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WHY PFENNING'S

Sustainability

WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO US?

Simply put, sustainability means meeting our own needs in a way that does not compromise future generations being able to meet theirs.

Sustainability and land stewardship are among our top priorities as an organic farm.  We are committed to continuous learning and improvement to become more environmentally, socially, and economically resilient. We believe everyone has a vital role to play, and all employees receive ongoing education and training to ensure our sustainability goals are at the forefront of everyone’s mind as they go about their day-to-day tasks. 

Sustainability in action

  • Sowing cover crops after harvest to prevent soil erosion and increase water retention.
  • Composting food waste and paper towels on-site in windrows. The finished product is later spread on our fields to support microbial activity in the soil.
  • Conserving and enhancing natural spaces on the farm.
  • Scattering bee hives throughout the farms to increase the presence of pollinators.
  • Installing solar panels on our onion barn to offset the energy used for production within the facility.
  • Monitoring and reporting water usage, carbon emissions, and waste generation.
  • Managing our inventory to ensure products are moved in a timely manner to prevent waste (first in, first out). 
  • Storing items according to their individual needs in terms of temperature, humidity and ethylene to increase longevity (i.e., keeping bananas on their own due to their ethylene production which causes other things to ripen prematurely, keeping garlic dry, and keeping potatoes cool and in the dark).
  • Using recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging. 
  • Repairing or recycling pallets that can no longer be used to ship orders.
  • Reducing and recycling plastic waste. Additionally, we have a partnership with a local company who recycles difficult to recycle items like shrink wrap and corrugated plastic boxes.
  • Sharing food that doesn’t meet industry standards with employees and local food banks to prevent unnecessary food waste.
  • Promoting the importance of everyday sustainable actions amongst our peers and others in the industry.
  • Providing meaningful employment year-round thanks to our import program.

STANDING BY OUR COMMITMENT

Standing by our commitment to better our practices and improve our sustainability, we are a proud member of Sustainable Waterloo Region’s Impact Network. Through this program, we are benchmarking, reporting, and improving our current measures and overall environmental impact.

To learn more about our sustainability goals and actions, contact Jessica at sustainability@pfenningsfarms.ca

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Growing Organically in New Hamburg, Since 1981.

1209 Waterloo St. New Hamburg ON  519-662-3468 |  1-877-662-3468  veggies@pfenningsfarms.ca

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