Sustainable Business Practices for a Greener Tomorrow
Sustainability is at the heart of every decision we make and who we choose to partner with, ensuring the safety and viability of our food supply for future generations.
Together, with suppliers and growers who share our passion and devotion to the environment, we’re stewarding a more sustainable world for generations to come.
Ecological farming systems reduce our environmental footprint.
Boardman Foods collaborates with farmers who use Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) that deliver nutritious vegetables while safeguarding essential resources. These agricultural practices include the use of:
- Drip irrigation
- Biological fertilizers
- Integrated pest management
- Crop rotations to preserve soil health
- Cover crops to minimize erosion and improve soil structure
Sustainable Practices:
At the Heart of Our Company
We continually look for new ways to demonstrate our dedication to sustainability in our business. Our facility has taken many steps in the name of responsible business and a better environment:
- Our extensive in-house recycling program covers everything from scrap metal to soda cans.
- We use a paperless documentation system that includes human resources, production, quality assurance, and maintenance.
- Our facility’s solid byproduct is converted into cattle feed.
- Production wastewater is repurposed to irrigate nearby crops.
- We have reduced our packaging material’s carbon footprint and developed new vendor relationships through an effort to source material as close to our facility as possible.
- Boardman Foods is committed to reducing the energy intensity of our operation. Over the last 2 years, our energy efficiency upgrades have saved more than 2.2 million kWh, enough electricity to power more than 200 homes.
Collaborating with eco-conscious partners for a greener tomorrow.
Boardman Foods, in partnership with our growers, is committed to delivering sustainably grown produce that is not only flavorful and nutritious but also meets consumer health needs. Through the application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), we prioritize the efficient use of land, water, and energy.
A significant portion of our organic onions and various produce come from farms recognized by the Regenerative Organic Alliance for their unwavering commitment. These farms champion renewable farming methods that foster a robust food ecosystem, maintaining top-tier standards in soil health, animal welfare, and fairness for farmworkers.
Our unique process of sorting raw products allows us to find the best use for every pound of raw product and reduce our solid waste production. We inspect every raw product delivery as it is received, determining the best use for each variety, size, and quality type. In addition, all organic matter from our prep and peel process that cannot be utilized in one of our production processes is used by local livestock operations as animal feed.
Natural resource management for a brighter tomorrow
Boardman Foods takes pride in how we manage our use of natural resources. We have partnered with the United States Department of Energy and our local electric co-operative on energy efficiency projects and have committed to reducing the energy intensity of our products by 25% by 2030.
Hydroelectric power within the Columbia River watershed and the complementary power sources of our utility district are responsible for ensuring most of our electricity is carbon-free. The steam used to cook and clean at our facility is also a by-product of the local co-generation power plant.
Even after production, we take every chance to minimize our emissions by utilizing our access to rail infrastructure, which reduces equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by 75%.
Our team constantly seeks ways to reduce the amount of water used to process our products, resulting in efficiency gains of more than 18% over the last two years.