SPARTA, MI—Riveridge Produce Marketing recently announced their Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) verification by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), signifying Riveridge’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Riveridge has become an advocate of the MAEAP program (www.maeap.org) and is strongly encouraging its many partner farms to follow its lead.
MAEAP is a voluntary program created to help farmers assess operations and implement sustainable business practices that benefit surrounding communities, the environment and the financial viability of the farm.
“Sustainability has always been one of our top priorities,” says Don Armock, president and partner of Riveridge Produce Marketing. “Through the MAEAP, we collaborate and share with other Michigan farms to improve our industry’s environmental footprint.”
Recent sustainability initiatives include new sprayer technologies, natural pest-management techniques, eco-friendly packaging, recycling and composting, all of which help reduce emissions and waste.
“Riveridge has recognized environmental sustainability as being important to themselves, their growers and neighbors in the community, as well as their customers,” says Denise Donohue, executive director of the DeWitt-based Michigan Apple Committee. “Earning the MEAEP designation through the Michigan Department of Agriculture is the public stamp of approval that farming is being conducted in an environmentally friendly way.”
Receiving MAEAP verification requires a three-phase program beginning with an educational session. Then, an on-farm risk assessment is administered. Finally, a third-party verification guarantees the farmer has instituted environmentally sound practices.
“The reason the MAEAP program works,” says Josh Appleby, MAEAP verifier and resource analyst of the MDA, “is the people involved are doing it for all the right reasons. Riveridge genuinely cares about their farm and the environment, both now and in the future. They want to raise awareness for sustainability.”
Due in large part to Riveridge’s dedication to sustainability and global reach, Armock was recently named The Packer’s 2010 Apple Man of the Year.
“Don has always been an international pioneer,” says Tom Karst, national editor for The Packer. In the past decade, Armock has exported Michigan apples to the Caribbean, Mexico, India, Thailand, Singapore and Central and South America, among other countries, and has done so with the utmost commitment to sustainable practices.
Source: Riveridge Produce Marketing
