Leading US grower-packer-shipper receives two 2026 Seal Sustainability Awards for its regenerative, climate‑positive tree fruit production
CMI Orchards has been named a 2026 Seal Sustainability Award winner in two categories, earning recognition for Sustainability Innovation for its Planet Positive programme and Sustainable Products for its carbon negative apples, pears, and cherries.
Each year, the Seal (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership) Business Awards recognise 50 of the world’s top sustainable companies for environmental initiatives that demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, and long-term commitment across industries and geographies.
CMI’s Planet Positive programme was recognised for a new approach to what sustainability looks like in commercial agriculture. Built on the belief that farming should give back more to the land than it takes, Planet Positive integrates carbon negative growing practices, regenerative soil health, waste upcycling, and transparent environmental reporting into CMI’s orchard systems. The programme is designed to benefit more than the environment, providing tangible benefits for growers, retail partners, and consumers seeking food produced with integrity and accountability.
“We are deeply honoured to receive the Seal Sustainable Innovation Award in recognition of our Planet Positive programme,” said Bob Mast, president of CMI Orchards.
“At its core, Planet Positive reflects our belief that farming should leave the land better than we found it. By cultivating carbon negative orchards, regenerating soil, producing nutrient-rich fruit, upcycling waste, and operating with transparency and trust, we’re helping move the fresh produce industry forward while giving families confidence in the food they bring home.”
In addition to the innovation award, CMI also received a Seal Sustainable Product Award for producing carbon negative apples, pears, and cherries—tree fruit that offsets and surpasses its on-farm emissions footprint.
CMI’s carbon negative fruit is supported by The Soil Center, a facility that operates a closed-loop system that converts orchard waste into regenerative soil amendments, to assist our growers with enhancing soil health and sequestering carbon in the soil long-term. These practices allow CMI growers to reduce waste, improve orchard resilience, and create measurable climate benefits at scale.
“We are honoured to receive the Seal Sustainable Product Award for our carbon negative apples, pears, and cherries,” said Rose Vejvoda, sustainability manager at CMI Orchards.
“This recognition highlights meaningful progress in regenerative agriculture and offers consumers fruit that fully offsets its growing emissions. Between 2022 and 2025, The Soil Center project generated more than 700,000 carbon credits by storing carbon in the soil, where it delivers lasting environmental value. We remain committed to expanding these practices, increasing sequestration, and strengthening sustainability across our supply chain.”
