Campos Borquez named Whole Foods Supplier of the Year

Campos Borquez, a family-owned grower and distributor of grapes, celery, asparagus, avocados, broccoli and cauliflower, was recently named a recipient of one of Whole Foods Market’s three Supplier of the Year awards.

The only produce company to make the list of “suppliers who rise to the top in overall excellence,” Campos Borquez was also honored by the Austin, Texas-based retailer in the Regenerative Agriculture Commitment category.

Whole Foods presented 30 awards to suppliers in the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada as part of the company’s 10th-annual Supplier of the Year Awards for 2021. Awards recognize suppliers that exemplify the company’s mission and core values, and are presented in categories such as Outstanding Innovation, Environmental Stewardship, Purpose-Driven Empowerment and the company’s top category, Supplier of the Year, according to a release.

Another produce supplier, Driscoll’s, was honored for Raising the Bar for Quality, an award the retailer said it bestows upon “suppliers that help advance Whole Foods Market standards and take an actionable part in moving the industry.” This year’s recipients of the award have displayed innovative manufacturing or agricultural techniques, Whole Foods added. 

“Campos Borquez and Driscoll’s are two industry leaders with programs that exemplify what it means to be best in class at Whole Foods Market,” Erik Brown, executive leader of procurement at Whole Foods Market, told The Packer in an email. “We are honored to award Campos Borquez for their commitment to organic farming and farm worker welfare; and Driscoll’s for always seeking to raise the bar for quality and flavor.”

What does the award mean to Pablo Borquez, founder and CEO of the Sonora, Mexico-based Campos Borquez?

“For us, it is as significant as a recognition could be for the job we do. Whole Foods Market is not only a client, it is also a company with whom we share a purpose,” Borquez said. “Seeing a retailer truly invested in the social and environmental responsibilities of farming is rare and very inspiring. It inspires us and the rest of our collaborators at the farm.

“For the past 10 years, our collaborators have understood that picking an asparagus for Whole Foods Market meant that it was going to reach back with opportunity for themselves and their families,” he continued. “We have tried to shape our business model to better serve Whole Foods Market as we realize that, by doing so, we are also enhancing our mission as a company. Therefore, being recognized by them as a Supplier of the Year is a huge honor that we all at Campos Borquez hold dearly and with pride.”

Whole Foods Market leaders, category experts and merchants select annual award winners across all departments and product categories including produce, exclusive brands, specialty, seafood, meat, grocery, bakery, prepared foods and whole body. Additionally, each of Whole Foods Market’s 11 regions award their own Supplier of the Year, selected by Whole Foods Market’s dedicated team of local foragers.

When it comes to the success of the Campos Borquez and Whole Foods relationship, Borquez believes a shared passion and commitment for quality and social responsibility has set the course for a fruitful future.

“In the 10 years [since we began working with Whole Foods], we have grown as a company to fulfill year-round service and expand product offerings. With this growth, our social and environmental programs have also increased year-over-year in both scale and the level of impact these have had,” Borquez said.

Borquez added that the company has maintained its in-farm worker benefits like dental, medical and optometrist care, while “continuously expanding in more intensive projects,” such as building water supply systems to workers’ homes; assistance with home building; and, most recently, starting a microfinance cooperative owned by the farmworkers for themselves and their communities.

“Through this period have also been committed to organic principles, and this year we became the first farm in Mexico to obtain [Whole Foods Market's] Regenerative Organic Certification,” Borquez said.