NatureSweet says all branded tomato products now Fair Trade Certified

San Antonio-based NatureSweet says it is committed to growing 100% of its branded snacking tomato products in accordance with Fair Trade Certified standards.

All NatureSweet branded tomatoes — which include Cherubs, Glorys, Constellation, Comets, Twilights and D’Vines — are Fair Trade Certified, meeting rigorous safety, environmental protection and sustainable livelihood standards, according to a news release. This ensures NatureSweet produce is harvested and packaged in an environment with safe working conditions in which workers earn sustainable livelihoods, the release said.

A percentage of profits from NatureSweet’s Fair Trade Certified products, called a Fair Trade Premium, are contributed to a community development fund, which helps support initiatives that are transforming the lives of more than 6,000 agricultural workers in North America, according to the release.

The community development fund is employee-run, meaning NatureSweet associates decide and direct where resources should go, the release said.

In 2021, NatureSweet partnered with Walmart to launch a pilot program to sell Fair Trade Certified tomatoes, the release said. Proceeds stemming from that initiative, paid by Walmart, helped launch the community development fund. With this expansion, NatureSweet will now direct a portion of proceeds from snacking tomato sales to finance the fund, according to the release.

With Walmart’s support over the last couple of years, $1 million has been generated annually to support the community development fund, the release said.

To date, $2.4 million is being invested in community development projects, according to the release, such as:

• Dental cleanings and services — Prior to the program, 70% of associates had not received dental care. However, the program provided associates access to care from dental hygienists and dentists, leading to more than 1,000 associates receiving dental care. The program also includes equipping associates with vouchers so that their family members can also access dental care in their local community.
• Nutrition counseling and healthy food — Dietitians provide nutritional counseling and monthly meal plans in line with healthy eating recommendations. The fund also led to the creation of a food pantry stocked with nutritious food options that associates can easily access.
• Eye care — 40% of associates and their family members suffered from visual problems and were not able to access eye care. Thanks to the program, associates receive eye exams and glasses at no charge.

“I am grateful for the program because I urgently needed eyeglasses and did not have the resources to pay for them,” Maria Guadalupe Sepulveda de Leon, a NatureSweet associate, said in the release. “Thanks to the Fair Trade committee and their support, I was able to obtain them.”

To date, more than 2,100 NatureSweet employees have benefitted from the six projects that have been implemented this year, according to the release. NatureSweet says it has expanded the Fair Trade program with multiple partners in the industry.

It is estimated that the program will impact more than 10,000 agricultural workers, the release said.

“Our associates are not only the reason for our success, but they are also the ‘why’ behind what we do,” Rodolfo Spielmann, president and CEO of NatureSweet, said in the release. “Our desire is to give our workers the best we can because they earn it, including education and competitive wages. We invite all growers to join in the movement.”

“NatureSweet’s life-changing initiatives are an example of the positive difference one company can make in an entire industry,” Paul Rice, founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA, said in the release. “We are excited about their work and can’t wait to see others join the movement.”

In addition to dental cleanings, nutrition counseling and eye care, NatureSweet works to improve the lives of its associates by paying workers a livable wage (approximately 40% above the median wage for agricultural workers in Mexico); investing in literacy and educational opportunities, including most recently piloting a bachelor’s degree program; and investing in their mental health by providing one-on-one therapy and a three-month program that teaches self-improvement topics ranging from human development to parenting, communication, and problem-solving, the release said.