Sustainability

Sustainability continues to be a growing trend in the fresh produce industry. It is viewed by consumers and the produce industry through different lenses, but the ultimate result is a commitment to increased sustainability: planet (environmental sustainability), people (social and worker sustainability), and prosperity (economic sustainability).

To help our members learn more about industry sustainability efforts, PMA has been compiling various sustainability stories, research, and resources available below:

• Sustainability Stories: Share Yours with PMA - Do you have a brief video or summary of your organization's sustainability efforts? If so, we would like to include it on our Sustainability Stories page - which also includes sustainability presentations and reports
• Sustainability Research - Review PMA original industry and consumer research on sustainability
• Sustainability Resources - Learn more about the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops and other initiatives
• Check out PMA's Field to Fork blog, where you can read posts on various topics including Sustainability

Locally Grown

Another trend that connects to sustainability is that of locally grown produce. Our most recent consumer research has found that consumers are seeking local produce primarily for freshness, taste, and quality. Though consumers don’t readily connect local produce to sustainability efforts, they do believe buying local produce helps the local community, which is important to them.

In May, USDA Economic Research Service issued a report that examines definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems. It found that produce farms engaged in local marketing made 56 percent of total agricultural direct sales to consumers, while accounting for 26 percent of all farms engaged in direct-to-consumer marketing. It also found that consumers who value high-quality foods produced with low environmental impact are willing to pay more for locally produced food.

What We're Doing

PMA is making strides to become more sustainable as an organization - both at the association headquarters and at Fresh Summit. Watch the Fresh Summit video below to learn more.