NEWS
IN THE NEWS
December 2, 2021
Recap and Highlights of the 2021 Organic Grower Summit: Tonya Antle, Matt Seeley, Michael Valpredo, Dave Puglia, Nikki Cossio, Ray Connelly, Denise Junqueiro, and Aaron Fox Comment
MONTEREY, CA - Organic, simply, is good business. With current organic produce dollars topping $9.1 billion, according to Category Partners, there is very little argument against organic being the produce opportunity of the future as well. Here at this week’s Organic Grower Summit (OGS), the Organic Produce Network (OPN), in partnership with Western Growers, galvanized the industry to step onto the front lines where, yes, risk is always at play, but the reward is so much greater.
November 17, 2021
Oppy Announces First-Ever Specialty Berry Pack in the Happy Berry™ Label; Jason Fung, Greg France, and Donna France Comment
SANTA MARIA, CA - This is an exciting week for Oppy, as the fresh produce purveyor was not only recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers but has also announced that it will launch its first-ever specialty berry pack in the Happy Berry™ label. Come mid-December, the hydroponic tabletop strawberries, a concept developed by New Wave Berry, will be debuted after being rooted on elevated tables under the Ocean Spray® license during the first week of October.
November 11, 2021
Duda Farm Fresh Foods' Nichole Towell Highlights Sustainability Efforts
SALINAS, CA - I have a deep respect for the companies who go above and beyond to ensure they are supporting the Earth in their endeavors to supply the world with fresh produce. Duda Farm Fresh Foods is one of the trailblazers in this space, as the grower’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the building blocks the company stands upon.
November 1, 2021
New name and Board of Directors announced for organization that combines PMA and United Fresh
PMA and United Fresh leaders provided a series of updates for the new association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel were joined by executive committee members to share details.
“I’m excited to lead and collaborate with this board,” said Bruce Taylor, chair of the new organization and CEO of Taylor Farms.
November 1, 2021
Nichole Towell and Nikki Cossio
Building a Culture of Sustainability.
In the grand scheme of things, the focus of sustainability is to reduce our environmental footprint on the world. While we, as consumers, can help with minor tasks such as recycling, at-home composting or trading home items for more reusable ones, the true difference makers are large companies. When it comes to agriculture, most of the practices used are not very earth-friendly.
August 10 2021
EFI Receives Two-Year Grant From California Workforce Development Board
Equitable Food Initiative, the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, announced a two-year grant from the California Workforce Development Board awarded in conjunction with Measure to Improve, LLC.
March 15, 2021
Building Blocks for a Social Responsibility Program
If a produce company was to build a social responsibility program, what should it consist of? The Packer asked 41 produce industry leaders this question in a recent survey: “What are the essential elements of a responsible social responsibility program?”
March 15, 2021
Social Responsibility Revolves Around People
Social responsibility is all about helping people do better, most industry leaders agree.
And it is also more than that.
March 15, 2021
The Top 10 Social Media Follows for Produce Industry Professionals
If you’re looking to stay current with food and retail trends and consume great content from fellow industry members, LinkedIn is the place to be. Here are a few of the people you can follow for great information and perspective in 2021.
March 15, 2021
The Packer Introduces Lettuce Learn More Podcast
The education sessions from The Packer’s recent Sustainable Produce Summit and this week’s West Coast Produce Expo are coming soon to the new Lettuce Learn More Podcast.
October 22, 2020
PMA Welcomes Six Industry Leaders to PMA Board of Directors
Produce Marketing Association (PMA) welcomed six new industry leaders to the PMA Board of Directors (BoD) on Thursday, October 20 as the board met for the first time. The newly elected leaders span the industry supply chain and the global community. PMA’s BoD is a highly engaged contingent of industry leaders who provide a variety of perspectives and experience from across the global produce and floral supply chains. They work with PMA staff and other industry members to help carry out the PMA mission to connect, inform and deliver industry solutions to enhance member prosperity.
September 01, 2020
True Advisors Work Toward a Zero Waste Future
In 2017, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the global certification body for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), began administering complementary rating systems to address key sustainability measures in the green building industry. The Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) rating system, a zero waste certification program, was among them.
October 14, 2019
California Central Coast Sustainability Exchange to Host Supply Chain Sustainability Panel Before PMA Fresh Summit
VENTURA, CA - The countdown to PMA Fresh Summit has begun, signifying another hot ticket event just around the corner. Whether you are a buyer, retailer, or foodservice operator in our industry, if you want to succeed in your sustainability ventures the best place to glean the most valuable insights is at this year’s exclusive 2019 California Central Coast Sustainability Exchange (CCCSE) on October 15 and 16.
September 04, 2019
Nikki Rodoni, Hank Giclas, Alison Edwards, and Kelli McCune Discuss Sustainability In Action Event
MONTEREY, CA - Mark your calendars for “Sustainability In Action,” a meeting taking place on Thursday, September 26, in Salinas, California, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CSUMB City Center. It’s an invaluable experience for agricultural producers and processors that would like to get started in building out their sustainability programs or streamline those that already exist.
January 07, 2019
California Giant Berry Farms Introduces Sustainability Initiative
WATSONVILLE, CA - Consumers aren’t the only ones looking to be more environmentally friendly, with companies like California Giant Berry Farms making major sustainability strides. This year, the berry company is introducing a new sustainability initiativeto not only be more conscientious of the environment, but also to increase efficiencies and profitability, reduce costs, and engage employees.
May 22, 2019
Measure to Improve's Nikki Rodoni Recognized as a Clean Air Leader
SALINAS, CA - Congratulations are in order for sustainability activist and produce industry pro Nikki Rodoni, CEO of Measure to Improve (MTI), who just received a Leadership Award of Distinction at the Clean Air Awards from the Monterey Bay Air Resource District.
