strong. Retail is extremely supportive and striving towards more sustainable packaging and that same message is being echoed by consumers,” explained Kara. “We receive endless messages from consumers expressing their satisfaction with the changes and encouraging packaging to continue to move in this direction.”

Keeping an eye on consumer trends, NatureFresh can anticipate their needs, better serving them and providing products that meet, even exceed, expectations. As consumer preferences continue to develop and change over time, NatureFresh makes an effort to have direct conversations with large sample sizes of consumers, gathering important insights into their desires and the evolution of the industry as a whole. Through this process, the company has confirmed that transparency and sustainability are on the rise, necessitating the investigation into better-for-the-environment packaging. But NatureFresh hasn’t stopped at just packaging.

“We are continuously looking for new sustainable initiatives, however, we want to ensure before we jump into anything that the initiatives and materials we choose to move forward with are sustainable long-term,” Kara said.

The company opened a new greenhouse—nine months in the making—in Leamington, ON, next to its phase six greenhouse. The greater accessibility to resources, such as energy, has allowed NatureFresh the opportunity to use its knowledge in growing year-round in Ontario. The new greenhouse provides Ontario-grown tomatoes, including tomatoes-on-the-vine, red cherry tomatoes, red grape tomatoes, and cocktail tomatoes, even in the dead of winter.

For more news on companies like NatureFresh who are embracing sustainability, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

NatureFresh™ Farms