NEW YORK — McCormick & Co., Clif Bar & Co. and Apeel Sciences have been recognized by Rabobank for demonstrating significant progress across innovation, sustainability and market leadership. The three companies were selected from more than 300 companies across three categories as part of Rabobank’s 2018 Food and Agribusiness Industry Leadership Awards.

McCormick & Co., Baltimore, received the Rabobank Award for Leadership and Excellence. The award recognizes a leader that has exhibited notable, innovative and sustainable practices during the past year. Rabobank pointed to McCormick’s commitment to source all of its branded ingredients sustainably and to its work with smallholder farmers to grow the company’s herbs and spices. Rabobank said McCormick has been ranked No. 1 for two consecutive years as the most sustainable company in the food products industry in the Global 100 Sustainability Index by Corporate Knights and also recently was named to Barron’s Inaugural 100 Most Sustainable Companies List.

“We are honored to receive this award, and we thank Rabobank for recognizing our efforts to deliver top-tier financial performance while protecting the long-term vitality of the people, communities and planet we share,” said Lawrence E. Kurzius, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We’re making significant progress against our 2025 Purpose-led Performance goals, and we remain committed to doing well by doing good.”

Clif Bar & Co., Emeryville, Calif., received the Rabobank Award for Leader in Sustainability. The award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated a deep commitment to sustainability as its core strategy across many dimensions of its business and ambitions.

Rabobank applauded several of Clif Bar’s efforts, including the company’s sourcing of 100% green power for its operations and its willingness to set renewable energy goals for its suppliers and distribution centers.

“Sustainability is baked into our business model,” said Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, owners and co-c.e.o.s of Clif Bar & Co. “We guide and measure our performance on how well we sustain our business, brands, people, communities and the planet. We’re grateful for this important recognition from Rabobank but know Clif Bar alone can’t ensure a sustainable future for food and agriculture. That requires all of us.”

Apeel Sciences, a Goleta, Calif.-based company focused on preventing food waste with a plant-based solution, received the Rabobank Award for Emerging Leader in Innovation. The award is presented to a young company that is addressing challenges and market gaps with a novel and disruptive business model.

According to Rabobank, Apeel has been able to produce a plant-derived product that can double shelf life of fruits and vegetables without refrigeration, which has reduced the amount of food waste from the farm to the kitchen.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Rabobank alongside a remarkable set of companies that are making a positive impact on the world,” said James Rogers, c.e.o. of Apeel Sciences. “At Apeel, we’re endlessly inspired by nature and believe it holds the answers and innovations that will help the world sustainably solve just about any challenge, from food waste to food security.”

The awards were presented on Nov. 29 at Rabobank’s annual Food & Agribusiness Summit in New York City.