Our Sustainability Pledge

Dedicated to developing industry leaders

• Shuman Farms is dedicated to the personal and professional development of our team, supporting membership in industry organizations and the attendance of continuing education opportunities to build strong leaders in the produce industry.
• We strive to maintain a team of long-term experts in the field, with grower partnerships of over 25 years and a majority of Shuman Farms employees holding a role within the company for 5+ years.

Sustainable practices focused on conservation

• Shuman Farms is committed to sustainable farming practices aimed at water conservation, reducing soil erosion, and responsible pest and disease control. 
• We continue to improve on our Integrated Pest Management Plan including efforts in pollinator protection, herb/ pesticide drift, buffers, and habitat protection. 
• We also continue to improve our soil health and management by conducting soil tests, variable rate fertilization, irrigation, erosion control (grassed waterways, terraces, etc.), and soil biodiversity.
• All of our tractors are Tier IV emissions which use low carbon, diesel exhaust fuel (DEF).
• By conducting regular soil testing and targeting fertilizer application to specific field areas, we reduce usage while maintaining productivity. Additionally, we utilize cover crops to naturally enhance soil quality, supporting long-term agricultural sustainability.

Reducing plastics and increasing recycled packaging

• We continue to investigate alternatives to plastic, while also striving to reduce the amount of plastic material used in all of our consumer bags. 
• Shuman Farms has worked with our suppliers to adjust our packaging to utilize a third less plastic than the previous design. 
• Approximately 60% of our products sold each year are shipped in cardboard boxes that are 100% recyclable. 
• Proud partner of Box to Nature, a program led by the Paper and Packaging Board that helps organizations incorporate reusable packaging solutions into their supply chain.

Reducing our carbon footprint

• We are committed to creating efficiencies to reduce the carbon footprint at our packing facilities, replacing incandescent lights with LED bulbs and using more efficient fuels in our tractors.
• We run high-speed bagging machines that increase production by 30% while utilizing the same amount of energy as a traditional bagger.
• Implemented some battery-powered forklifts at our facilities, with the hopes of converting all to battery as soon as possible.
• We have recently upgraded our cold storage systems in two of our facilities. Our Santa Claus, GA facility now has a more efficient and environmentally friendly CO2 system and our Hwy 280 location has nine new R454A systems to decrease environmental impact.

Giving back & creating a healthier generation

• In an effort to create a healthier generation, Shuman Farms is committed to educating consumers about healthy living through produce consumption alongside our sister company, Healthy Family Project. 
• We believe that as farmers and food producers in the US, it is our responsibility to shed light on hunger in America. Through our various charitable projects and programs, Shuman Farms and Healthy Family Project have donated more than 16 million meals to Feeding America.
• In June 2019, we started shipping our RealSweet® Vidalia® onions in special Feeding America bags. Summer break can be hard for the estimated 29.6 million students receiving free or reduced-cost meals at school. Shipping these special bags and providing a donation provides much-needed aid during this crucial time of year. We also ship our RealSweet onions from Peru in Feeding America bags each Nov. & Dec., another critical time of year.
• The Shuman Farms team regularly volunteers at their local food bank, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in Savannah, GA, as well as various food banks across the country in the communities where our products are sold. Click here to learn more about our giving back initiatives. 
• We commit to sponsoring community efforts to reduce litter along our roadways by participating in Georgia's Adopt-a-Highway program and sponsoring sections of the interstate system close to our corporate headquarters.