SANTA CRUZ, Calif.,
Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Plantronics Inc. (NYSE: PLT) is pioneering the use of
on-site food production to boost employee nutrition as part of the
company's global commitment to sustainability. Through a
joint project with Santa
Cruz-based Cityblooms, a prototype computer-automated farm
has been installed at the Plantronics headquarters and is being
powered by the company's existing solar energy system.
The hydroponic micro-farm produces bi-weekly harvests of premium
leafy greens and vegetables for the on-site cafe operated by Bon
Appetit Management Company, a national leader in socially and
environmentally responsible food service. "By locating these
micro-farms close to the point of consumption, we measure
farm-to-fork distances in yards, rather than miles," said
Nick Halmos, Cityblooms founder. "We
eliminate the financial and environmental costs associated with
food waste and food transportation."
"We all know that fresher produce definitely tastes better,"
said Ken Kannappan, President and
CEO of Plantronics. "But the benefits include better nutrition for
our employees. Store-bought lettuce, for example, can lose up to
half its Vitamin C in the average of five days it takes from
harvest to home. Just as important, we save more than
10,000 gallons of water annually through Cityblooms' recirculation
system, while eliminating environmental contamination from
fertilizer run off. Our relationship with Cityblooms has
helped Plantronics operate conscientiously in a way that is
consistent with our values and commitment to the environment."
In response to the increasing challenge of making quality food
accessible in urban centers, Cityblooms has spent a decade
developing its patent-pending, innovative technology. The
company has focused on urban farming solutions that are modular,
lightweight, efficient to operate, and that can be easily
replicated on rooftops and in other underutilized spaces, the
approach is made possible through advanced technology. "Using
the power of the Web, cloud computing, and Internet-of-Things (IoT)
sensor networks, Cityblooms represents the future of urban
farming," said Halmos.
This year, Bon Appetit is celebrating the 15th
anniversary of its Farm to Fork program, through which all of its
chefs are required to purchase at least 20 percent of their
ingredients from small farms located within 150 miles of their
kitchens. "I'm excited to see this partnership between our
chefs and Cityblooms grow at Plantronics," said Bon Appetit CEO
Fedele Bauccio. "Combining
cutting-edge growing technology and fresh, delicious greens sounds
like a winning recipe to me."
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About Cityblooms
The inspiration for Cityblooms grew out of a desire to provide
sustainably grown food to an expanding population. Using
proprietary technology, Cityblooms creates computer-automated
micro-farms that turn under-used spaces into highly productive
agricultural hubs. With our resource efficient farming techniques
that eliminate the financial and environmental costs of food miles
and food waste, we provide communities with easy and affordable
access to fresh produce. More details at www.cityblooms.com.
High-res photographs available.
About Plantronics
Plantronics is a global leader in
audio communications for businesses and consumers. Plantronics has
pioneered new trends in audio technology, creating innovative
products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified
communication to Bluetooth® headsets to gaming solutions,
Plantronics delivers uncompromising quality, an ideal experience,
and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in
the Fortune 100™, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and
various mission-critical applications for those on the frontline.
For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or
call (800) 544-4660.
Plantronics is a trademark of Plantronics, Inc. registered
in the US and other countries. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos
are registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of
such marks by Plantronics is under license. All other trademarks
are property of their respective owners.
About Bon Appetit Management Company
Bon
Appetit Management Company (@bamco) is an on-site restaurant
company offering full food-service management to corporations,
universities, and specialty venues. Based in Palo Alto, CA, Bon Appetit has more than 500
cafes in 32 states. In addition to Plantronics, its Bay Area
clients include Google, Electronic Arts, the University of San Francisco, and the Exploratorium.
All Bon Appetit food is cooked from scratch, including sauces,
stocks, and soups. A pioneer in environmentally sound sourcing
policies, Bon Appetit has developed programs addressing local
purchasing, the overuse of antibiotics, sustainable seafood, the
food and climate change connection, humanely raised meat and eggs,
and farmworker welfare. It has received numerous awards for its
work, from organizations including the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
program, International Association of Culinary Professionals, the
James Beard Foundation, Chefs Collaborative, Natural Resources
Defense Council, Seafood Choices Alliance, The Humane Society of
the United States, and Food
Alliance. For more information, please visit www.bamco.com.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140929/149100
Video - http://youtu.be/DGows6aNSkM
SOURCE Cityblooms