The push for sustainability in agriculture has seen numerous companies adopting innovative practices. Efforts include reducing plastic packaging, optimizing water and nutrient use, and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Supermarkets are also joining the movement, implementing measures like zero-waste goals, sustainable packaging and supporting local farmers.
A standout in this shift toward sustainability is Grupo Los GLC Cerritos (GLC), whose initiatives highlight the benefits and possibilities of sustainable agriculture. Towards the close of August 2023, the prominent Mexico avocado grower-packer from Jalisco received the Sustainable Grower of The Year award at the seventh annual Jalisco Avocado Congress in Ciudad Guzmán; the fourth time in a row that the company—also based in Ciudad Guzmán—has received the recognition.
Far from being mere favoritism, GLC Cerritos’ director of sustainability, Armando García Angulo, says that the award reflects a commitment to sustainable practices that stretches back years and places the company apart from many of its industry peers.
With over 1,300 hectares (around 3,000 acres) of Hass avocados, around 40% of which date to within the past four years, GLC Cerritos is big on sustainable certification. The company has been certified by Global G.A.P. since 2013 for food safety and also received recognition for social and environmental practices from the organization in 2018. In 2017, GLC Cerritos became the first avocado producer and packer in Mexico to gain Rainforest Alliance certification.
The company’s most recent certification came in 2024 when GLC Cerritos’ farms and its packing facility were permitted to use the Fair Trade USA label. “This certification is focused on respect for the human and labor rights of our workers, but it also touches on environmental aspects,” says García Angulo.
Since joining in March 2024, García Angulo has focused on building GLC Cerritos’ sustainability strategy moving forward based on corporate governance, human rights, labor rights, the environment and combating corruption. One of the first fruits of this effort has been signing the company up to the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative where companies commit to sustainable and socially-responsible policies. “Being accepted into this initiative will allow us to advance further in terms of sustainability,” says García Angulo.
On the social side, García Angulo stresses that all workers at GLC Cerritos receive above the minimum Mexican wage, while freedom of expression and access to clean water and medical services are guaranteed.
“Our focus is on looking after our collaborators—we are convinced that if we do that, they will be happier in their work and, for that reason, more productive,” he says. GLC Cerritos is equally clearly defined in terms of its environmental responsibilities. All of the company’s orchards are served by drip irrigation, one of the most efficient means of distributing water currently available. In addition, the company utilizes a system to track humidity in the soil, sending alerts when the drip irrigation needs to be turned on.
GLC Cerritos also uses the system to apply nutrients and fertilizers to orchards based on up-to-the-minute data on nutrients already present in the soil. “Before we apply any fertilizer, we carry out an evaluation of the nutrients that are currently in the soil and only apply those that aren’t present at that moment to avoid contamination,” explains García Angulo.
Close to Ciudad Guzmán, the neighboring state of Michoacán—the epicenter of Mexico’s avocado industry—has been devastated by avocado-driven deforestation over the past decade. Driven by the US$2.7 billion annual avocado trade with the United States, rampant deforestation to make way for avocado orchards has taken place over recent years.
GLC Cerritos’ response is a reforestation program—since 2017, the company has been planting native forest trees inside its production sites. “They have a lot of benefits—they help us in terms of biodiversity, and encourage the presence of pollinators and beneficial insects for controlling pests. They also help our orchards to retain more water and to become more resistant to the effects of climate change.”
The trees, says García Angulo, also act as windbreakers, sheltering the orchards against strong winds, as well as encouraging greater numbers of migratory birds. García Angulo notes that GLC Cerritos is not an organic-certified grower—although it does have a USDA Organic certification for its avocado packhouse—but he says the company makes use of organic or natural pest control systems in the first instance, and only turns to agro-chemicals in extreme situations.
García Angulo admits there is work for GLC Cerritos still to do. Around 60% of the avocado volume exported by the company is produced by third-party growers, which until recently has been outside of direct control of GLC Cerritos when it comes to implementing sustainability policies. To extend sustainability throughout its supply chain, García Angulo says the grower-packer is planning to put in place a monitoring system covering deforestation risks using Global Forest Watch, a satellite monitoring platform that tracks the loss of forests at an international level.
