The Sustainability in the Food Industry Award, presented by The Shelby Report, honors trailblazers reducing environmental impact, supporting communities, and innovating across the food supply chain. This year, we’re spotlighting nominees in four key categories: Retailer Initiatives (e.g., energy-efficient stores and waste reduction), Vendor & Supply Chain Innovations (e.g., carbon-neutral logistics), Sustainable Workforce (e.g., employee training for green practices), and Collaborative Impact & Industry Leadership (e.g., industry-wide coalitions). These forward-thinking companies and organizations are driving real change in how we grow, package, and deliver food – proving sustainability isn’t just a trend, it’s the future.
Discover this years innovators leading the charge in food industry sustainability – from farm to table.
2025 Sustainability Award Winners
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2025 Sustainability in the Food IndustryG&R Farms
Glennville, Georgia, G&R Farms
Read MoreAt G&R Farms, sustainability is at the heart of everything it does. As stewards of the land, the company’s goal is to grow the sweetest Vidalia onions possible while conserving resources, reducing waste and ensuring the health of workers and soil for generations to come.
Less is more – Through precision planting, G&R Farms carefully selects sweet onion varieties and matches them with the right sowing and transplanting dates. This approach enhances taste, appearance and shelf-life while minimizing inputs. The use of sandy, low-sulfur soils and diverse crop rotations keeps the land healthy and productive. G&R Farms focuses on what matters most – onions that look beautiful, taste exceptional and stay fresh longer.
Strategic field management – G&R Farms strikes a balance between consistency and innovation, utilizing larger fields for reliable production while testing new methods in smaller fields. By practicing conservative fertilization and harvest timing in core acreage, it reduces environmental impact while continuing to advance farming practices in targeted areas. This ensures dependable supply and continuous improvement in sustainability.
Resource-smart farming – Recent changes to G&R Farms’ planting strategy has allowed it to reduce the total planted area by 160 acres while increasing planting density by 20 percent. This innovation results in brighter, more uniform onions and higher yields – meeting consumer demand with fewer acres. These changes also drive significant conservation gains:
• Water – Saving more than 21 million gallons of irrigation water each year.
• Fertilizer – Cutting fertilizer use by 15 percent thanks to advanced precision application technology, which improves efficiency and protects the land.Every decision made is guided by a belief that farming must not only nourish people today but also preserve the land for tomorrow. By embracing precision, efficiency and innovation, G&R Farms ensures that its Vidalia onions are truly “Grown with Passion, Served with Pride.”
Presented by The Shelby-Griffin Report
The Shelby Report is the grocery industry’s leading news source, serving the food supply chain since 1967. With decades of in-depth journalism and strategic partnerships with NGA and FMI, we are dedicated to educating and informing the industry. We are proud to present this award to honor sustainability leaders.