Whole Foods*

In December 2023, Whole Foods Market released a written, publicly available pollinator health policy that requires 100% of fresh produce and floral suppliers to adopt ecological farming methods called integrated pest management (IPM), as verified by a vetted list of third-party certifiers, by 2025. The policy includes a clear definition of IPM as a system that “prioritizes cultural, physical, and mechanical measures for pest prevention. Only when these measures are not fully effective should chemical pest control materials be used.” The policy also requires all suppliers of potted plants to eliminate use of nitroguanidine neonicotinoids and encourages fresh produce and floral suppliers to phase out use. The policy recognizes organic agriculture as protective of pollinator health as a system that “prohibits many harmful, persistent pesticides.” Whole Foods could expand its policy by setting measurable, timebound goals for reducing pesticides of concern in produce and other food supply chains and by including language on the importance of avoiding regrettable substitutes and a list of common regrettable substitutes for neonics. Whole Foods Market reports that it has met and exceeded Friends of the Earth’s ask to increase certified organic food and beverages to more than 15 percent of overall offerings or sales by 2025.

Whole Foods Markets’ policy does not include any timebound or measurable commitments to phase out pesticides of concern in its food or beverage supply chains.

Commitment to reduce pesticide use

5 out of 15 points

Avoiding regrettable substitutes

0 out of 5 points

Commitment to least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

10 out of 10 points

Commitment to organic

15 out of 15 points

Whole Foods Market, via its partnership with the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), received credit for a pilot-scale commitment to track pesticide use in its supply chain and to support growers to shift to least-toxic approaches. EFI certification requires an implemented integrated pest management (IPM) plan that includes a stepped approach starting with biological controls followed by cultural, physical, and finally chemical responses. EFI growers also use the Pesticide Risk Tool (PRT) developed by the IPM Institute to track all pesticide applications. The Pesticide Risk Tool tracks total pounds of pesticides used and also helps growers identify high risk uses of pesticides to reduce.

Whole Foods Market’s pollinator policy includes a timebound commitment for 100% of fresh produce and floral suppliers to adopt ecological farming methods called integrated pest management (IPM), as verified by a vetted list of third-party certifiers, by 2025..

Whole Foods Market states that organic food and beverages exceed 20 percent of overall offerings or sales.

Whole Foods Market reports supporting U.S. organic growers in a number of ways. Whole Foods Market offers a Local Producer Loan Program for loans between $10,000 – $100,000 to support small-scale local and organic farmers. Whole Foods Market reports providing price floors for farmers via its Whole Trade program, which includes organic farmers, and supports farmer training and research on organic practices via support for The Organic Center, the Organic Farming Research Foundation, California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation and the Ecological Farming Association.

Whole Foods Market reports advocating for public policies that support the expansion of U.S. organic agriculture. The company reported to Friends of the Earth that, since 1990, it has advocated for strong organic standards through engagement with the USDA National Organic Program and the National Organic Standards Board, including providing written comment, oral testimony, and general background feedback to USDA on numerous occasions. Whole has also advocated for increased funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), increased funding for the National Organic Program, and stronger enforcement of organic standards via participation with the Organic Trade Association.

Track pesticide use in supply chain

3 out of 10 points

Measurably reduce pesticide use

0 out of 15 points

Prioritize least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

20 out of 20 points

Prioritize USDA certified organic

25 out of 25 points

Support domestic organic growers

15 out of 15 points

Support public policies

5 out of 5 points

Whole Foods Market has a publicly available pollinator health policy related to reducing use of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health and expanding use of integrated pest management in its produce supply chain. Whole Foods Market is a certified organic retailer and has a publicly available commitment to expand organic offerings on its website. Whole Foods Market has extensive content on its website focused on educating consumers about the value of organic food and farming to human health, pollinators and the environment. Whole Foods also has a pollinator health webpage and works with collaborators to help raise awareness about the critical role of pollinators in the food system.

Whole Foods Market does not appear to include reduction of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health or expansion of organic offerings in company Key Performance Indicators or other formal sustainability criteria. Whole Foods Market does not have educational content on the value of decreasing use of toxic pesticides for pollinator health.

Make policies and commitments publicly available

6 out of 6 points

Oversight

0 out of 5 points

Educate consumers

5 out of 10 points

Whole Foods Market has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year and has briefed Friends of the Earth about meaningful action the company has taken related to the criteria covered by this scorecard in the past three years

Whole Foods Market confirmed with Friends of the Earth that the company does not sell any home & garden products containing neonicotinoids or glyphosate.

Whole Foods Market has made a public commitment to phase out use of neonicotinoids in potted plants.

Policy for live goods

4 out of 4 points

Policy for on-shelf pesticide products

5 out of 5 points

Whole Foods’ pollinator health policy includes a clear timeline of 2025 as the target for produce suppliers to achieve third-party certification for Integrated Pest Management (IPM).