CORAL GABLES, FL - Del Monte Fresh Produce has announced that its pineapple farms and canning operations in Kenya have been officially certified as Sustainably Grown.
Certified by SCS Global Services (SCS), this distinction is in accordance with the producer and handler requirements of its internationally recognized Sustainably Grown Standard v 1.3. As a result, certified canned pineapples will soon be able to feature the Kingfisher eco-label.
“We are very pleased that our efforts have been validated by a globally recognized independent certifier such as SCS Global Services that uses sound science as the basis for its stringent Sustainably Grown standard,” explained Hans Sauter, Vice President Corporate Research & Development and Agricultural Services of Del Monte. “The SCS sustainably Grown certification of our Kenya farms and canning operations follows the certification of our fresh banana and pineapple farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica earlier this year. We are very proud of this accomplishment and we are looking forward to expanding the certification program to cover more of our operations.”
According to a press release, this Sustainably Grown certification includes rigorous independent evaluation of the production, management, and distribution processes of the Del Monte farms and canning operations in Kenya. The certified Del Monte farms and canning operations demonstrated that they have established practices that guarantee the highest level of environmental responsibility, worker protection, social responsibility, and quality control. Del Monte explains that the certified farms and canning operations were evaluated under the following criteria:
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Ecosystem Management and Protection
- Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency
- Integrated Waste Management
- Fair Labor Practices
- Community Benefits
- Product Quality
- Product Safety and Purity
“We congratulate Del Monte for this significant accomplishment,” said Dr. Stanley Rhodes, SCS’ Founder and CEO. “Achieving the SCS Sustainably Grown certification is by no means an easy task. This standard is based on comprehensive, multifaceted, science-based criteria that address all aspects of agricultural operations aimed at minimizing environmental impacts, providing a safe and healthy work environment, and protecting product integrity. The Del Monte pineapple farms and canning operations in Kenya were able to demonstrate that they have the processes and management systems in place to grow and process their products in a sustainable manner.”
Consumers in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa will soon see the SCS Kingfisher eco-label signifying Sustainably Grown on certified products from Del Monte Kenya farms and operations.
