Ag-Mart Produce
NEWS
For Immediate Release:
December 28, 2009
Contact: Noah Lightman
(973) 799-0200
nlichtman@winningstrat.com
Ag-Mart Produce Forms Employee Sustainability Team Resulting In Community, Environmental and Economic Benefits
Group Consists of Employees in Locations Throughout the Country Sharing Information
To Develop Best Practices and Corporate Efficiencies
Plant City, Fla. – Ag-Mart Produce, a national tomato grower and shipper, has formed a sustainability team consisting of employees at six different growing and packing locations across the country who share a commitment to improving Ag-Mart’s environmental practices.
“The employee sustainability team is a critical corporate initiative that brings out the best in our employees and the company,” said Kevin Delaney, Director of Sustainability and Productivity at Ag-Mart. “We have employees that are energized to improve the environment, and this initiative provides a forum where they can all talk together, share mutual strategies affecting the different audiences and implement suggestions.”
A member of the sustainability team is already responsible for organizing a food drive to benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City. Other sustainability team programs include tomato donations to local food shelters, shared recycling strategies at Ag-Mart’s various locations and a plastic mulch recycle program, which, when implemented, is expected to improve the environment and reduce costs.
“The sustainability team brings out the best in all worlds. Their ideas help the community, improve the environment, and oftentimes bring a cost savings to the company. It goes to show the benefits of listening to employees and acting on their suggestions,” continued Delaney.
The sustainability team is expected to meet once per month using Web conferencing software to connect the 17 members of the team located throughout the country. In addition to helping the environment and improving the bottom line, the sustainability team also provides a bonding opportunity between co-workers who otherwise would not work together.
The formation of the sustainability team is part of Ag-Mart’s ongoing social responsibility initiatives that focus on improving the environment along with expanding workers’ access to education and healthcare. Among Ag-Mart’s other initiatives, the company has joined the Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program through which the company is committed to reducing its overall carbon footprint. Ag-Mart has also formed partnerships with several non-profit organizations including Community Health Care, Inc. and the Gloucester County Special Services School District that provide health services and English classes respectively to Ag-Mart’s workers in New Jersey.
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Ag-Mart Produce (www.agmartproduce.com), based in Plant City, Fla., is a grower and shipper of both organic and conventional tomatoes, specializing mainly in the grape and heirloom varieties. It operates in multiple growing regions, including three in Florida, one in North Carolina and one in New Jersey, in order to maintain year-round availability for its customers. Ag-Mart operates with a focus on food safety and a commitment to continually develop better sustainable growing practices.