Ventura, CA – In conjunction with this year's PMA Fresh Summit, Deardorff Family Farms joined a select group of growers and distributors of Ventura County to invite fresh produce industry members into their backyards for the Ventura County Sustainability Exchange (VCSE).
The event brought together the region’s top growers to put Ventura County on the map and show the industry why it is the one-stop-shop for sustainably grown produce. Measure to Improve, LLC facilitated and organized the inaugural 2014 VCSE with the help of its sponsors.
"The event was a great success for showcasing the Bounty of Ventura County. We are fortunate to live and work in a growing region that is both rich and diverse for so many different fruits and vegetables…all in one location. San Miguel was delighted to host the many prestigious retail, wholesale and foodservice operators who came to learn more about what we, and our neighbor farmers, do here. Thank you to Nikki and Sandy of Measure to Improve for helping to pull this together for us. See ya’ll in Atlanta next year!" said Jan Berk, Vice President/COO San Miguel Produce.
The event started on October 15th with a ‘mini tour’ of Calavo and Limoneira’s orchards, where attendees learned about the companies’ history and sustainability initiatives including irrigation programs, organic mulch practices, solar fields and much more. After the tour, members of the sponsoring companies greeted the guests who enjoyed specialty cocktails created by Nobu Mixologist Brian Leon and delicious hors d’oeuvres made with local produce.
After the cocktail hour, guests listened to the welcoming remarks from Harold Edwards, the CEO of Limoneira. Other guest speakers included Ventura County Ag Commissioner, Henry Gonzales, Food Share President, Bonnie Weigel, and Supply Chain Sustainability Manager for Pro*Act, Kathleen Phillips.
The evening featured entertainment by Patrick Martin, an illusionist who has performed at the White House, and a dinner made by Chef Jason Collis from Plated Events who took to the stage to introduce the night’s menu. The meal was made using all local produce from the sponsoring companies and capped off the night.
Day two of the event started with a tour at San Miguel Produce where guests learned about the use of soil moisture recorders to accurately and efficiently irrigate and budget water usage during the recent drought, solutions to labor challenges including use of harvesting belts to increase yield by 10% and productivity by 25%, and the nearly 600 acres of organic farming San Miguel produces in Ventura County along with the production of conventional crops.
Next, the tour went to Deardorff Family Farms where attendees learned about the Gold LEED Certified headquarters for office, cooling and packing operations and were greeted by Tom and Scott Deardorff via a video they created since they were participating in the Tour De Fresh event. The guests also learned about the facility’s most recent project additions- the 1,368 solar panels on the roof that will offset about 40% of the electrical usage.
“They say ‘you have to see it to believe it.’ The VCSE did just that – it brought the industry to Ventura County to SEE the amazing commitment to sustainability and it made BELIEVERS of all the attendees,” said Tom Deardorff. “This event was a huge success in both educating the industry and creating valuable relationships across the supply chain. Everyone left fully aware that Ventura County is like no other produce region – it truly is home to the best innovators and dedicated champions of sustainability!”
Houweling’s Nursery was the final tour of the day. Casey Houweling, the company CEO, led the tour and taught guests about company history and the challenges facing growers today. The tour then took guests through the company’s 5 acre solar system and then through the company’s three cogen systems, which are the first in the U.S. that produce electricity, CO2, heat and water all used for the 125 acres of greenhouses. “The leadership that I witnessed during the Ventura County Sustainability Exchange was more than eye-opening; it was inspiring! I honestly had no idea how much Ventura County contributes to American Agriculture. And everything I saw; from the way these growers treated the planet & their crop to the way they treat the men & women who are part of their team, really just makes me want to shop for their brands in the grocery store,” said Lori Taylor, the Produce Mom.
VCSE would like to thank its sponsors, Cool Planet, Agromin, Driscoll's, Houweling’s Tomatoes, San Miguel Produce, Deardorff Family Farms, Limoneira, and Calavo, for making this event possible. ###
Source: Deardorff Family Farms