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\\u201cWe want to make sure the contribution we make is a positive one in the world.\\u201d Joanna Jaramillo (33:57-34:00)

You\\u2019ve probably seen Wholesum\\u2019s ripe, organic Poppies or Darlings snacking tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, or bright and crisp bell peppers when shopping for groceries, but did you know Wholesum\\u2019s produce is 100% fresh, organic, responsibly grown, they use 100% renewable energy on their farms, and the company has a decade under their belt of being fair trade certified? A true, progressive leader in the agriculture industry, Wholesum was one of the first to dedicate their entire farming portfolio to organic food back in the 90\\u2019s!\\xa0

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Their commitment to making a positive impact on our planet is even more impressive. Wholesome has committed to the U.N.\\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 12, and they publish a report every year to showcase their successes, but also be held accountable by all stakeholders as a way to identify opportunities for improvement. It\\u2019s not too often you find a company who\\u2019s so willing to be criticized by all of their stakeholders, whether it\\u2019s the communities they work in, their employees, their suppliers, customers or consumers. The report captures data across the board of Wholesum\\u2019s farming operations, such as their energy use, renewable and non-renewable outputs, water recirculation, waste management ,recycling, social impact, gender equality and the impact of fair trade on their farms.\\xa0

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\\u201cWhat moved my soul when I experienced Wholesum was to see how these fair trade premiums were spent, and to see how this one farming operation, this one brand, the cucumbers I buy at Whole Foods, turn into real funds that the workers can vote on where they want their money to be spent.\\u201d Lori Taylor (3:13-3:38)\\xa0

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In 2018, Wholesum made a commitment to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, which is when they decided to commit to Goal 5 and 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals. We\\u2019ve talked to several stakeholders in the UN\\u2019s SDGs in previous episodes, but if you aren\\u2019t familiar, these are a set of 17 goals developed by the United Nations to get businesses and government agencies to collaborate on solving some of the world\\u2019s biggest problems. The 17 SDGs are:

1. \\xa0No poverty
2. \\xa0Zero hunger
3. \\xa0Good health and well-being
4. \\xa0Quality education
5. \\xa0Gender equality
6. \\xa0Clean water and sanitation
7. \\xa0Affordable and clean energy
8. \\xa0Decent work and economic growth
9. \\xa0Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. \\xa0Reduced inequalities
11. \\xa0Sustainable cities and communities
12. \\xa0Responsible consumption and production
13. \\xa0Climate action
14. \\xa0Life below water
15. \\xa0Life on land
16. \\xa0Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. \\xa0Partnerships for the goals\\xa0

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Although Wholesum\\u2019s core values align with each of these goals, and they want to ensure they are measurably making an impact towards all 17, they decided to focus on Goal 5, gender equality, and Goal 12 responsible consumption and production, because they knew they could make a direct impact towards these on their farms. As they continue to report yearly and build a roadmap of progress, they can take on more of the SDGs and incorporate them into their operations.\\xa0

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\\u201cGender equality is a basic human right. We need to make sure that we, as a company, are respecting both men and women. There have been inequities for women in farming in the past, and so we need to shed light on those and be the progressive company we are and move forward to acknowledging these problems and doing something about it.\\u201d Joanna Jaramillo (23:18-23:53)

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There are many ways Wholesum is ensuring gender equality is available across their entire operation. For one, they\\u2019re focused on providing equal pay, equal opportunities, and no violence or harassment is promoted in the company culture. They\\u2019re also well aware of the duties many women have in their household when they\\u2019re off from work, so Wholesum is starting projects to promote work-life balance.

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During one of their needs assessments, they found that many women weren\\u2019t going to the doctor regularly because they didn\\u2019t want to take time off work or were waiting until they felt sick. Wholesum is now setting up mobile clinics on site so women can have their regular check ups and are educated on the importance of preventative care. They\\u2019re also building certain pathways for personal development and promoting from within the company for more women to have leadership opportunities. Even Joanna herself started as the Marketing Coordinator in 2018 and is now the Marketing Manager!\\xa0

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\\u201cIt\\u2019s a very difficult task to go through each of these 17 goals and determine how to work towards achieving them all at once.\\u201d Joanna Jaramillo (17:49-18:01)

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To make an impact with SDG 12, Wholesum looks at all of their inputs, all the way down to the twine they use on their cucumbers or the labels that go on their tomato packages. Everything is classified as renewable or nonrenewable and by measuring these facts, they\\u2019re able to identify what they can replace or reduce. One of Joanna\\u2019s responsibilities is looking into packaging design, which can be a challenging and complex situation. For example, she found a packaging item that was very sustainable, but when they tested on their product, the shelf life majorly reduced, which would lead to more food waste \\u2013 a packaging paradox.\\xa0

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Wholesum has been actively creating a positive impact and evolving their company for three generations, ever since their first tomato seed was planted in New Mexico. Hopefully other companies and stakeholders are inspired to create their own changes and work towards goals like the SDGs by following Wholesum\\u2019s lead in progressive impact. You can find Wholesum\\u2019s Conscientious Company Report and keep up with their amazing progress by visiting their Instagram, LinkedIn or website!\\xa0

How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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