AgWater Challenge embraced by Driscoll’s

Fresh berry brand Driscoll’s is participating in the AgWater Challenge in an effort to manage natural resources in a collaborative way.

The partnership reinforces Driscoll’s commitment to water stewardship as well as supporting its network of more than 750 independent growers, the company said in a press release.

The AgWater Challenge is an effort coordinated by Ceres and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to encourage companies to set ambitious goals that address the global water crisis, according to the press release. The time-bound commitments Driscoll’s and other companies have made include assessing water risks in key regions, collaborating at the watershed level to protect resources in high-risk areas and supporting farmers to manage water resources.

“Driscoll’s participation in the AgWater Challenge sends an important signal that smart water management is increasingly a business imperative,” Ceres Director of Water Kirsten James said in a release.

Driscoll’s said it’s long been a leader in the sustainable management of natural resources. Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s chairman and CEO, was one of the earliest supporters of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which mandates aquifer balance in California, according to the press release. Driscoll’s also established a community-led forum called the Pajaro Valley Community Dialogue, which led to the establishment of a wireless irrigation network that has significantly reduced the amount of water needed in the fields.

Photo: Driscoll’s