Nature and technology combine for Wholesum organic tomatoes

Wholesum Family Farms combines agricultural wisdom of past and present with its lineup of organic heirloom tomatoes.

“At this moment, we have the finest selection of organic heirloom tomatoes that we’ve ever grown, all grown under glass in our Arizona greenhouses,” said Joanna Jaramillo, marketing manager at Wholesum Family Foods.

Merging nature and technology acts as a through line for the nearly 100-year history of Wholesum, Jaramillo said. In the late 1920s, Miguel Crisantes began with his first tomato seeds in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, growing the earliest crops to make a living. The company eventually embraced growing strategies that enhance the “traditional charm” of heirloom tomatoes, Jaramillo said.

“[Wholesum] evolved into a greater endeavor, with each generation contributing something of significance to the company’s evolution,” Jaramillo said. “[Today] these greenhouse-grown organic heirloom tomatoes represent a revolution in our product line.”

Wholesum Family Farms grows organic tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumbers and eggplant on farms in California, Arizona and South Carolina. In Mexico, a dozen of the company’s organic farms operate along the Pacific Coast and on the Baja Peninsula. This combination of growing locations means Wholesum markets its organic, Fair Trade Certified products year-round.

Of the 600 acres of organic produce Wholesum manages, some produce is grown in open fields. However, most vegetables mature in Wholesum’s state-of-the-art greenhouses. In December 2022, the company opened a massive, all-glass organic greenhouse at the company’s headquarters in Amado, Arizona.

Wholesum’s greenhouses maintain an ideal heirloom tomato-growing habitat, using automatic air pressure and climate control systems. Drip irrigation and water recirculation control water use and beneficial insects help monitor any pest pressure.

Wholesum is often viewed as a pioneer in the organics industry, having first achieved organic certification in 1992. The company became the first Fair Trade Certified farm in the United States in 2012.

“[Wholesum] took on the role to elevate the concepts of sustainable production and further integrate them into other aspects of the operation,” Jaramillo said.

"[Today] these greenhouse-grown organic heirloom tomatoes represent a revolution in our product line.” - Joanna Jaramillo

In 2020, Wholesum identified farm inputs, from energy and water use to recycling and waste, and classified them as “renewable” or “nonrenewable.” Then the company set a goal to migrate all nonrenewable inputs to a more sustainable option. This strategy helps illustrate Wholesum’s business philosophy as the company nears a milestone year.

“As we approach our hundredth anniversary it makes us reflect on what the future holds for Wholesum,” Jaramillo said. “We will continue to innovate, embracing new technologies and practices to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and of course, the quality of our products.”