Ocean Spray cooperative achieves 100% FSA verification for sustainable cranberries

21 Apr 2020 --- Ocean Spray Cranberries, the agricultural cooperative owned by over 700 farmer families, has become the first fruit cooperative worldwide to farm an entirely sustainably grown crop by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI). In addition, the company is teaming up with National Geographic to support fieldwork in regenerative agriculture.

“The SAI defines sustainable agriculture as the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers and their communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species,” Christina Ferzli, Head of Global Corporate Affairs and Communications at Ocean Spray tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

The cooperative has received a verification that 100 percent of the cranberries it receives from its farmer-owners qualify as sustainably grown using the SAI Platform Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). 

Ocean Spray Cranberries has become the first fruit cooperative worldwide to farm an entirely sustainably grown crop by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI).Holistically sustainable
SAI validated Ocean Spray’s sustainable agriculture program and on-farm practices at a representative number of its farmer-owners’ farms against the FSA’s 112 questions, which measure farm sustainability holistically from soil health, to water conservation practices, to health and safety of farm workers and local communities. This achievement also marks the FSA’s very first verification in Chile across all agriculture, the company highlights. 

“Ocean Spray’s farmers take great care of the water, soil, ecosystems and communities on and around their farms,” Ferzli explains. On average, every one acre of cranberry bog conserves 5.5 acres of natural lands, such as wetland, forests and grasslands, conserving natural land for native plants and wildlife. 

“To further conserve resources, many farmers use water efficiency technologies like soil moisture probes, and monitor their soil health and nutrient management to ensure vines receive nutrients at the right time and in the right amount for berry growth and protection of water,” she notes. 

Some farmers are growing cranberries on vines that have been passed down over decades and are over 100 years old. Many farmers are leaders in their community providing agritourism on their farms, serving on local school or municipality boards, and volunteering time and farming equipment to help their community infrastructure.

“100 percent of Ocean Spray’s cranberries have been verified as sustainably grown through our platform and we are thrilled to recognize their achievement,” says Nick Betts, Americas Director at SAI Platform. “It is meaningful to have companies like Ocean Spray create sustainable agriculture systems to help fight climate change and lead as an example for other companies.”

“We plan to continue our sustainability practices on our farms as well as in our manufacturing,” Ferzli continues. “Our plant and manufacturing facilities are certified by Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (Sedex SMETA 4-Pillar Audit). Our plants’ top priority is the health and safety of our colleagues and our consumers. The Sedex SMETA 4-Pillar audits help us demonstrate that our manufacturing facilities are safe and clean places to work for all employees,” she explains.

The focus of these audits are employee health and safety, human and labor rights, environmental practices and business ethics. The company is committed now more than ever to the future of its farms and the communities it serves.

As Ocean Spray moves into its 90th year as a cooperative, and as the world is facing unprecedented challenges, the company is committed now more than ever to the future of its farms and the communities it serves, Ferzli highlights. The current COVID-19 outbreak has meant that some Ocean Spray farmers have faced challenges as it relates to labor and supply, but Ferzli says they “are resilient and driving forward in compliance with CDC guidelines.”

“Our farmers are in the midst of their growing season, and harvest begins in the fall. We, and all our farmer-owners, are profoundly grateful to our manufacturing colleagues on the front lines whose work is heroic and essential,” she affirms. 

Ocean Spray has implemented a wage increase of US$1.50 per hour for nearly 1,500 operational hourly colleagues on the front lines as well as an extra week of vacation for salaried colleagues. This increase will apply to all earnings, including overtime for nearly 1,500 colleagues, notes Ferzli. “All salaried colleagues in manufacturing facilities will also receive an additional week of paid vacation to be used in the next year.” 

Regenerative agriculture
Ocean Spray will support National Geographic fieldwork across the globe to aid in agriculture practices that help preserve the health of the planet. The field work includes projects such as bee-friendly agriculture, automated land-use, insect collection and biodiversity discovery, and global mapping of center pivot agriculture.

“Global mapping of center pivot agriculture helps improve estimates and efficiencies of land change and water use. We plan to roll out additional initiatives this year to help curb climate change, as well as to support food security and the health and well-being of all,” says Ferzli.

“We are now able to apply the learnings from our farms by supporting National Geographic’s work, shaping the importance of regenerative farming to combat climate change in the context of an agricultural system under pressure to feed 8.3 billion people by 2030,” Ferzli concludes. 

By Elizabeth Green, with additional reporting from Benjamin Ferrer