Landmark achievement gives food brands and consumers additional assurances in the responsible sourcing of ofi’s California almonds.

ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients, has earned America’s first Rainforest Alliance certification for its California orchards, underscoring the company’s extensive sourcing and sustainability capabilities. 

As one of the world’s largest almond growers with orchards in California and Australia, ofi’s certification is good news for makers and consumers of almond-based food and drink products, from cereal bars and trail mixes to milk alternatives and flours. It not only demonstrates responsible almond sourcing practices to customers but also highlights ofi’s dedication to its ambitious ‘Almond Trail‘ sustainability product strategy. 

ofi’s approach to producing high-quality, flavorful almonds with a lower carbon footprint is driven by its pioneering partnerships with the Almond Board of California and the California Water Action Collaborative, as well as universities and labs. The collaboration focuses on incorporating high levels of mechanization and the latest agronomy practices to improve water-use efficiency, ensure best-practice pollinator management techniques, and increase orchard carbon capture activities. 

“We’re happy that ofi joined hands with us to certify their almond ranches in California. It’s great to see their commitment to improving practices within the almond industry, from managing pests and chemicals responsibly to enhancing soil and supporting biodiversity. This move broadens the choices for sustainability-conscious consumers, who can now enjoy Rainforest Alliance certified almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews.” – Michelle Deugd, Director Forest and Agriculture, Rainforest Alliance

Damien Houlahan, Head of Almonds at ofi: “Our approach to responsible almond farming and supply chain transparency is ambitious, but it goes hand in hand with delivering high-quality products to our customers – and their consumers. This certification reflects our relentless pursuit of making every almond count toward a more sustainable and equitable future. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved with ofi, from our orchard teams to our operations teams, who have committed to upholding the rigorous standards set by the Rainforest Alliance.” 

As ofi continues its sustainability efforts under its ‘Almond Trail’ strategy, customers and partners can look forward to the first impact report detailing its 2023 progress, set to be published later this year. 

Discover much more about what ofi has to offer at ofi.com

About ofi

ofi (olam food ingredients) is a new operating group born out of Olam. ofi offers sustainable, natural, value-added food products and ingredients so that consumers can enjoy the healthy and indulgent products they love. It consists of industry-leading businesses of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices. ofi has built a unique global value chain presence including its own farming operations, farm-gate origination, and manufacturing facilities. ofi partners with customers, leveraging its complementary and differentiated portfolio of ‘on-trend’ food products, to co-create solutions that anticipate and meet changing consumer preferences as demand increases for healthier food that’s traceable and sustainable.

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About Olam

Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed and fibre to 20,200 customers worldwide. Our value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing and distribution operations, as well as a global network of farmers. Through our purpose to ‘Re-imagine Global Agriculture and Food Systems’, Olam Group aims to address the many challenges involved in meeting the needs of a growing global population, while achieving positive impact for farming communities, our planet and all our stakeholders. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Olam Group currently ranks among the top 30 largest primary listed companies in terms of market capitalization on SGX-ST. Since June 2020, Olam Group has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global sustainable investment index series developed by FTSE Russell, following a rigorous assessment of Olam’s supply chain activities, impact on the environment and governance transparency. The FTSE4Good Index Series identifies companies that demonstrate strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and is used by a variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds. More information on Olam can be found at www.olamgroup.com. Olam is located at 7 Straits View, Marina One East Tower #20-01, Singapore 018936. Telephone: +65 63394100, Facsimile: +65 63399755.

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance, an international non-profit organization, works to restore the balance between people and nature for both to thrive in harmony. Active in nearly 60 countries, its alliance brings together farm and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals to drive positive change in some of the world’s critically important landscapes and global supply chains. The Rainforest Alliance implements landscape and community projects, engages in advocacy, and works to improve markets by putting farm and forest communities at the center. In 2022, the Rainforest Alliance partnered with more than 4 million farmers and workers, and millions of consumers around the world can find the Rainforest Alliance seal on over 54,000 of their favorite products. 

https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tag/2020-certification-program