Consumers in the United States can look forward this coming year to SUNRAYS® mandarins independently certified as Sustainably Grown® by SCS Global Services. Forbel, a producer of SUNRAYS mandarins, is the first citrus grower in Uruguay to achieve certification, and together with Peruvian SUNRAYS grower, Pampa Baja, are now the first Sustainably Grown certified citrus growers worldwide. This milestone achievement follows Jac. Vandenberg’s announcement last year of its goal to have all SUNRAYS mandarin growers Sustainably Grown® certified by the end of 2024.
“We are proud to work with the teams at Forbel and Pampa Baja who share the same passion for sustainability and the protection of our species. Their commitment to sustainability is now verified by their achievement of becoming the first citrus growers to earn Sustainably Grown certification,” said John Paap, sustainability manager at Jac. Vandenberg, a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated fresh produce importer.
Sustainably Grown is among the world’s foremost sustainable agriculture standards. It provides customers with assurance that products meet strict environmental standards, that farm workers and farm communities are protected and engaged and that the farm is economically resilient.
“The Forbel team exceeded our expectations in meeting the stringent requirements of our standard, setting an important precedent in the Uruguayan fresh produce industry,” said Kevin Warner, SCS global services director of ESG certifications for the food and agriculture sector.
Forbel is fully committed to sustainability, embracing regenerative farming practices that enable it to nurture robust and resilient agroecosystems in harmony with nature. “Achieving this certification has been a challenging and demanding process for the entire team, but the satisfaction is immense,” says Malena Miglionico, operations manager, product & certifications at Forbel. “This accomplishment reinforces the company's commitment to implement sustainability practices: economically viable, socially beneficial and environmentally respectful.”
The first Sustainably Grown certified SUNRAYS mandarins will be available in supermarkets across the United States this coming summer, shipped from these certified farms. Consumers can be confident that these mandarins, which will carry the Sustainably Grown certification mark, have been third-party certified.
“The world as we know it is changing rapidly, putting the security of people and other species increasingly at risk. As the global climate becomes ever more unstable and erratic, our industry has seen firsthand the impact this has had on our supply chain,” said Paap. “At Vandenberg, nature has a prominent seat at the decision table. We take the current state of our planet and species extremely seriously and that shows in everything we’ve been doing over the last decade, from our innovations in packaging to sustainable farming initiatives and participation in shaping industry practices and standards around sustainability.”
For more information:
John Paap
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc.
Tel: +1 (914) 964-5900
[email protected]
www.jacvandenberg.com