Taking The Lead
A couple of thousand miles north is another company making waves with its sustainability efforts. It may have its headquarters in Kingsville, Ontario, but Red Sun Farms—which produces greenhouse products including tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers—is far from a Canada-only company. Rather, the greenhouse produce specialist operates farms in Mexico (La Piedad, Michoacán, as well as Penjamo and San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato) and the United States (Dublin, VA), and also has distribution centers as far as Narita in Japan.
But as well as being a greenhouse-production powerhouse—one of the largest in North America that controls the entire growing process from seed selection, to propagation, harvest, transportation, and delivery—Red Sun is also increasingly being recognized for its sustainable credentials.
As with GLC Cerritos, reducing plastic packaging forms a key pillar of the company’s sustainability strategy through the use of eco-friendly packaging materials, which is combined with optimizing logistics to reduce carbon emissions.
According to Red Sun’s chief executive, Carlos Visconti, some of the most successful examples of sustainable packaging achieved to date by the company include transitioning to a range that features recyclable rigid plastics, compostable and recyclable fiber solutions, and recyclable films and bags. Packs are also clearly identified as having originated from recyclable materials.
“Our focus on packaging has been to identify solutions that maintain product integrity and quality during its shelf life and distribution,” says Visconti. “This has shifted our focus to identifying solutions that are recyclable, versus the elimination of plastic.” Visconti
Through technology, Visconti says, Red Sun has successfully increased post-consumer resin (PCR) levels—a type of plastic made from discarded materials—in plastic, and transitioned to recyclable bags and washable labels. Where possible, he says the company is also working to reduce its reliance on plastic materials by moving from clamshells to top seal on snacking tomatoes, from polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—a widely used polymer—to fiber on organic grapes, and by removing plastic on individual cucumbers for wrapped club packs. “As new technologies emerge, our packaging team continues to work on identifying recyclable films and the reduction of materials where available,” says Visconti.
As a company, he says sustainability drives Red Sun’s operations, highlighting its high-tech greenhouses which are “designed to be incredibly efficient” by optimizing land use, reducing water and nutrient consumption, and producing a significantly high yield per acre. “Our team has been focusing on technology and automation within the greenhouse, as well as sustainable materials in our consumer-packaged goods,” he says.
However, Visconti emphasizes that Red Sun’s focus on sustainability begins as early as seed selection with the company specifically choosing seeds that are optimized for advanced greenhouse growing conditions, but which also contribute to sustainable agriculture. Red Sun achieves this, he explains, by prioritizing seeds that “promote robust growth, disease resistance, and optimal efficiency.” In this way, Visconti says the company ensures its greenhouse practices are environmentally friendly from the start by making sure farms minimize any unnecessary waste.
During the propagation stage, Visconti says there is also a focus on optimizing water usage and creating an environment where young plants can thrive sustainably. “Our propagation methods not only support the health of our crops but also protect the local resources,” he says.
This care with water usage leads to a lower environmental impact than traditional growing methods while also producing higher yields, according to Visconti. Recycled water and nutrients also significantly reduce Red Sun’s resource footprint.
The company also makes ample use of beneficial bait plants and “good bugs” as part of its integrated pest management (IPM) program, while it uses bees for pollination and has invested in misting systems to maintain an ideal temperature in its greenhouses. These practices not only enhance the health and quality of Red Sun’s crops but also protect and preserve the environment for future generations, according to Visconti.
According to Visconti, the principles and foundation of greenhouse farming are rooted in sustainable practices. “Being sustainable means investing in technology and automation in the greenhouse, utilizing materials that are eco-friendly, and optimizing our logistics to minimize carbon emissions,” he says. “All of these steps are an investment in feeding future generations and minimizing environmental impact.”
Retailers Increase Focus on Sustainability
Supermarkets are also increasingly becoming pivotal players in the sustainability movement. Retail giants like U.K.-based Tesco, U.S.-based Walmart and Kroger, and France-based Carrefour have implemented innovative measures to enhance sustainability in their operations.
