Sunripe Certified Brands Receives Non-GMO Project Verification

Sunripe Certified Brands' products have received Non-GMO Project verification and have been certified by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ (CIW) Fair Food Program—two certifications that allow the brand to communicate on its packaging for transparency with its customers, say company officials.

The Non-GMO Project is North America’s only third-party verification and labeling organization for non-GMO food and products. GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other animals and plants. Sunripe Certified Brands underwent a series of rigorous tests and audits to ensure that they adhere to the Non-GMO Project’s strict standard for GMO avoidance.

The CIW’s Fair Food Program is a comprehensive social responsibility program in North America. It guarantees that farm workers enjoy the same right to come to a fair and safe workplace as any office building in New York City. Sunripe Certified Brands was the first company to sign a direct agreement with the CIW, allowing the Fair Food Program seal on its consumer packaging, officials add. Whole Foods Market is the first retailer to proudly display Sunripe Certified Brand products with the seal as a way to communicate the company’s standards for social responsibility to shoppers.

“Every certification process we go through guarantees our commitment to the fairest, safest and highest quality products possible; we’ve been doing that now for generations,” says Jon Esformes, CEO of Sunripe Certified Brands. “Labeling our packages with these certifications is an outward expression to consumers to let them know that our brand name is not just a name—it’s an extension of who we are as a company.”

As shoppers demand more transparency from brands, Sunripe Certified Brands is answering the call by communicating on-pack and in-store to show their commitment to best farming practices. “We strongly encourage other fresh produce brands to support the Fair Food Program and Non-GMO Project in order to engage in a more open dialogue about how fresh food is farmed,” adds Esformes.