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ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
ZEST LABS TRACKS FRESHNESS IN REAL-TIME Zest Labs of San Jose, CA, has developed a technological solution that can reduce food waste by tracking produce’s
freshness along the supply chain in real-time and routing them accordingly.
The solution, caled Zest Fresh, involves IoT sensors placed in pallets of fruit
or vegetables as soon as they are harvested and a “freshness metric” to
determine the remaining shelf life, which can vary significantly between each
one. With this information, companies can better manage inventories and
deliveries. For instance, pallets with lesser shelf life can be sent to closer
stores while those with more shelf life can be sent further away. Zest Labs,
which is a subsidiary of Ecoark Holdings, says the technology can improve freshness for customers and quickly increase retailers’ produce department margins.
PMA, UNITED FRESH LAUNCH CHARTER
ON RESPONSIBLE LABOR PRACTICES
The Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association launched the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, a framework for responsible labor practices in fresh produce and floral supply chains. The boards of directors for PMA and United Fresh have created an industrywide structure that supports the dignity of workers who are critical in bringing fresh fruits, vegetables and floral products to consumers.
More than 40 companies formally endorsed the charter, including retail and foodservice companies Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Wegmans. Consumer demand to know more about the food they eat has been rising sharply over recent years, and a damning investigation
into worker abuse on Mexican farms published by the Los Angeles Times in 2014 gained widespread attention. PMA and United Fresh will encourage companies throughout the produce and floral supply chains to add their endorsement and join this growing community.
ANNOUNCEMENT
UNITED FRESH NAMES WINNERS IN
COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAMS
The United Fresh
Start Foundation,
Washington, DC,
named 20 recip-
ients of its 2018
Community Grants
Program, whose mission is to increase children’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables, including
after school, on weekends and during summer breaks. The Community Grants Program is providing $50,000 in grant funding, with a maximum grant of $2,500 per recipient. The following organizations were selected as 2018 United Fresh Start Foun- dation Community Grant recipients: Ag Against Hunger, Salinas, CA; Alameda Boys & Girls Club, Alameda, CA; Alfond Youth Center, Waterville, ME; Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County, Nogales, AZ; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Murray, UT; Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, Scott- sdale, AZ; Community of Hope Ministries, Garner, NC; FeedMore, Inc., Richmond, VA; Food From Farms, Anacortes, WA; Gowan Science Academy, Yuma, AZ; Inclusion Connections, Olathe, KS; Lake County Free Clinic, Painesville, OH; Ottawa County Farmers Market, Miami, OK; Performing Arts Center Trust, Inc., Miami, FL; Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture, Inc., Ojai, CA; Teen Kitchen Project, Soquel, CA; Western Indiana Community Action Agency, Inc., Terre Haute, IN; Wolverine Human Services, Detroit, MI; YMCA Camp Greenville, Cleveland, SC; Youth Services Bureau of St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN.
Produce & Floral Watch are regular features of Produce Business. Please send information on new products, personnel changes, industry, corporate and personal milestones and available literature, along with a high resolution image to: Managing Editor, Produce Business, P.O. Box 810425, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0425 or e-mail us at info@producebusiness.com
PRODUCE BUSINESS / AUGUST 2018 / 9