The sky is the limit for seed-based food company 88 Acres as it recently launched a dynamic partnership with Misfits Market and JetBlue Airways, and it’s all in the name of sustainability.
As part of its recent partnership with JetBlue, 88 Acres supplied Cinnamon & Oats Seed+Oat Bar thins as one of the flight company’s free in-flight snack options. During the production process, thousands of pounds of edge pieces were created as a result. Rather than let them go to waste, 88 Acres is launching a wholesome and delicious offering, Cinnamon Maple Edge’nola, which is a 10 oz package priced at $3.99 at Misfits Market that’s full of pumpkin, sunflower, and flax seeds, along with gluten-free oats and organic cinnamon and maple.
“As a food company, we believe it is our responsibility when creating products to keep sustainability at the forefront. As with all of our Seed+Oat Bars, baking millions of Seed+Oat Bar Thins for the JetBlue community leaves thousands of pounds of edge pieces behind. We didn’t want our crispy Edge’nola to go to waste, so we partnered with food waste-fighting online grocer Misfits Market to give it a good home. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership,” explained Nicole Ledoux, Co-Founder and CEO of 88 Acres.
This fully upcycled snack product, along with the other snacks in 88 Acres’ portfolio, is nut free, kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, and certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization.
According to the release, 88 Acres, Misfits Market, and JetBlue all share a mutual commitment to sustainability. Where 88 Acres operates its own zero food waste bakery for all production and uses seeds as its main source of plant-based protein requiring 20 to 90 times less water to grow than nuts, Misfits Market leverages direct relationships with growers and producers to reduce food waste at scale and eliminate inefficiencies in the food system.
“Bringing this product to market with 88 Acres is proof that food brands can have a positive impact when we team up on creative solutions to food waste. Misfits Market has always been dedicated to turning food system inefficiencies into affordable access to food,” Daniel Litwin, Vice President of Procurement at Misfits Market, stated. “Now, we’re taking it a step further by becoming a destination for consumers to discover quality brands like 88 Acres that take a whole new approach to sustainability. Together, we’re providing delicious products to our customers and genuine value to our supplier partner where they might otherwise experience loss.”
JetBlue is a leader in the industry as one of the first U.S. airlines to commit to and achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flying. The airline is fully committed to reducing its waste on its planes, in terminals, and company-wide.
“At JetBlue, we are continuously striving to improve the sustainability of our operation—which includes partnering with likeminded companies solving unique sustainability challenges,” Sara Bogdan, JetBlue’s Head of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, explained. “We are excited to work with 88 Acres and Misfits Market to tackle the upstream food surplus previously associated with the production of the Cinnamon & Oats Seed+Oat Bar Thins served onboard. We’re thrilled that the edges of the bar thins made for our inflight experience won’t go to waste and will be repurposed into a healthy and delicious snack for Misfits Market’s customers.”
The partnership and synergy between 88 Acres, Misfits Market, and JetBlue could not be more perfectly aligned with each company’s prioritization of sustainable operations that fight waste.
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