Key Takeaways
- NatureSweet, the leading greenhouse-grown produce company, announces that all its branded tomato products are now Fair Trade Certified™.
- The certification ensures that NatureSweet tomatoes are harvested and packaged in safe working conditions and that workers earn sustainable livelihoods.
- A Fair Trade Premium, a percentage of profits from NatureSweet’s Fair Trade Certified™ products, contributes to a community development fund.
- The fund has supported various community projects, including dental care, nutrition counseling, and eye care for more than 6,000 agricultural workers in North America.
- NatureSweet has expanded the Fair Trade program with multiple partners, aiming to impact more than 10,000 agricultural workers.
NatureSweet, the number one snacking tomato brand and a leading greenhouse-grown produce company, has announced that all its branded tomato products are now Fair Trade Certified™. This move aligns with the company’s commitment to ethical agricultural labor and supports initiatives transforming the lives of more than 6,000 agricultural workers in North America.
Fair Trade Certification
The Fair Trade Certification ensures that NatureSweet tomatoes, including popular brands like Cherubs®, Glorys®, Constellation®, Comets™, Twilights™, and D’Vines™, meet rigorous safety, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihood standards. The certification guarantees that the produce is harvested and packaged in an environment with safe working conditions and that workers earn sustainable livelihoods.
Community Development Fund
A percentage of profits from NatureSweet’s Fair Trade Certified™ products are contributed to a community development fund. This fund is employee-run, allowing NatureSweet associates to decide and direct where resources should go. In 2021, NatureSweet partnered with Walmart to launch a pilot program to sell Fair Trade Certified tomatoes, which helped initiate this community development fund.
Impactful Projects
To date, $2.4 million has been invested in community development projects, such as dental cleanings and services, nutrition counseling, and eye care. More than 2,100 NatureSweet employees have benefited from these projects, and the program is estimated to impact more than 10,000 agricultural workers in the future.
A Call to the Industry
“Our associates are not only the reason for our success, but also the ‘why’ behind what we do,” said Rodolfo Spielmann, President and CEO of NatureSweet. “We desire 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.”
