In December 2023 Whole Foods Market adopted a produce and floral sourcing policy that prohibits pesticides harmful to bees and other pollinators. The rule, which takes full effect in 2025, requires suppliers to comply through disclosures or certifications.

The strategy builds on the 530-store chain’s 44-year commitment to support food production that downplays chemicals in favor of “climate-smart” techniques. 

Trellis Editor-at-Large Heather Clancy will discuss it with Whole Foods Vice President of Sustainability Caitlin Leibert on the next episode of Climate Pioneers, a live interview series that features innovators working to mitigate the climate crisis. 

The conversation will cover:

• Details of the new Whole Foods pollinator policy and how it was developed
• How Whole Foods considers biodiversity in its sourcing decisions
• Leibert’s best practices for training employees and suppliers
• Certifications for biodiversity and other “climate-smart” measures
• Intersections between Whole Foods’ nature strategy and its emissions reduction goals
• How Whole Foods collaborates with Amazon, its parent company, on sustainability

Guest: Caitlin Leibert, vice president of sustainability, Whole Foods Interviewer: Heather Clancy, editor-at-large, Trellis Group