Deardorff Family Farms ramps up production of recyclable celery box
Deardorff Family Farms ramps up production of recyclable celery box
Back in February, Deardorff Family Farms announced the introduction of a first-of-its-kind recyclable box for shipping celery. But it was only in September that the company was able to ramp up production of the box, according to Tom Deardorff II, president of Oxnard, CA-based Deardorff Family Farms.
The box provides all the benefits of traditional wax-saturated boxes with the added advantage of recyclability, and the response from customers has been positive.
"It performs well compared with wax -- it does well from the cold chain," Mr. Deardorff said, adding that both performance and the economic benefits are a plus with customers.
In addition to the environmental benefit of recycling, Deardorff's customers also receive a financial benefit because they will be able to sell the boxes into recyclable container recovery systems rather than paying to dispose of them. Mr. Deardorff said that customers are increasingly demanding recyclable boxes, and this box "is one more link in the chain of sustainability."
Deardorff Family Farms also is continuing to use returnable plastic containers at an increasing rate in an effort to reduce waste. In the California vine-ripe tomato industry, the company is among the leading users of RPCs.
From an operational standpoint, Mr. Deardorff said he would love to see all produce boxes be 100 percent recyclable, but the primary limiting factor is cost.
Mr. Deardorff said that like any new technology, prices would be a little higher for the consumer until the boxes reach critical mass. But he is hoping that because his customers can sell the box in the recyclable channels and not have to pay to get rid of it, there could be an offsetting of the increased costs.
The idea for a recyclable box at Deardorff Family Farms germinated for about five years before it became a reality, Mr. Deardorff said. The box, along with the company's slogan, "Sustainable Farming for a Healthier Life," signifies its efforts to achieve sustainability.
Deardorff Family Farms is a grower, packer and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables. The company has been in business for 70 years and has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in farming, packaging and post-harvest handling.
The box provides all the benefits of traditional wax-saturated boxes with the added advantage of recyclability, and the response from customers has been positive.
"It performs well compared with wax -- it does well from the cold chain," Mr. Deardorff said, adding that both performance and the economic benefits are a plus with customers.
In addition to the environmental benefit of recycling, Deardorff's customers also receive a financial benefit because they will be able to sell the boxes into recyclable container recovery systems rather than paying to dispose of them. Mr. Deardorff said that customers are increasingly demanding recyclable boxes, and this box "is one more link in the chain of sustainability."
Deardorff Family Farms also is continuing to use returnable plastic containers at an increasing rate in an effort to reduce waste. In the California vine-ripe tomato industry, the company is among the leading users of RPCs.
From an operational standpoint, Mr. Deardorff said he would love to see all produce boxes be 100 percent recyclable, but the primary limiting factor is cost.
Mr. Deardorff said that like any new technology, prices would be a little higher for the consumer until the boxes reach critical mass. But he is hoping that because his customers can sell the box in the recyclable channels and not have to pay to get rid of it, there could be an offsetting of the increased costs.
The idea for a recyclable box at Deardorff Family Farms germinated for about five years before it became a reality, Mr. Deardorff said. The box, along with the company's slogan, "Sustainable Farming for a Healthier Life," signifies its efforts to achieve sustainability.
Deardorff Family Farms is a grower, packer and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables. The company has been in business for 70 years and has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in farming, packaging and post-harvest handling.
