Mission Produce Implements Policy Addressing Illegal Deforestation

OXNARD, Calif., Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission Produce, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVO) (“Mission” or “the Company”) a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, today announced the implementation of a policy aimed at addressing illegal deforestation associated with avocado farming in Michoacán, Mexico.

“Illegal deforestation in Michoacán, where a significant majority of Mexico’s overall avocado production is from, is an important issue to our Company and our stakeholders,” said John Pawlowski, President and Chief Operating Officer. “For that reason, we are taking action to promote environmental stewardship in this area. While we cannot solve the issue of illegal deforestation in this region alone, this policy demonstrates our commitment to be part of the solution and aims to set a positive precedent in the industry.”

In the policy, Mission Produce will prohibit its direct sourcing operations in Michoacán from sourcing avocados from the 279 orchards recently identified to be associated with illegal deforestation by the Ministry of Environment for the State of Michoacán. On a quarterly basis, the Company will review and assess any additional ranches identified by the Ministry of Environment for the State of Michoacán to be associated with illegal deforestation and continue to explore available resources and methodologies to identify additional actions it can implement to address this important issue.

The policy can be found on the Sustainability Page of the Company’s website at www.missionproduce.com/sustainability.

About Mission Produce, Inc.:

Mission Produce is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and currently services retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 27 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally, including California, Mexico and Peru and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and more, which allow the company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission’s global distribution network includes strategically positioned forward distribution centers across key markets throughout North America, China, Europe, and the UK, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management. For more information, please visit www.missionproduce.com.