2025 Real Leaders Impact Awards: The FruitGuys Is a ‘Top Impact Company’

Every year, the global media and membership platform Real Leaders® hands out awards to companies that act as forces of good in the world and “prioritize both profit and purpose.” The  FruitGuys made the cut in 2023 and 2024—and we’re thrilled to be on the Top Impact Companies list again for the 2025 Real Leaders Impact Awards!

The FruitGuys Stood Out

Real Leaders® named us a 2025 Top Impact Company, and we were also a semifinalist for a Most Impactful People award. That award goes to companies “transforming the lives of their employees.” In all, more than 300 companies applied for these honors from over fifteen countries. We’re proud to be one of the 135 that made the shortlist alongside other mission-minded businesses like Bevi and Alter Eco Foods. 

“We’re honored to be recognized by Real Leaders® for the third consecutive year as a Top Impact Company,” said Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO of The FruitGuys. “This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our team. It really shows just how much they care about leaving a positive impact on people and the planet.”

How Real Leaders® Chose the 2025 Real Leaders Impact Awards Winners

Real Leaders® considered our growth, our revenue, and how we measured up against its six pillars of I.M.P.A.C.T.: Intention, Model, People, Accountability, Collaboration, and Transformation. It also raised the bar for eligibility this year, making it even tougher for companies to earn recognition. 

Why We Made the Cut 

Giving back has been part of The FruitGuys’ mission since Chris Mittelstaedt and Pia Hinckle founded our company in 1998. It’s hard to say exactly what about our mission stood out most to Real Leaders®, but these are a few of our best guesses. 

• Sourcing with Purpose – We partner with small-scale, independent, and/or family-owned farms and food producers across the US that share our values and our dedication to quality and sustainability
• Donating Profits – We donate a minimum value of 20% of our annual profits to feed people in need and help farmers
• Relieving Hunger – Every week, we donate excess and imperfect produce and snacks to hunger relief organizations across the country
• Supporting Small Farms – Through The FruitGuys Community Fund (TFGCF), we award annual grants to small farms for sustainability projects
• Facilitating Client Giving – We make it easy for clients to support charities with healthy food through our Donate-a-Crate program
• People-First Culture – We survey our team annually on how we can improve our work environment and have an employee-led committee that helps us maintain a positive, supportive workplace where employee wellbeing and work-life balance come first
• B Corp Certification – The FruitGuys jumped through all of the hoops to become a Certified B Corporation, showing our dedication to people and the planet 

In 2024, we delivered more than 25 million pieces of fruit, donated nearly a million servings to people in need, and awarded twenty grants to small-scale farms. 

“At The FruitGuys, we believe doing good is just as important as doing business,” said Sheila Cassani, The FruitGuys’ Head of Impact. 

Where We’re Going From Here

We’re proud to be a 2025 Real Leaders Impact Awards Top Impact Company, and we hope to keep living up to that name by continuing the GoodWorks programs listed above. Right now we’re focused on TFGCF, which is taking applications for our 2025 small farm grants. If you’d like to apply or support our efforts to help farmers, you can do that here.