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Built to Last SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability isn't just a fad or a marketing tool here; at HWA, it's integrated into everything we do. It starts with our growers and carries into our almond processing facilities. Ag-tech solutions, food safety, and social impact help us stay at the forefront of our increasingly fine-tuned industry. Growing and processing almonds is often perceived as an energy and resource-intensive effort, but HWA is committed to using less to produce more.

Impact Report

Harris Woolf Almonds is pleased to present our 2023 Impact Report.

This year's impact report marks the halfway point on our journey to meeting our 2025 goals, and we've made some great headway over the years.

Click below to read this year's report or view previous impact reports.
www.mezafilms.com 559-246-4518

Harris Woolf is Sustained By

Bees

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.
www.mezafilms.com 559-246-4518

Harris Woolf is Sustained By

Water

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.
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Harris Woolf is Sustained By

Waste Reduction

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.
Coalinga Solar

Harris Woolf is Sustained By

Energy & Carbon Footprint

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.

Financially Incentivizing Sustainable Practices

We're serious about sustainable farming and that's why we financially incentivize our grower base to engage in sustainably and pollinator-friendly farming practices. We encourage growers to enroll in the California Almond Stewardship Platform (CASP), pollinator health certifications through Pollinator Partnership or Xerces Society, and EcoPractices. Depending on their level of participation in these platforms, they earn an annual bonus.
In 2023, Harris Woolf Almonds paid over $2.25 million directly to participating growers.

Making a Difference

As our sustainable almond supply grows in volume, our product portfolio attracts even more customers willing to pay a premium for sustainably grown products. We want to help our growers capture this value, and our grower relations team is eager to help you achieve the necessary certifications.
Dru Bond, HWA Grower Relations

Grower Showcase: Woolf Farming

Stringent resource planning is of critical importance for Woolf Farming — one of HWA's founding farms. Woolf Farming constantly works to make their operation more resourceful and bio-dynamic. For example, through effective tracking technologies, Woolf Farming has drastically reduced the amount of tractor time needed to farm; this results in higher soil quality and a carbon emissions offset of nearly 300,000 tons annually — the equivalent of taking 53,000 cars off the road!

Want to Learn More About Our Sustainability Efforts? Reach Out Today!