Agricultural Stewardship
Green is more than part of our name. It’s how we think about everything we plant,
produce, and package. Sustainability is growing strong here in the Valley of the
Green Giant. With over a century of farming experience, Green Giant works hard to
leverage its expertise in more sustainable agriculture. Over almost 70 years, the
agricultural research team has made advances in greener farming practices with a
focus on three areas: less land usage, less water usage, less pesticide usage.
 Less Land Usage
Continuous improvements in advanced seed breeding have increased crop yields, reducing
the amount of land needed to produce the same amount of food. In the last 35 years,
advanced hybrids from conventional breeding have more than doubled the sweet corn
yields on the same amount of land. In other words, the same amount of vegetables
can be produced with less land, water and fertilizer.
Less Water Usage
Through an outreach program with broccoli farmers in Mexico, Green Giant agriculture
specialists introduced drip irrigation systems. Already almost 15% of the farmers
converted to this new process reducing water usage by nearly 150 million gallons
per year. With a 100 percent move to drip irrigation, total water savings will be
as high as 1.2 billion gallons annually. “Farmers generally want to do the right
thing and tend to be the best stewards of the land,” says Lane Johnson, director
of Agricultural Research for General Mills. “They just need the resources, the opportunity
and the tools.”
Less Pesticide Usage
Green Giant attempts to use the least amount of pesticides possible when growing
our vegetables. The use of pesticides, however, allows for increased crop yields
and therefore lowers the total amount of land and water needed to grow vegetables.
For over 50 years, our agricultural research teams have worked to minimize the quantity
of applications as they try to find the optimal balance to decrease our overall
footprint on the planet. In 1940, our research team published a report that detailed
the benefits of crop rotation for producing greater yields and income for pea farmers.
Five years later, another report highlighted the most effective time to apply insecticide
to control pea aphids and reduce chemicals overuse. Starting in 1980, Green Giant
reported a series of measures and practices for minimizing pesticide use across
all crops. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was born and adopted as a routine practice.
Since then, our sweet corn products are grown with:
- 80 percent less pounds of pesticides.
- 40 percent fewer pesticide applications.
Packaging Reduction
Can a Green Giant have a small footprint? We think so. Our packaging engineers and
business teams are continually discussing innovative ways to deliver the fresh nutritious
vegetables nature intended while reducing packaging waste and minimizing greenhouse
gas production. Here are two ways we are decreasing our product’s impact on the
planet.
Vac-Pack Technology
With vacuum pack canning technology, the vegetables are steamed in the can, locking
in freshness for a remarkably crisp texture. This process also allows us to deliver
the same amount of vegetables in a smaller 11 oz. can vs. the standard 15 oz. can.
With a smaller can, we use less water, less metal and less fuel to reach your local
store shelf. Green Giant pioneered vacuum pack technology in 1929 and remains committed
to innovation that minimizes waste without compromising taste.
Boxed Vegetables
The original Green Giant frozen vegetable variety underwent a major packaging overhaul
last year. Through the conversion, Green Giant switched its cartons from bleached
white paper board with no recycled fibers to an unbleached recycled carton, reducing
green house gas emissions by an estimated 80%*.
The Continuing Journey of Sustainability
At Green Giant we understand that everything we do impacts our planet. We also realize
that sustainability is an ongoing journey. While improvements have been made, we’re
always looking for new ones. Here are two future ways in which we hope to further
reduce our footprint:
Life Cycle Analysis
This year, in partnership with the University of Arkansas, we are conducting a Life
Cycle Analysis on our corn products. By carefully measuring our carbon footprint
and consumption of natural resources from seed to plate, we seek to identify ways
to improve our processes to benefit the environment.
Freshwater Conservation
Through our partnership with The Nature Conservancy, we are launching an initiative
to educate growers in Minnesota’s Root River Valley on more sustainable farming
practices. Farmers will utilize infiltration ponds and bioreactors, a series of
small reservoirs and long trenches filled with wood chips, to filter nutrient-enriched
farmland runoff before it makes its way into local streams and rivers. These ponds
and trenches also create habitats for regional wildlife and migratory birds, such
as frogs and ducks.
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