NatureSweet® has earned B Corporation™ Certification (B Corp™).
"Our success comes directly from having committed and experienced workers growing and packing our produce," said Rodolfo Spielmann, president, and CEO of NatureSweet. "We created a model in which every associate has the opportunity to earn a better income based on his or her individual effort while also providing education, psychological support, and healthcare services. We are the largest CEA company that is Fair Trade Certified, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) Certified, and now B Corp Certified. I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished and look forward to strengthening our efforts."
The company's first-time certification score of 114 points is 34 points above the minimum requirement. To become B Corp Certified, NatureSweet met benchmarks in several categories including Workers, Community, Customers, Environment, and Governance. Below are a few highlights:
- The company has created income sustainability for its workers by paying them more than double the minimum wage in Mexico. They earn almost 40 percent above the median wage of agricultural workers in Mexico and approximately 25 percent above the median wage of its main competitors. NatureSweet agricultural workers have the opportunity to earn up to 300 percent in bonus compensation.
- NatureSweet has an employee-run fund (known as the Fair Trade Premium) that generates millions of dollars annually and supports community development initiatives such as improved education, access to quality health services, accommodations, development projects, and other basic services. In prioritizing the authority of its associates, it has created systems that cultivate employee leadership and accountability within greenhouses.
- It created an educational program so agricultural workers could learn how to read and write and earn their elementary, middle and high school diplomas. By the end of 2023, more than 2,000 employees will have benefitted from the program.
- The company's drip irrigation systems produce approximately 80 percent less water usage than open-field agriculture for small tomatoes. Rather than using traditional soil, its plants are cultivated in coconut husk fiber, allowing plants to absorb water and nutrients directly, thus reducing water waste by 30 percent. The company uses fewer chemical products and fertilizers compared to conventional open-field agriculture. NatureSweet is 100 percent non-GMO, and 70 percent of the company's packaging material volume is from recycled plastic.
"I am proud of the tremendous efforts of so many associates throughout this rigorous process," says Skip Hulett, general counsel and VP of NatureSweet. "The associates went above and beyond to show how much it means to be recognized as a force for good."
For more information:
Jenny Halpin
NatureSweet
jennyh@naturesweet.com
www.naturesweet.com