Ingredion Incorporated, a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food and beverage industry, announced that Kerr by Ingredion will be offering a selection of products from its fruit and vegetable portfolio that are Upcycled Certified to customers for purchase. The certification will allow Kerr to provide customers with more sustainable growth solutions that appeal to a wider consumer base.

“Sustainability is incredibly important to us at Kerr by Ingredion,” said Gabriel Pereira, commercial director. “We’re excited to offer a broad selection of Upcycled Certified products from our portfolio. This certification allows us not only to contribute to sustainability efforts, but also to provide additional value to our customers.”

The Upcycled Certified Standard was developed by the Upcycled Food Association to reduce food waste and promote an upcycled food economy. The certification process is extensive, requiring a thorough evaluation of the entire supply chain. Companies that receive certification contribute to a renewable food chain. Initiatives such as these can lead to positive and long-lasting environmental impacts.

Kerr by Ingredion prides itself on its efforts in sustainability and has set aggressive goals to contribute to the environment. In addition to its work with Upcycled Certification, by the end of 2030, Ingredion plans on reducing Scope 1 and 2 absolute GHG emissions by 28% and water use intensity in high stress geographies by 30%.

Kerr also encourages suppliers to identify sustainable farming practices in their operations, illustrating that sustainability is of high importance to the business. Suppliers work toward efficient fertilizer usage using low-nitrogen chemicals. They also implement pollinator programs to ensure that crops are pollinated fully and effectively and that bees have a safe environment to do their work.

In additional efforts to promote sustainability, Kerr purchases imperfect watermelons that would normally be rejected for the retail market. The company also purchases dark sweet cherries that are out of retail-grade specification due to their size and color.