GrubMarket Honored with The Shelby Report’s 2025 “Sustainability in the Food Industry” Award for its Groundbreaking Sustainable California Initiative

We are proud to announce that GrubMarket has been selected as a winner of the 2025 “Sustainability in the Food Industry Award” from The Shelby Report for our Sustainable California initiative.

Recognizing Leadership in Food System Sustainability

The Shelby Report, a leading publication covering grocery, retail, and food industry news for over 50 years, launched this annual award to recognize organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation in advancing sustainability across the food supply chain. Honorees are selected for making a measurable impact through environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and industry-wide collaboration.

GrubMarket was recognized for our Sustainable California initiative, a multi-year program launched in 2023 to restore ecosystems, empower underserved farmers, and preserve the agricultural environment of America’s leading food-producing state.

Three Pillars of the Sustainable California Initiative

1. Large-scale reforestation through a partnership with One Tree Planted
Over 130,000 native trees have been planted across drought-stricken, wildfire-scarred lands in California, restoring hundreds of hectares and aiding dozens of wildlife species. Learn more about our reforestation work.

2. Empowering socially disadvantaged farmers to transition to organic agriculture
Through a multi-year sponsorship of the CCOF Organic Transition Program, ten farmers overseeing hundreds of acres across ten California counties have received grants, mentorship, and technical support toward organic certification.

3. Providing access to GrubMarket’s AI-powered software solutions for wildfire-impacted farms
In 2025, GrubMarket offered its flagship products — WholesaleWare ERP (inventory, order, and operations management software), Orders IO (mobile and web eCommerce platform) and GrubAssist AI (AI analysts and agents for business intelligence, inventory management, operations monitoring, and order processing) — free of charge to eligible California farmers impacted by wildfires. These AI infused tools promote operational efficiency, technology-driven resilience, and long-term sustainability.

“The Sustainable California initiative is not only a way for us to give back to our local agricultural communities; it also reflects our commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture, protecting the environment, and ensuring that future generations will continue to benefit from California’s precious resources,” said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket.

Building a More Resilient and Equitable Food Supply Chain

This recognition by The Shelby Report underscores GrubMarket’s leadership in building a more resilient, enduring, and equitable food supply chain through both our sustainability initiatives and our continued development of innovative technologies for the food industry.

At GrubMarket, we are deeply committed to uniting technology and sustainability to strengthen the American food supply chain. Through initiatives like Sustainable California, we will continue working alongside our partners, customers, and farming communities to restore ecosystems, empower producers, and advance a more sustainable future for the food industry.

About The Shelby Report

Founded in 1967, The Shelby Report is a trusted source of news and insights for the retail food industry, covering regional and national developments across grocery, distribution, and foodservice. Its annual “Sustainability in the Food Industry Award,” honors companies that lead meaningful sustainability initiatives—ranging from energy-efficient operations to community partnerships that advance food system resilience.