Tesco, for instance, has committed to becoming a zero-carbon business by 2050 and is working towards reducing food waste by implementing a ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ range, which sells misshapen but edible produce at a discount. It is also trialing using lasers to etch product information on some of its avocados to avoid using barcode stickers. High-powered lasers remove a small section of avocado skin, leaving a tattoo with information such as size or variety for customers and cashiers. U.K. supermarkets are reducing plastic to meet environmental goals, with Tesco targeting net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including products and supply chains.
Tesco’s avocado initiative, in collaboration with Westfalia Fruit, eliminates the need for barcode stickers, which are often forgotten and left on during recycling. The trial is in around 270 stores in southeast England and, if successful, will expand to all shops, potentially saving nearly a million plastic stickers annually on loose, extra-large avocados.
Tesco is also testing a switch from plastic tray packaging to recyclable cardboard for two popular avocado lines. If successful, this could eliminate more than 20 million pieces of plastic tray packaging annually from the twin-pack avocados alone.
Meanwhile, Walmart in 2017 initiated Project Gigaton, aiming to remove one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 2030. This project involves suppliers in reducing emissions through more sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and waste reduction practices. The retailer has also set a goal to achieve zero waste in its U.S. and Canadian operations by 2025. In the fresh produce sector, this involves improving supply chain efficiency and inventory management to reduce spoilage. The company donates surplus produce to food banks and other charitable organizations, helping to prevent food waste and support those in need.
In May 2023, Kroger was named a SEAL Business Sustainability Awards winner in the Environmental Initiatives category, in recognition of its signature Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan. In the first five years of its plan, Kroger and its associates achieved $1.65 billion in hunger relief contributions, which included the donation of 582 million pounds of surplus food, amounting to 2.9 billion meals directed to communities.
Similarly, Carrefour has introduced a range of initiatives including reducing plastic usage, promoting local and organic products, and implementing blockchain technology to ensure food traceability and transparency.
These are just a few examples of the plethora of supermarket chains around the world increasing their focus on sustainability. As well as being good for the environment, these efforts tap into consumer values and help supermarkets increase sales by meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly products.
The Economic Case for Sustainability
Over the coming years, Visconti expects to see more advancements in managing resources at the greenhouse level, including the development of new materials for packaging, increased efficiencies in transportation, and the improved management of materials in recycling facilities. As part of this process, Visconti thinks retailers and growers will increasingly hold each other accountable, monitoring year-over-year improvements and measuring their environmental footprint. “Sustainability is deeply embedded in the DNA of the agricultural industry, and this collaborative effort will drive continuous innovation and progress,” he predicts.
However, Visconti cautions that the costs of achieving more sustainable operations cannot just be rolled through to the retailer and the consumer, even though inflation-linked budgetary restrictions have already caused many shoppers to change their purchasing habits. “Given today’s environmental factors, it is too early to see a return on investment, however, the team is doing everything we can internally to smart spend, minimizing our internal costs which include our investment costs for sustainability,” he notes.
In the case of GLC Cerritos, García Angulo says the avocado exporter is thoroughly convinced that working in a sustainable way not only has social, environmental and reputational benefits, but also economic benefits.
“Speaking in particular about avocados, being certified by the Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade has opened many doors in international markets,” he says. “Thanks to these certifications, we have been able to increase our volume of business. Working in a sustainable way has also enabled us to be better prepared for unexpected events.”
One such event cited by García Angulo is the current European Union (EU) ban on the importation of agricultural products linked to deforestation. In August 2023, the European Parliament voted in favor of new legislation prohibiting access to the EU bloc of fresh produce and other goods produced on land where forests have been cleared. The new regulation applies to cacao, coffee, palm oil, beef, soy, charcoal, rubber, wood, and associated products including chocolate, furniture and leather.
“At the moment, only a limited number of products are affected, but we are aware that avocados could soon join this list,” says García Angulo. “Therefore, having sustainable certification means that—once avocados join this list—we avoid having any problems to continue doing business.”
García Angulo says that the avocado industry has been highlighted across national and international media as an industry that causes a negative impact in terms of deforestation, as well as to the wider population in regards to the use of agrochemicals. “Our sustainability strategy has served to show our customers that Grupo Los GLC Cerritos does things in a different way,” he says. “Since we’ve started working in sustainability, it’s been good for the business, and we’ve proved it.”
