Wholesum, a grower and shipper of Fair Trade-certified produce, released its 2024 Conscientious Company Report. This company says in a news release that this report, titled People, Power, Progress, demonstrates its commitment to responsible agriculture.
Highlights from the 2024 report include:
- Wholesum’s launch of NextGen Academy, a leadership development initiative designed by employees to prepare emerging leaders within the company.
- Expansion of solar-powered trolleys and carts which reduce energy use and increase efficiency in greenhouse operations.
- 58% renewable energy use at Wholesum Farms Sonora, and ongoing work to restore and improve systems at other sites.
- More than $726,000 in Fair Trade funds reinvested in community health, transportation and education programs.
- Wholesum Farms Sonora hosted its largest-ever Preventative Health Campaign — the biggest in the company and region’s history, benefiting over 950 participants with health screenings, workshops and follow-up care plans.
- Expanded workforce transportation program, replacing 89 individual cars with shared shuttles, reducing 966,102 pounds of CO₂ emissions.
- More than 61 million pounds of 100% organic produce delivered to market.
- In-house production of 360 pounds of organic seed and the production and release of over 2.3 million ladybugs and 970,000 parasitoid wasps as part of advanced biological control efforts.
- 63 tons of carton and 82 tons of metal recycled.
- 40 native plant species restored in local ecosystems.
- Greenhouse sites, using only 5 gallons of water per pound of tomato production, up to four times more efficient than field-grown tomatoes.
“As we look back on 2024, we recognize a year marked not only by measurable progress, but by the people and values that drive it,” Ricardo and Theojary (Theo) Crisantes Jr., co-owners, and executive leaders at Wholesum, say in a news release. “This report is about more than metrics. It’s about vision, leadership and our collective momentum toward a better future.”
Wholesum says its efforts directly support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focused impact on gender equality, with 42% female representation companywide and targeted efforts to increase leadership representation at production sites and responsible consumption production with renewable inputs reaching 65.6% in 2024 and significant gains in raw and packaging materials, according to the company.
“As a third-generation family farming operation, Wholesum has long believed that transparency, equity and stewardship are essential to a thriving agricultural system,” Ricardo Crisantes says. “With farms in both the U.S. and Mexico, and a heritage of over 90 years in farming, Wholesum continues to demonstrate that ethical and sustainable business practices can go hand in hand with innovation and growth. “We invite our partners, consumers and fellow growers to walk with us on this path and power progress together.”
