Preserving our valuable natural resources for future generations, including our own forests, is a goal that most of us share. Since 1907, Fruit Growers Supply (FGS) has been pursuing that passion while providing growers in the agricultural market with top-quality corrugated cartons and paper packaging systems produced in harmony with environmental sustainability. We also continue to partner with supply chain vendors who share our passion for responsible production practices using paper mostly derived from sustainable forests. At FGS, our “all in” commitment to environmental sustainability includes the management, harvesting and ongoing reforestation of our timberlands, along with a shared responsibility of conserving our planet’s soil, water, air, wildlife and aesthetic qualities. Additionally, we are a proud partner in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI); a noble cause that many of our paper suppliers also participate in.
What is the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)?
Trees grown in forests provide us with wood that’s essential to our lives on a daily basis. If the harvested trees used in that process are not continuously replenished, our precious timberlands could face irreversible damage. The SFI is an organization that provides educational resources and oversight to businesses involved in the wood supply chain in an effort to promote the continuous sustainability of timberlands in North America for commercial, recreational and wildlife use. SFI currently collaborates with various partners on conservation projects encompassing over a quarter billion acres of land in order to ensure that those forests are responsibly-managed for future generations to enjoy. As was mentioned above, FGS is a proud participant in the SFI, along with a majority of the paper suppliers we work with.
FGS Uses these Sustainable Forestry Practices
FGS has been practicing responsible forestry management in an effort to ensure sustainability for over 110 years, and we are currently operating under the SFI 2015-2019 Standard. In accordance with these SFI guidelines, our ongoing timberland conservation practices include:
- Harvesting trees for the long term using only sustainable replenishment rates.
- Replanting trees immediately after harvesting, or at least within a 2-year period.
- Maximizing the sustained production of our forest resources while simultaneously safeguarding the environment utilizing state-of-the-art silvicultural and best management practices.
- Protecting the soil by using equipment and best management practices that minimize soil disturbance and erosion.
- Preserving our timberlands’ unique biological, geological and historical characteristics and sites.
- Continuously striving to protect water quality via erosion prevention techniques and riparian protection zones.
- Providing diverse habitats for indigenous wildlife, along with conserving biological diversity across the landscapes under our ownership.
- Maintaining healthier forests in an effort to minimize fire, insect and disease loss.
- Protecting threatened and endangered species while working closely with government agencies to assist in those species’ conservation.
- Strongly considering aesthetic values during our management and harvesting activities, and adopting new practices in accordance with those goals.
As time moves forward, FGS will continue to follow responsible tree harvesting, paper purchasing and corrugated container manufacturing practices that support the maximum sustained viability of our forest resources. Our new, highly-automated Carton Plant in Ontario, California was also designed to be as energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible. To watch a short video highlighting our state-of-the-art Carton Plant’s features, or to request a quote from FGS for our grower-trusted corrugated paper products, visit: www.fruitgrowers.com/cartons/ now.