May 16, 2019
Measuring sustainability is key to progress, panel says
PALM DESERT, Calif. — Produce companies who ignore measuring sustainability do so at their increasing peril, panelists said at The Packer’s West Coast Produce Expo.
In a May 10 session moderated by Produce Retailer Editor Ashley Nickle, produce industry leaders talked about how they define sustainability, make it a priority and measure their efforts.
January 10, 2019
Measure to Improve’s Founder and CEO Nikki Rodoni Discusses Sustainability
“More simply, sustainability has three pillars: people, planet, and profit. You must include all three to really define something as truly sustainable.”
MTI’s founder & CEO recently sat down with And Now U Known to discuss sustainability and the integral aspects of a sustainability program.
January 07, 2019
California Giant Berry Farms Introduces Sustainability Initiative
With ever-changing industry trends, food forecasting and technology advancements, there is a topic that is also trending as the new year rolls in: sustainability.
The conversation of sustainability began at California Giant Berry Farms a year ago when they met with Nikki Rodoni, chief executive officer of Measure to Improve...
December 19, 2018
The Produce Moms Podcast
“Sustainability is meeting the needs of the future without compromising future generations.”
This week on the Produce Moms podcast, we are learning more about sustainability from Nikki Rodoni, the Founder and CEO of Measure to Improve. Measure to Improve exists to help producers and processors measure, improve and credibly promote their sustainability efforts. They provide analysis, resources and training, among many other services.
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November 15, 2018
In Their Words — Nikki Rodoni
Nikki Rodoni founded Measure to Improve (MTI) in 2014, with the goal of becoming a full-service sustainability consulting company committed to helping growers/shippers and processors collect, validate, and communicate their sustainability initiatives and credibly respond to environmentally and socially conscious consumers inquiring about where, what and how their food is produced.
MTI has worked with their clients on a variety of sustainability programs, including water management, energy and waste reduction programs, and responding to buyer surveys.
June 21, 2018
Monterey County Producers Lead Sustainability Efforts in Zero Waste
SALINAS, Calif. - Measure to Improve, LLC. (MTI), agriculture industry sustainability consultants, has guided two leading Monterey County producers in developing their zero waste programs. These programs have now achieved the highest levels of TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification through Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI). Pursuing zero waste goals helped these companies do more than simply reduce the amount of waste that goes to the local landfill: Taylor Farms and Ippolito International have both discovered financial savings by becoming more resource efficient, a win-win for the community and these companies.
April 04, 2018
Ippolito International Earns Two TRUE Golds Certifications for its Merrill Street and Blackie Road Facilities
Ippolito International has announced that it is the first grower/shipper in Monterey County to have been awarded a Gold certification under TRUE(Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification system for its Value-Added Facility and Brussels Sprouts Packing Facility. TRUE, administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), aims to help facilities define, pursue, and achieve zero waste goals while becoming more resource efficient.
February 26, 2018
Measure to Improve Partners with Ten Greener Fields Together and PRO*ACT to Reduce Waste to Landfills
Agriculture industry consultant Measure to Improve is teaming up with Greener Fields Together (GFT) to launch a new sustainability program to reduce waste across the supply chain. Ten of PRO*ACT’s top suppliers have already signed the Waste Reduction Pledge to help reduce waste sent to landfills from their facilities.
November 14, 2017
Think Beyond Plastic™ Announces Executive Advisors
Think Beyond Plastic™, the global leader in advancing solutions to plastic
pollution through innovation and entrepreneurship, announced today that it has formed an Advisory Board to
steer the work of the Sam Farr Innovation Center, which will accelerate commercialization of research and
innovation with focus on plastic pollution.
November 14, 2017
Measure to Improve's Nikki Rodoni Joins Think Beyond Plastic™ Advisory Board
Industry sustainability advocate and Measure to Improve CEO Nikki Rodoni has joined the Advisory Board of an influential global leader in advancing solutions to plastic pollution this week. Rodoni will now be part of the newly established Board for Think Beyond Plastic™, joining the likes of Mann Packing’s Gina Nucci, Driscoll’s Scott Komar, and other top sustainability influencers in the produce industry and beyond.
September 20, 2017
Salinas Land Company and California Orchard Company Celebrating 100-years of Business in Salinas Valley
King City-based California Orchard Company and The Salinas Land Company are celebrating their 100-year anniversary. The two companies are celebrating the auspicious occasion with their Salinas Land Co. and California Orchard Company Centennial Celebration held September 22, 2017 from 11:00AM to 4:00PM at the the Los Ositos Vineyards.
January 09, 2017
Measure to Improve, LLC Announces New CORE Sustainability Services
Measure to Improve, LLC, the produce industry’s “go-to” sustainability consulting experts, today released its new core services to help customers achieve a better ROI from their sustainability efforts, mitigate potential risks, and respond favorably to sustainability requests from retailers and distributors.
April 18, 2016
Heading to Washington, D.C. for Annual Sustainability Consortium Summit
This week, Nikki travels to Washington, D.C. for the second annual Sustainability Consortium Summit. Nikki was invited to the Summit to represent and provide key input for fresh produce growers in California. At the Summit, Nikki expects to learn about the latest breakthroughs in sustainability and connect with Sustainability Consortium members and guests, from retailers to suppliers to NGOs, to drive collective action around sustainability.
The Sustainability Consortium is an international organization focused on transforming the consumer goods industry to deliver more sustainable consumer products. This year's summit, held during Earth Day in Washington, D.C, will feature many speakers including VPs and Directors from organizations such as Mcdonald's, Walmart, Unilever, and The Nature Conservancy.