LAKEVILLE — Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. of Lakeville has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an industry leader in supply chain, environmental, and energy efficiency with an annual SmartWay Excellence Awards.

Only one other company in New England earned this designation.

The companies honored represent the top performing, environmentally responsible SmartWay Partners who move more goods, more miles, with lower emissions and less energy, according to information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ocean Spray demonstrated superior freight performance by saving fuel, shrinking their greenhouse gas footprints, and contributing to cleaner air in the communities they serve, the agency reported.

“Everyone deserves clean air to breathe, no matter where they live or work. With such a dense transportation network here in New England, often with highways running straight through communities, it’s essential that we find innovative ways to reduce emissions by more efficiently transporting people and goods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. 

Ocean Spray has been a SmartWay partner for nearly 20 years, growing with EPA’s program.

They employ advanced shipping/receiving strategies, the agency reports, that reduce truck idling and driver waiting at their facilities.

They have also revised their freight networks to take advantage of the efficiency of intermodal rail for long hauls and to reduce local delivery truck emissions., the agency said.