mar-apr-2020

CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY Blue Diamond’s comprehensive Sustainability Program includes all facets of the company. While this column has historically focused on sustainability issues centered around grower practices, we want to highlight how we talk about it with regards to our facilities and our local California distribution network. Facilities In our processing plants, Blue Diamond employs a continuous improvement process in its operations, seeking to reduce inputs and waste while improving quality, throughput, and yields simultaneously improving food and team member safety. Each of our facilities has a sustainability team comprised of team members who explore, develop, and implement sustainability initiatives with the support of the entire facility. Our buildings have green building aspects that help with energy efficiency and resource impact. Some examples include LED lighting equipped with motion sensors, controlled environment with rapid opening/closing doors, multi-staged HVAC, air compressors and boilers for on- demand point of use, and automated controls, all of which help to minimize our energy costs. Our manufacturing processes utilize state of the art technology such as variable frequency drives, energy efficient motors, and a battery powered forklift fleet. Our processing facilities use water efficiently, mainly for sanitation and quality control. In addition, our sterile blanching water is recycled and reused. Continued new product innovation and recycling efforts reduces our by-product streams and ensures landfill is minimized. As we continue to evaluate and reduce our waste streams, we’ll continue to strive towards zero waste. Examples of current sustainability initiatives: • Partnering with the Department of Water Resources to reuse our super sacks as sandbags during floods, dam breaks, and levee overflows which diverted 13.58 tons of super sacks from landfill in FY19. Sustainability Initiatives Supporting Blue Diamond 16 A L M O N D F A C T S

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