HAB Sustainability Task Force
Early in the new year, the Hass Avocado Board added a Sustainability Task Force to its roster of standing and special committees. During the 5 year (2021-2025) strategic planning process in 2020 the Board of Directors changed the focus of our previous sustainability efforts to that of a more core value program that the Board, and the industry must embrace as we move into the future.
To that end, the overall strategy on sustainability for our sustainability priority is to “strengthen the Hass avocado industry by developing research and data to inform practices that will fulfill today’s needs without compromising those of future generations. We acknowledge that sustainability practices across the supply chain may vary either geographically, or culturally.”
As a part of our overall strategy, one of the five year working goals is to establish the Hass Avocado Sustainability Center, as the premier provider of research, data, and information for the avocado industry. This task force, filled with established business men and women from throughout our avocado supply chain will be tasked with these three objectives to meet our five year working goals:
- Define the structure of the Center, and that is the work that is currently being undertaken by the task force. After this first goal is met, and structure criteria is developed and approved by the Board, the group will then tackle the other two objectives, and they are
- Establish the membership of the Center, and
- Conduct a robust strategic planning process, to establish, Purpose, Vision, and Mission, and to create the long term strategic plan for this new and exciting venture.
We will keep the industry posted as this work progresses, but we are moving in a positive direction, and one the industry supports. In our industry survey in late 2020, 80% of industry stakeholders who responded said that sustainability is either important, or very important to the future of the industry. This means that growers and importers alike agree we need to find our story, and our future when it comes to sustainability in our industry. The future is bright, and our work on sustainability will continue to make sure the positive stories of our industry are shared with customers and consumers who are engaged with sustainability.
Other Happenings
HAB Avocado Quality Manual – Giving the Industry a Quality Boost!
HAB is the only independent avocado organization in the world, and we equip the entire industry for success. This tool is another example of HAB’s investment into our collective future, and our way to help all stakeholders realize the success they work so hard to achieve.
HAB Webinar: Insider Tips for Leveraging HAB’s Free Data and Research
What’s driving avocado demand? Are societal trends impacting consumption? Data and research on these topics and more are available to you for free on the HAB website. Alejandro Gavito, HAB’s Senior Business Insights and Data Services Manager, will take you through key sections of our website to ensure that you’re equipped with the knowledge of how to access the tools, research and data that HAB offers to help your business.
A New Shopper Study Reveals a Growing Shopper Segment That Is Driving Avocado Sales: Discover What Opportunities Are Behind This Trend
The Bagged and Bulk Avocado Shopper Trends study shows a growing segment of shoppers looking for availability of bulk and bagged avocados in the retail marketplace and emphasizes the impact these shoppers may have on sustained growth in the avocado category.