Equitable Food Initiative-Certified NatureSweet® Tomatoes Earn Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility; LeAnne Ruzzamenti Shares
WASHINGTON, DC - Sometimes industry challenges are all it takes to showcase the strength of an operation. As a result of a powerful partnership, Equitable Food Initiative recently revealed that EFI-certified NatureSweet® Tomatoes have been honored with the Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility thanks to the grower’s admirable leadership efforts throughout the pandemic.
“NatureSweet has always been a company that has gone above and beyond in their commitment to social responsibility, and that was highly evident in how they supported their associates during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications for EFI. “It was an honor to nominate them for the award, and we are so proud that they are receiving the accolades they deserve.”
The Communitas Awards program honors companies, organizations, and individuals that are changing the way they do business to benefit their employees, communities, and the environment, a press release explained. With this recent recognition, this marks the second time an EFI-certified organization has earned the honor, as Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce’s consumer brand GoodFarms™ was recognized in 2018.
NatureSweet was spotlighted for its unwavering commitment to its employees and communities at the height of the pandemic. As noted in the release, the supplier was proactive in its daily health checks, family safety kits, grocery packs and paid-leave compensation for at-risk associates, personal protective equipment provision, enhanced sanitation, and distance socialization, in addition to several other admirable displays of leadership. NatureSweet staff also received special training, bonuses, and weekly socially distanced thank-you lunches, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to social responsibility and its people.
On top of going the extra mile to ensure the safety of its employees, NatureSweet has also invested up to $5 million in food donations and donated over 1.3 million pounds of produce to food banks across the United States and Mexico, as well as donated safety kits to communities where it operates.
Actively engaging in its professional mission of “tomatoes raised right,” NatureSweet puts people at the center of what it does. Through its collaboration with EFI, NatureSweet has worked to transform the lives of agricultural workers by providing training, tools, and a work environment to actively collaborate with management for higher levels of assurance to customers and consumers. The company currently has five EFI-certified locations throughout the United States and Mexico, earning its first certification in 2016.
We here at ANUK offer our biggest congratulations to NatureSweet and Equitable Food Initiative on this amazing accomplishment and a successful alliance!
