Rancho Tissue Technologies Earns VeriFlora® Certification

Renowned for its broad selection of high quality tissue-cultured plants, Rancho Tissue Technologies has now earned recognition for its commitment to sustaining the environment. The company received VeriFlora’s Sustainably Grown Certification for both its Stage III microcuttings and Stage IV liners.

VeriFlora is North America’s first eco-label certification standard for the floral industry. Considered the gold standard, it is the most rigorous flower and plant certification program in the market.

“More than a seal of approval, VeriFlora represents the true depth of Rancho Tissue Technologies’ commitment to producing the finest quality tissue culture plants while maintaining the safety and health of our employees and the environment,” says Heather May, founder and owner. “For example, we choose plants to tissue culture that are hardier and more resistant to normal diseases, thus requiring less water and fewer chemical applications.”

The VeriFlora standard establishes rigorous performance criteria and a framework for continuous improvement in sustainability areas including crop production, resource conservation and energy efficiency, ecosystem protection, integrated waste management, fair labor practices, community benefits and product quality. Companies must meet stringent requirements for chemical use in their facilities, as well as high standards for worker safety and workplace conditions.

Rancho Tissue Technologies’ extensive sustainability efforts encompass every aspect of the business, including:
• Selecting plants that require less water and fewer chemicals
• Recycling and reusing all lab vessels plants are grown in
• Installing new growth chamber lighting to reduce energy usage and costs by at least 25%
• Weekly employee health, safety and quality training meetings

“There are many aspects to sustainability,” says Dr. Michael Keyes, SCS Certification Manager for Sustainable Agriculture. “SCS is delighted to acknowledge Rancho Tissue Technologies’ leadership in issues ranging from sustainable production to energy efficiency and quality control.”

For more information on Rancho Tissue Technologies’ sustainability efforts, including their selection of water-wise plants, call 858-756-6785 or visit www.ranchotissue.com to find a broker.

For more information on SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) or the VeriFlora label, contact Diane Dulmage, Communications Associate, SCS, 510-452-8003 or ddulmage@scscertified.com.

About Rancho Tissue Technologies
Rancho Tissue Technologies (RTT) is one of the largest tissue culture producers in the world and the largest producer of tissue-cultured succulents in the U.S. and potentially worldwide. The company develops new, innovative and high quality plant varieties for the horticulture industry. RTT has developed a proven and dependable reputation for providing high-quality liners and micro cuttings that ensure a crop is vigorous and disease-free.

Established in 1987, RTT’s cutting edge, environmentally controlled laboratory and 40,000-square-foot greenhouse is designed to produce up to 4 million plants per year and offer a multitude of services, including multiplication of hard to propagate plants, development of new and improved cultivars, virus eradication through heat-treatment and meristemming, and custom contract growing.

For more information on Rancho Tissue Technologies, please visit www.ranchotissue.com.

About Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and VeriFlora
SCS is an independent certifier of environmental, health and safety claims. For more than two decades, SCS has developed internationally recognized standards and certification programs aimed at spurring the highest level of environmental improvements, social accountability and product performance. There are more than one billion flower stems certified “sustainably grown” under the VeriFlora label. For more information: www.SCScertified.com and www.VeriFlora.com.