Built to Last SUSTAINABILITY

During February and March, beekeepers and their honey bees travel to California. That's the largest movement of pollinators in the world, and it transforms hundreds of billions of almond blossoms into hundreds of billions of delicious almonds. So you can understand why Harris Woolf proudly supports a number of leading non-profit organizations devoted to the health of bees and other invertebrates. Partnerships with organizations like Pollinator Partnership and Xerces Society continuously help our growers establish pollinator-friendly habitats in their orchards. Woolf Farming, for example, is one of Harris Woolf’s founding almond farms that uses cutting-edge bee-friendly farming practices. They have planted nearly 200 acres of pollinator habitats, including 50 diverse plant species, all of which help honey bees and other pollinators thrive.

Water: The most essential input in the almond industry. The future of almond farming and almond products depends on prioritizing creative ways to be more efficient with how we use this key resource. Harris Woolf Almonds is committed to implementing new systems, both within our processing facilities and almond orchards, in order to get the most utility out of every drop. Our growers invest in water flow monitors to better regulate water usage, eliminate waste, and avoid water shortages. Additionally, over 95% of our growers have moved from traditional irrigation methods to utilize sophisticated water-saving technologies. Our processing facilities are also dedicated to reducing their water footprints with initiatives like recapturing wastewater and reusing it as irrigation water for crops.

HWA and the California almond industry are on a journey towards zero waste. Along with the almond kernel, almond trees produce an outer hull and almond shell. HWA doesn’t let this organic matter go to waste. Both co-products are used locally, the hulls as livestock feed and the shells as road base or bedding for cattle. Whole Orchard Recycling is another method used by our growers to reduce waste. At the end of an almond tree’s useful life, the trees are chipped and reincorporated into the soil. This sequesters carbon in the ground and offers a wide range of environmental benefits. Our team is consistently looking for new ways to repurpose byproducts and reduce waste.

Many sustainability programs and projects centered around energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions are in the works at HWA. Based on assessments conducted by independent agencies, we have a thorough understanding of our plants' carbon footprint and energy efficiency — but there is always room for improvement. Both of our facilities have large solar projects, reducing our dependance on traditional, non-renewable energy sources. By 2025, 50% of energy usage from our facilities will be from renewable sources. Further, we're committed to lowering GHG emissions from our facilities by 25% by 2025.