Bayer CropScience offers $10,000 to recognize Produce Industry Innovator

This week, Bayer CropScience launched its second annual Produce Innovation Award with a call for applications from across the produce industry. The award recognizes a grower whose innovative efforts improve yield and quality of a produce crop; increase accessibility of produce to a broader group of people; or increase demand for produce by expanding awareness and appreciation for the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, including tree nuts and potatoes. Applications can be submitted online now through January 8, 2016 on the Bayer website at www.bayercropscience.us/ProduceInnovationAward.

“Recent data has shown that in the U.S. overall produce consumption is down, and that on average Americans consume less than half the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables,” said Rob Schrick, horticulture lead for Bayer CropScience. “That means there’s a great need for innovation that can help create a positive shift towards increased produce consumption, and it’s this kind of innovation that Bayer is looking to highlight through the Produce Innovation Award.”

"I’m proud to work for an organization that is committed to driving innovation, not only within our own organization but also from our customers,’” continued Schrick. “’Science For A Better Life’ is our mission at Bayer, and the Produce Innovation Award winner will embody that mission by making significant contributions to the produce industry and thus enhancing peoples lives.”

Bayer announced the launch of the award program this week at the 41st Annual CAPCA Conference & Agri-Expo in Reno, Nevada. The award is open to any grower who receives a significant portion of income from the production of a crop within the citrus, grape, pome fruit/stone fruit, tree nut, vegetable or potato industry.

Entries will be accepted now through January 8, 2016. The winner will be announced during the annual Bayer Ag Issues Forum, which will be held in New Orleans, March 1 – 2, 2016. The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2016 Ag Issues Forum, a $10,000 grant to advance their award-winning innovation or to support a project in their local community that also increases the positive contributions of produce in people’s lives, and a $2,000 Apple Store gift card. Bayer will recognize the winner as a produce innovator.