Calavo Growers

No leading practices were identified for the company in the governance and strategy measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the environment measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the nutrition measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the social inclusion measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
While the company has time-bound sustainability objectives covering topics within the Food and Agriculture Benchmark’s three dimensions of environment, nutrition and social inclusion, it has an opportunity to disclose a sustainable development strategy and how it identifies and prioritises the topics where it has the most impact.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
The company’s sustainability and corporate responsibility committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of relevant sustainability and corporate social responsibility policies, strategies and programs. However, the company does not disclose the decision-making responsibilities of Board nor remuneration policy related to sustainability.

Stakeholder engagement
Although the company discloses it undertakes stakeholder engagement activities, it has an opportunity to expand these activities and disclose an overview of the topics discussed and their outcomes.

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
The company does not disclose quantitative evidence to demonstrate that it is reducing its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions.

Water use
The company does not disclose that it is reducing water withdrawals across its operations and supply chain.

Fertilisers and pesticides use
The company provides quantitative evidence of sustainable sourcing practices to optimise use of fertilisers and/or pesticides. Specifically, Calavo Growers reports on sales of organic products. However, the company has an opportunity to set a time-bound target to increase the percentage of food to be sourced from suppliers that optimise the use of fertilisers and pesticides.

Plastic use and packaging waste
While the company provides quantitative evidence of reducing plastic use, it can improve its performance by setting a time-bound target to reduce plastic use and transition to sustainable forms of packaging.

Availability of healthy foods
The company is involved in the production and distribution of fresh produce, thereby contributing to supporting the availability of healthy foods. However, it does not provide evidence of improving the nutritional quality of its packaged products.

Clear and transparent labelling
The company does not disclose that it provides nutritional information through clear, transparent and accurate labelling.

Food safety
The company provides evidence that 100% of its own operations are certified to a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognised food safety scheme. However, it does not disclose the percentage of suppliers audited according to GFSI Standards.

Child labour
While the company commits to prohibiting child labour in its own operations and requires its suppliers to adhere to the same standard, it has an opportunity to disclose a policy requiring its suppliers to have an age-verification system in place.

Forced labour
While the company commits to prohibiting forced labour in its own operations and supply chain, it has an opportunity to disclose a requirement that prohibits its suppliers from retaining workers’ personal documents and restricting workers’ freedom of movement.

Health and safety of vulnerable groups
The company does not disclose that it specifically recognises the health and safety risks to vulnerable groups, such as migrant and temporary labourers, women and young farmers.

Calavo Growers provides grievance mechanisms for both its workers and third parties. While the company has a publicly available statement of policy that expects its supply chain partners to commit to respecting all the ILO core labour rights, but it lacks a sufficient commitment for its own operations. There remains an opportunity for Calavo Growers to strengthen its commitment by disclosing an overall policy committing it to respecting human rights. Moreover, Calavo Growers does not provide evidence of a human rights due diligence process or substantial engagement with affected and potentially affected stakeholders.

Calavo Growers publicly commits to respecting the health and safety of the workers in both its operations and supply chain, but can improve its commitments by increasing its disclosure of key metrics related to these topics. Moreover, there is an opportunity for Calavo Growers to improve its commitment and disclosure on collective bargain agreements, living wage, workforce diversity and gender equality

The company discloses a privacy statement on the use and protection of personal data. While Calavo Growers publicly commits to prohibiting illegal payments to government officials, it does not disclose its lobbying approach and expenditures. Moreover, no evidence of relevant policies on other key ethical business topics – responsible tax and bribery and corruption – were found in the public domain.