Social Responsibility
We are committed to social responsibility by engaging in community initiatives, promoting sustainable resource use, and creating economic opportunities.
Community Involvement
At Superior Foods, Community is one of our core values. Through partnerships with local organizations and active volunteerism, we are dedicated to making a positive impact where we live and work. Our initiatives aim to support food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, and education. We believe in the power of community and are proud to support the important work of local organizations. Here are some ways we were involved in 2024:
- 330 employee volunteer hours using paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO); every Superior Foods employee gets 40 hours of paid VTO annually.
- Nearly 150k lbs of frozen food donated to food banks across the country, equating to 123,000 meals.
- Supporting our local food bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, our employees volunteer regularly at the newest food pantry, Nourish, inside Watsonville Community Hospital. This program is specifically for pre- and post-natal mothers and their families, helping to establish healthy eating habits during pivotal development phases.
- In partnership with Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, we sponsor fundraising events, donate frozen food, and regularly volunteer to help serve hot food at their daily free lunch program.
- Our volunteers have supported Jacob’s Heart Cancer Support Services for over a decade, helping deliver weekly groceries through their Full Hearts program to families with children battling cancer. In 2024, we sponsored a Teen Cooking Class for siblings of children battling cancer and hosted a Pajama Drive at our office, donating almost 90 sets of pajamas for kids to wear to and from treatment appointments. At the end of the year, our team always comes together to support Jacob’s Heart’s Adopt-a-Family, and we all pitch in to fulfill holiday wish lists for local families.
- Advancing school and community gardens is critical for decreasing food and nutrition insecurity in our community, and that’s why we have sponsored Starlight Elementary School’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen in partnership with Life Lab, as well as Community Health Trust’s Muzzio Park Community Garden.
Sustainability
As global population expands and new markets develop, the need to make continual progress in our sustainability efforts grows. We work with our global partners to develop and implement socially and environmentally responsible agriculture practices to be positive impactful stewards of the environment and the communities in which we work.
In our daily activities we make it a priority to focus on saving energy, recycling, reducing paper usage, reusing resources, and reviewing transportation efficiency.
Guatemala Highland Alliance
Operating in both the developed and developing countries, we're in a unique position to help rural communities. We encourage responsible and sustainable agriculture practices that promote economic activity and reduce poverty.
One such project is our partnership with the Sustainable Food Lab, Oxfam, CIAT, Target, and Alimento's Sumar in an ambitious and innovative partnership called the “Guatemala Highland Value Chain Development Alliance". The project contributes to the improved livelihood of nearly 3,500 rural households.
This video describes the scope and reach of the Guatemala Highland Value Chain Development Alliance.