Our Green Initiative

Greener Fields Together

Ole Tyme Produce is part of Greener Fields Together, a sustainability program for the entire produce value chain. Greener Fields Together (GFT) was created and is administered by PRO*ACT and its national network of independently-owned local purveyors like Ole Tyme Produce. Through the GFT program, Ole Tyme Produce engages and involves farmers, PRO*ACT distributors, commercial and non-commercial foodservice operators, and retail locations in efforts to work toward safer produce from seed to fork. We help quantify sustainability efforts with every partner, facilitate continuous improvement at every link and, ultimately, strive to create a future for conscious production and consumption.

Large national farms and processors are engaged in making continuous sustainability improvements to their growing, harvest and post-harvest activities.

Local farms are supported with financial and educational resources to nurture greater availability of locally grown produce.

Distributor partners are monitored for ongoing, measurable sustainability improvements. (i.e. purchasing of local produce; food safety; conservation of resources, etc.).

Hospitality and retail operators who commit to the Greener Fields Together supply chain and embrace and support sustainability in their own operations can proudly display the Greener Fields Together logo so patrons can see their commitment to sustainability and local produce.


Our Pledge

As part of GFT, Ole Tyme Produce has committed to the Greener Fields Together Waste Reduction Pledge. Through this pledge, we are working to reduce our organizational risk, environmental impacts, and operational costs. We also have an on-site Green Team, which works to reduce waste, as well as to track and report our waste reduction progress twice a year to Greener Fields Together.


Our Practices

Ole Tyme Produce is working toward fulfilling our Zero Waste Initiative and reducing our carbon footprint and energy use through simple practices embedded in the design of our state-of-the-art facility in St. Charles, Missouri. These practices include our on-site recycling program, motion-triggered LED lighting throughout our facility, and even electric car charging stations in our parking lot.


Supporting Local Community

To support our local farm economy, Ole Tyme Produce sources products from local suppliers. Sourcing from local farms helps ensure that we are delivering fresh products to our customer’s kitchens. But, our support of local farms doesn’t stop at buying local. Ole Tyme Produce also is committed to promoting local farms with our customers and the public. We feature participating farms on our website, in newsletters, and on social media.

And, through GFT’s Cultivating Change Program, Ole Tyme assists in providing grants to local farm partners in order to help them thrive and nurture greater availability of locally grown produce. Each year, farmers can apply for grants in the areas of certification, infrastructure, capacity building, and marketing/communications. The grant amounts range from $3,000 to $10,000. We also are proud to offer financial assistance to local farms in the way of coordinating food safety audits through GFT. (That is a $1,000 - $2,000 value per year completely covered by GFT.) Likewise, farms with current food safety audits are eligible to receive a $500 reimbursement through GFT.


Cultivating Change Videos

What is Cultivating Change?

Cultivating Change Grant Winners 2020