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BLAST FROM THE PAST
Celebrating 90 Years Of Organic
The same year as the infamous stock mar- ket crash – 1929 – the Espoma Company of Millville, NJ, launched a business that
is still thriving. Founder Herbert G. Sanders saw an opportunity to provide gardeners with an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides that had revolutionized farm- ing in the early 20th century.
The original product, Espoma Organic,
was a proprietary blend of natural materials
sourced near the company’s southern New
Jersey location. Company records document
“the ingredients were blended and bagged using shovels, wheel- barrows, scales and the sweat of employees’ backs.”
Today, the family-owned company continues to create products that are promoted as safe for people, pets and the planet. Sold nationwide in supermarkets, mass markets, club stores, garden centers and hardware stores, the product line includes organic fertilizers, soils and controls for plants grown indoors and outside.
A willingness to change and concerted resilience have been key characteristics that helped Espoma stay true to its organic roots while reinventing the company through the years – even after a horrific fire destroyed the office and production facility in 1946. Devastated, Sanders and his wife took refuge in New York so he
could clear his mind and strategize. Mean- while, dedicated employees and friends pitched in and started clearing the charred debris. Upon his return, Sanders was so inspired, he decided to rebuild.
Located about 45 miles from Philadel- phia and 120 miles from New York, Espoma is known to be not only committed to sus- tainability and innovation in its products, but also in its legacy. The manufacturing facility is powered by 67,000 square feet of solar panels, which save more than 1.6
million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year. “In terms of reducing carbon dioxide, this is the equivalent of planting nearly 2 million trees,” says Jeremy Brunner, vice president.
Espoma is continuing its innovative tradition by utilizing a plant-based resin on many of its fertilizer bags. The new greener packaging will contain resin from sugarcane, a renewable and sustainable source of plastic. This new plant-based packaging will be the first green packaging for plant foods in the United States.
Brunner says four generations of ownership have guided the company’s mission, which he says is to “Develop the finest or- ganic gardening products that work in harmony with nature, grow beautiful gardens, and make a greener world for the future.” pb
The Espoma Company’s original building
Blast from the Past is a regular feature of Produce Business. We welcome submissions of your old photos, labels or advertisements. Please send your material to Chris Burt, Managing Editor, at cburt@phoenixmedianet.com.
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COMPANY PAGE # PHONE WEBSITE
Anthony Vineyards Inc........ 68....661-858-8300 ............. anthonyvineyards.com Babe Farms ....................... 26....800-648-6772 ........................babefarms.com Blazer Wilkinson ................ 43 .... 831-455-3700 ................. blazerwilkinson.com Blue Book Services .............31....630-668-3500 ..............producebluebook.com Canadian Produce
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Produce, Inc. ...................55....650-583-8989 ................... carcionefresh.com Center For Growing Talent..... 5....302-738-7100 ........... growingtalentbypma.org Concord Foods....................33....508-580-1700.................... concordfoods.com Del Fresco ......................... 43 .... 519-733-6101 ..................... delfrescopure.com Del Fresco .......................... 77 .... 519-733-6101 ..................... delfrescopure.com Del Monte Fresh Produce .... 92 .... 800-950-3683 .................. freshdelmonte.com Dole Food Company, Inc. ...... 2 .... 800-356-3111................................... dole.com Earth Fresh........................ 68....416-251-2271..................earthfreshfoods.com Farmer’s Daughter
Consulting...................... 46 .... 916-234-3760 farmersdaughterconsulting.com Fierman Produce Exchange..19....718-893-1640
Fresh Farm Products, Inc. ... 42....229-924-4744
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COMPANY PAGE # PHONE WEBSITE
Market Produce Sales .........59....650-873-2684 ................. marketproduce.com MIXTEC Group .................... 46 .... 818-541-0124 ................................ mixtec.net Mother Earth ..................... 69....610-869-7211.............organicmushrooms.com Naturipe Farms ...................21....239-591-1164.....................naturipefarms.com Naturipe Farms .................. 43....239-591-1164.....................naturipefarms.com Peri & Sons Farms...............67....775-463-4444......................periandsons.com Phillips Mushroom Farms ....37....800-722-8818 .... phillipsmushroomfarms.com Potatoes USA......................23....303-369-7783...................... potatoesusa.com Produce for Better
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United Fresh Produce Assoc.29....202-303-3400 ........................unitedfresh.org United Fresh Produce Assoc. 52 .... 202-303-3400 ........................ unitedfresh.org The USA Bouquet ............... 83 .... 800-306-1071 ............................... usabq.com Vidalia Onion Committee.....65....912-537-1918........................ vidaliaonion.org Village Farms ......................78 .... 888-377-3213 ...................... villagefarms.com Villita Avocados..................35....956-843-1118 .agroexportavocados.com/villita
90 / APRIL 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
APRIL 2019