The FruitGuys Successfully Recertifies as a California B Corp

It’s 2016, and I’m sitting in the conference room at The FruitGuys’ office in South San Francisco, California. Chris, our CEO at the time, leans forward and asks, “So, we want to move forward with B Corp?” I don’t have to think about my answer, and neither does Erik, our president. We both respond with a resounding, “Yes!”

Becoming a Certified B Corp felt like a no-brainer at the time, and it still does today.

Leveling Up the Good: Why We Became a California B Corp

B Corps are companies that use business as a force for good. The FruitGuys has donated produce to people in need since 1998 and supported small farms with grants since 2012. Becoming a California-based B Corp (which we did in 2019) has helped us tell that story and keep raising the bar nationwide. It also meant baking our GoodWorks into our legal operating agreement. We’re officially committed, in writing, to donating a minimum value of 20% of our annual profits every year. (Last year, we donated 31%!)

Continuing to B the Best We Can B

Becoming a B Corp wasn’t easy, and neither is holding onto that certification. We have to recertify every three years through B Lab. This year, the recertification process involved over 300 questions and conversations with the B Lab team about how we’re using our business to do good in the world. Our head of impact, Sheila, spent hundreds of hours on the project.

Now, I’m happy to report that Sheila’s hard work paid off: The FruitGuys has successfully recertified as a B Corp!

Our whole team is celebrating this win right now, not only because it validates our work but also because it gives us a framework to think about how we can do even better. I believe businesses have a unique responsibility and opportunity to support positive change in our communities, and B Lab pushes us to do just that. Right now, we’re focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our nationwide snack deliveries and further supporting our employees.

There are so many B Corps in California and beyond doing amazing things in the world, and we’re humbled to be one of them. Thank you for supporting us and helping make that possible. It sounds cliché, but we truly couldn’t do this without you.