Meath-based Meade Farm, which has been working to embed a green mindset in all its operations, scooped the ‘Green Food and Beverage Award’ in a highly contested category at the recent Green Awards.
The awards were presented at a packed ceremony at Dublin’s Clayton Hotel Burlington.
The Green Awards brought together those in the business community who put sustainability at the top of their agendas.
Green Awards
Launched in 2008 as a platform for sustainability intelligence, leadership and innovation in best green practice in Ireland, the Green Awards have since grown in stature and attendance.
Meade Farm emerged victorious, having featured alongside pioneers of sustainable food and drink in Ireland: ABP Food Group; Aurivo; Coca-Cola; Fyffes; O’Brien Fine Foods; Tirlán and Wyeth Nutrition.
Eleanor Meade, business operations manager at Meade Farm said: “To be in the presence of some of our heroes in the agri-business and food industry was an honour.
We are delighted to receive this recognition. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, especially in terms of import substitution, waste reduction, energy efficiency and packaging optimisation.”
Meade Farm
The Sustainability Committee at Meade Farm is drawn from all areas of the business, ensuring that a green mindset is embedded in all its operations, growing, packing, distributing and service provision of fresh produce, according to the manager.
The judges said they were impressed by the company’s green mindset, its commitment to import substitution, and expansion of its Irish growing operations through strategic partnerships.
Meade Farm has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including: increased Irish sourcing to reduce carbon footprint; the addition of 500kW of solar panels to increase its on-site energy generation; the installation of a new potato-chitting store to enable earlier planting and harvesting and innovative bio-based crop nutrition trials.
Communications and sustainability manager Jeni Meade added: “We have some exciting initiatives in social sustainability on the way as part of our Bord Bia Origin Green strategic plan and winning an award like this gives us a boost to continue forging ahead.”
Employing close to 400 people, Meade Farm is a leading grower of organic and conventional potatoes, carrots, onions and brassicas, sourcing and packing the full range of fresh produce for its retail customers nationwide.
The company’s focus on innovation and sustainability has also led it to produce gluten-free potato starch for thickening sauces, soups and stews, binding and coating ingredients, as well as air-frying and baking.