OCTOBER 2023 19 ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS REVIEWINSIGHT SCXO INSIGHT SCXOFROM FARM TO CAN: A LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CANNED FRUITS AND TOMATOESBy Cody Nore, Quality Assurance Manager, Pacific Coast ProducersAs a family farmer-owned cooperative employee that packs fresh fruits and tomatoes into shelf-stable cans and plastic bowls, sustainability isn't just a catchy buzzword; it's in everything we do. While some may have reservations about canned fruits and tomatoes, the more experience I have in the industry, the more I understand that canned fruits and tomatoes are often as fresh as possible.Last harvest season, I had the opportunity to take customers on a tour that started in the tomato field of one of the grower-owners who manage our cooperative. As we rode on the tomato harvester and saw the tomato gondolas receive their tags for traceability purposes, we took the short 2-mile drive to the tomato cannery, where the gondolas were emptied and the tomatoes were washed, sorted, and packed within 5 hours or less. As a part of our commitment to grow the highest quality tomatoes in the
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