News
from the SureHarvest Professional Services Team
Defining and implementing sustainability, in proven, practical and profitable ways.
At
SureHarvest, we’ve been working with trade associations and thousands
of their grower members to define, implement and measure sustainability
in ways that are practical, proven and focused on profitability.
This is what we’ve done for the California wine industry…today,
over 60 percent of vintners and vineyard managers participate in a self-assessment,
benchmarking and continuous
improvement process based on comprehensive best growing and
wine-making practices. California wine now enjoys the reputation as the
sustainability leader among its global competition.
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Our Projects
Almond
Board of California: With a
strategic vision, the growers of this high-value crop wanted to be
proactive on air and water quality issues to be ahead of regulatory
and market drivers. In 2010, SureHarvest built self-assessment modules
for water and nutrient management in almonds. With successful pilots
among 100 growers so far, the self-assessment will expand to include
air quality, energy efficiency and pest management in 2011.
California Cut Flower
Commission: Under constant pressure from foreign imports, California
cut flower growers are looking for a competitive edge. SureHarvest is
working to help determine the carbon footprint of shipping California-grown
flowers and that of imported flowers and benchmarking grower practices.
Hazelnut Commission
and Marketing Board: Oregon Hazelnut growers hired SureHarvest
to conduct a needs assessment to determine the benefits and interest
in developing a grower-driven sustainability program. With affirmative
results, a team is proceeding to work with SureHarvest to develop self-assessment
modules on pest management and soil management.
California Multi-Commodity
Sustainability Initiative: Through a Specialty Crop Block Grant
award from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, , SureHarvest
is leading a collaborative among twelve commodity groups to develop a
strategic plan, an education/outreach model, and sustainability practice
and performance metrics framework.
Creating Economic Incentives: Because
profitability is the foundation to sustainability, SureHarvest is working
with several clients to investigate and bring to market opportunities
to link environmental stewardship to economic rewards such as facilitated
access to nutrient trading programs and cost-share assistance programs,
favorable bank loans, reduced insurance rates, and premium prices based
on environmentally-friendly labeled products.
Our Approach
| Sustainable
farming can be thought of as existing in a world where the horizon
is always receding. We start with where your growers are, and move
forward on the sustainability continuum based on practical and
scientifically-proven ways. Based on more than a decade of on-the-ground work, we’ve developed the 5Ps of Sustainability, a comprehensive framework for incorporating sustainability as a business strategy aimed at continuous improvement in the economic, environmental and social performance of the farming business. |
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Our Services
We can work with you to develop a comprehensive program using the SureHarvest 5Ps of Sustainability, or start with just one step:
- Needs assessment of grower-members and the crop sector itself
- Trends analysis and strategic planning
- Best management practices identification/development
- Sustainability performance metrics identification/development
- Sustainability program content development
- Education and outreach to members on sustainability
Sustainability program information management technology
Our Results
“SureHarvest
can talk both grower-speak and environmental-speak. And be credible.
The SureHarvest team understands that at the end of the day, the bottom
line is the most important thing for growers.”
– Gabriele Ludwig, Almond Board of California
“By
working with SureHarvest to implement the Healthy Grown eco-label program,
we moved growers along the sustainability continuum.”
– Mike Carter, former Executive Director of WI
Potato and Vegetable Assn, current CEO, Bushman Potatoes
“The
creative, intellectual and technical talents of SureHarvest were key
to positioning the California wine industry as a leader in environmental
stewardship and social responsibility.”
– Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, President
and CEO, Wine Institute
“The
SureHarvest team is genuine, knowledgeable and disciplined. They want
to deliver real value to their clients. SureHarvest gave us a disciplined
approach to building our sustainability program.”
– Jan DeLyser, California Avocado Commission
Our Team
Led by Dr. Cliff Ohmart, the SureHarvest Professional Services team is a talented group of Strategists and Designers of sustainability initiatives.
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Strategists
and Designers of sustainability initiatives. |
If you see sustainability as an opportunity as we do, we’d like to explore how we might be helpful to you and your grower members.
Call:
Dr. Cliff Ohmart att (530) 601-0740 |
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