Wholesum’s 2025 Sustainability Report: Advancements in Organic Farming

Arizona grower publishes ninth annual sustainability performance update

Wholesum, an Arizona-based organic produce company, has published its 2025 Conscientious Company Report. The document details the company’s performance across several operational areas, including organic production methods, water use, energy sourcing, and Fair Trade contributions. This marks the ninth consecutive year the business has issued a public sustainability report.

The company operates as a third-generation family business approaching its centenary. Wholesum grows and distributes organic and Fair Trade Certified produce across North America. The report series began in 2016 and continues to function as an annual disclosure mechanism.

Reporting framework covers organic methods and community investment

The 2025 report assesses performance against four main areas. These include organic integrity, responsible agriculture practices, Fair Trade impact, and contributions toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Wholesum has structured its reporting around these categories since the series began.

Previous editions provide context for the company’s operational trajectory. In its 2023 fiscal year report, Wholesum stated it produced more than two million biological organisms in-house for pest management. The company also reported that 41% of energy at its Nogales distribution center came from solar sources. Water recirculation at the Arizona farm reached 29% of total irrigation volume.

The same 2023 report noted that Fair Trade Community Development Funds generated $1.2 million during the period. Additionally, Wholesum said more than half of all inputs used across its family farms were renewable. These figures offer a baseline for measuring year-on-year changes.

The 2022 report showed similar patterns. Water recirculation at the Arizona farm stood at 30.2% of irrigation volume. That edition also emphasized the company’s alignment with organic standards and UN sustainability targets.

July 2024 edition focused on workforce and environmental systems

Before the 2025 release, Wholesum published its 2024 report in July under the title “People, Power, Progress.” That document highlighted environmental technology, workforce training, and community programs. The company described it as a demonstration of organizational values.

The 2024 edition continued the pattern of annual reporting established nearly a decade earlier. Each report builds on previous disclosures, allowing stakeholders to track changes in resource efficiency, labor conditions, and environmental management over time.

What the reporting pattern reveals about operational priorities

The annual report series serves two functions for Wholesum. First, it provides a structured way to communicate operational performance to buyers, retailers, and certification bodies. Second, it ties the company’s family ownership model to quantifiable environmental and social metrics.

For UK businesses sourcing organic produce, these reports offer insight into supply chain practices. Many UK retailers now require suppliers to demonstrate compliance with environmental and social standards. Public sustainability reporting helps meet those requirements.

Wholesum’s approach shows how long-term operational data can support commercial relationships. Buyers increasingly ask for evidence of water efficiency, renewable energy use, and labor standards. Annual reports that document these areas reduce the administrative burden on both supplier and customer.

Core operational metrics from recent reporting cycles

Several data points recur across Wholesum’s reports. These include water recirculation rates, renewable energy sourcing, biological pest management, and Fair Trade fund generation. Tracking these figures year by year allows for performance comparison.

Water management appears consistently in the reports. The Arizona farm’s recirculation rate hovered around 30% in 2022 and 2023. This figure matters in arid regions where irrigation accounts for a large share of agricultural water use.

Energy sourcing also features prominently. The Nogales distribution center drew 41% of its power from solar in 2023. This reduces reliance on grid electricity and lowers the facility’s carbon intensity.

Biological pest management represents another operational focus. Producing two million organisms in-house for integrated pest management supports organic certification requirements. It also reduces dependence on external inputs.

Fair Trade fund generation provides a financial measure of community investment. The $1.2 million figure from 2023 indicates the scale of premiums returned to workers and local projects.

Key details from the latest reporting cycle

• Wholesum has published annual sustainability reports since 2016, making the 2025 edition the ninth in the series.
• The company structures its reporting around organic integrity, responsible agriculture, Fair Trade impact, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• In 2023, Wholesum sourced 41% of energy for its Nogales distribution center from solar and recirculated 29% of irrigation water at its Arizona farm.
• The company generated $1.2 million in Fair Trade Community Development Funds during its 2023 fiscal year.
• More than 50% of inputs used across Wholesum’s family farms in 2023 were renewable.
• The 2024 report, titled “People, Power, Progress,” was published in July and focused on workforce development and environmental innovation.
• Wholesum is a third-generation family business approaching its 100-year milestone and specializes in organic and Fair Trade Certified produce.

Why consistent sustainability reporting matters for supply chain management

Annual sustainability reports serve practical purposes beyond public relations. For procurement teams, they offer a documented record of supplier performance. This matters when tender specifications require evidence of environmental or social standards.

UK businesses sourcing from overseas suppliers face increasing pressure to demonstrate supply chain due diligence. Public sector procurement rules often include sustainability criteria. Private sector buyers also ask for proof of responsible sourcing, particularly in food and agriculture.

Wholesum’s reporting pattern provides a model for how suppliers can document performance over time. The consistency of the report structure makes it easier to compare results across periods. This helps buyers assess whether a supplier is improving, maintaining, or declining in key areas.

Water efficiency, renewable energy use, and labor conditions are all areas where UK buyers may need to report upstream performance. Suppliers that publish this information reduce the administrative burden on their customers.

The Fair Trade element also carries weight. Many UK retailers stock Fair Trade Certified products and need suppliers who can verify compliance with Fair Trade standards. Annual reports that include Fair Trade fund generation and community investment provide that verification.

How multi-year reporting supports commercial decision-making

Wholesum’s nine-year reporting history creates a data trail that buyers can use to evaluate supplier reliability. Consistent reporting signals operational discipline. It also reduces the risk of supply chain disruption related to environmental or social issues.

For businesses managing sustainable procurement programs, supplier transparency is a key risk factor. Suppliers who publish annual sustainability data are generally easier to work with than those who provide information only on request. The former group has already built the systems needed to collect, verify, and disclose performance metrics.

The approach also helps suppliers differentiate themselves in competitive markets. When multiple growers offer similar products at similar prices, sustainability credentials can become a deciding factor. Documented performance on water, energy, and labor standards provides evidence that goes beyond marketing claims.

As the company approaches its centenary, Wholesum appears to be linking its family ownership model with modern reporting standards. This combination of long-term operational continuity and contemporary disclosure practices may appeal to buyers seeking stable, responsible suppliers.

Where to find further information on organic certification and Fair Trade standards

UK businesses sourcing organic produce should refer to guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on organic food and farming regulations. These rules govern how organic products can be labeled and sold in the UK market.

For information on Fair Trade certification, the Fairtrade Foundation provides standards and guidance relevant to UK businesses. The organization sets criteria for Fair Trade sourcing and offers resources on supply chain compliance.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which Wholesum references in its reporting framework, are detailed on the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs website. These goals provide a global reference point for corporate sustainability programs.

Businesses developing their own sustainability reporting practices may find guidance from the UK government’s environmental reporting guidelines useful. These cover mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting and voluntary environmental disclosure.