Houweling’s Tomatoes Achieves ‘Best’ Rating By Whole Foods Market

Camarillo, CA: In September of 2013 Houweling’s Tomatoes was among a group of top produce suppliers invited by Whole Foods Market to hear firsthand the retailer’s plan to launch a Responsibly Grown rating system. Taking queues from similar programs implemented in their meat, fish, beauty and other departments, the grocer laid out the framework for what was recently launched. After completing the assessment process, Houweling’s Tomatoes Camarillo farm earned a “Best” rating for its tomatoes.

“When we first learned of the program we were excited,” said David Bell, Houweling’s Tomatoes CMO.

“As a sustainable greenhouse farming leader, many of the measurements identified by Whole Foods Market’s Responsibly Grown program including air, energy, waste, farmworker welfare, water conservation, pest management, etc. were already in place within our operation. This allowed us to effeciently go through the program and achieve the ‘Best’ rating for our Camarillo farm. Our Delta, BC farm is currently navigating the rating system and we expect it to achieve a top rating in the next few weeks.”

The Whole Foods Market Responsibly Grown program is designed to create transparency as companies submit separate rating units for each farming location. This will allow the retailer’s produce team members to scan cases at store level, ensuring products meet Whole Foods Market’s standards and the ratings are properly communicated to their loyal customers.

Bell continues, “Unique to Houweling’s, we have complete control from seed through harvest, as a result of our specialized seedling propagation division. This point of difference contributed to Houweling’s commitment to only pack product grown on our farms under the Houweling’s label. This dovetails well with the Whole Foods Market program as systems were already in place ensuring transparency.”

Houweling’s Tomatoes grows year-round, sustainable greenhouse tomatoes on 175 acres in Camarillo,

CA, and Delta, BC. In January of 2015, Houweling’s will begin harvesting from their new 28 acre farm in Mona, UT. Led by Casey Houweling and his team, the company is committed to growing a full array of flavorful, sustainably grown, year-round tomatoes.

Source: Houweling’s Tomatoes