Del Monte receives Sustainably Grown certification at Costa Rica and Guatemala farms
Del Monte receives Sustainably Grown certification at Costa Rica and Guatemala farms
Del Monte Fresh Produce’s banana farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica, as well as its pineapple farms in Costa Rica, have been certified as Sustainably Grown by SCS Global Services in accordance with the producer requirements of its internationally recognized Sustainably Grown Standard v 1.3. As a result, certified bananas and pineapples will soon be able to feature the “Kingfisher” eco-label.
Sustainably Grown certification included rigorous independent evaluation of the production, management and distribution processes of the Del Monte farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica. The certified Del Monte farms demonstrated that they have established practices that guarantee the highest level of environmental responsibility, worker protection and quality control.
“For many years, without fanfare and away from spotlights, Del Monte has been working on sustainability initiatives throughout our operations,” Hans Sauter, vice president of corporate research and development and agricultural services at Del Monte, said in a press release. “We are very pleased that our efforts have been validated by a globally recognized independent certifier such as SCS Global Services that uses sound science as the basis for its stringent Sustainably Grown standard. We are very proud of this accomplishment and we are looking forward to expanding the certification program to cover more of our operations.”
“We congratulate Del Monte for this significant accomplishment,” Stanley Rhodes, founder and chief executive officer of SCS, added in the press release. “Achieving the SCS Sustainably Grown certification is by no means an easy task. This standard is based on comprehensive, multifaceted science-based criteria that address all aspects of agricultural operations aimed at minimizing environmental impacts, providing a safe and healthy work environment, and protecting product integrity. The Del Monte banana farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica as well as their pineapple farms in Costa Rica were able to demonstrate that they have the processes and management systems in place to grow their products in a sustainable manner.”
Certification by SCS, as represented by the SCS Kingfisher, is a visual expression of proven commitment to sustainability through environmental stewardship, responsible resource management, and protection of people and communities.