The Ugly Co., a farmer-led producer of upcycled dried fruit snacks, opened a new fruit processing plant in Farmersville, CA. The facility represents a significant milestone in the company's mission of providing nutritious snacks sourced from funny-looking but perfectly edible fruit that would otherwise be thrown out.

Furthering its growth momentum and solidifying its mission, The Ugly Co. also unveiled new packaging that will better illustrate its brand story and clearly define its products.

The Giant Co.'s Healing Our Planet initiative raised more than $1.46 million to support Rodale Institute, Planet Bee Foundation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The campaign, now in its third year, has raised more than $5.6 million to grow health and sustainability initiatives.

Following its annual strategic planning meeting in January 2023, which featured industry leaders, government officials, and retail influencers, Measure to Improve identified several initiatives for the company to achieve in 2023. To date, MTI has achieved B Corporation Certification, completed an industrywide pilot program and is now rolling out a suite of services developed to help companies achieve their sustainability goals. 

Measure to Improve and Equitable Food Initiative partnered for the first time on a pilot program, bringing an innovative approach to building organizational capacity, improving waste management practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to three California agricultural facilities. The Produce & Reuse pilot program’s success is attributed to the open collaboration between the two industry leaders and three participating companies — Misionero, Good Farms and Windset Farms.

NatureSweet has earned the prestigious certification by the government of Jalisco to become a State Area Voluntarily Destined for Conservation, which will help protect the biological diversity of more than 123 acres of land at its plant in Tuxcacuesco, Jalisco.

The area is considered a pollinator corridor, a pathway that will help preserve and protect various species as they move between areas. A stream on the property helps aid the local aquifer, prevents drought and serves as a water source for animals.

The SF Market, home to 26 independent merchant businesses, has reached a historic milestone in recovering and donating 7 million pounds of nutritious, quality surplus produce since the program began in 2016.