Sustainability | Grupo La Norteñita

Our CSR Strategy

"To consolidate Grupo La Norteñita as a responsible agro-industrial company, generating sustainable economic value, social well-being and environmental protection, aligned with international sustainability standards."

CSR Vision – Grupo La Norteñita

5 Pillars of Social Responsibility

Pillar 1: Ethics & Governance

Code of ethics and business conduct. Anti-corruption policy and regulatory compliance. Internal CSR/ESG committee. Reporting mechanisms and internal controls that guarantee transparency across all our operations.

Pillar 2: Environment & Sustainability

Comprehensive water management with measurement, efficiency and recharge. Sustainable agriculture and soil conservation. Waste reduction, energy efficiency with solar panels. Reforestation and environmental protection programs aligned with SDGs 6, 12, 13 and 15.

Pillar 5: Quality & Corporate Image

Traceability and transparency throughout the value chain. More than 14 active national and international certifications. Responsible communication and corporate reputation. Innovation in sustainable products under the Delisana brand.

Pillar 3: Employees & Decent Work

Safe and dignified working conditions for 3,500 permanent employees and up to 9,000 seasonal workers. Adequate infrastructure for seasonal workers, including indigenous Tarahumara communities. Health, safety, technical training and human development programs.

Pillar 4: Community Commitment

Development of local suppliers and producers. Community programs focused on education, health and employment. Social inclusion of rural and indigenous communities. School Apple Program impacting thousands of children in 39 schools, improving nutrition rates (SDG 2).

Alignment with the SDGs – Agenda 2030

Our sustainability strategy is directly linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG 2
Zero Hunger

SDG 6
Clean Water

SDG 8
Decent Work

SDG 12
Responsible Consumption

SDG 13
Climate Action

SDG 15
Life on Land

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Environmental Indicators

% reduction in water consumption per season
Tons of CO₂ avoided through solar energy
Annual reduction of waste and losses (<5%)
Number of reforested or conserved hectares

Governance Indicators

% of employees trained on the code of ethics
Number of internal and external audits conducted
Cases handled through reporting mechanisms

Social Indicators

Number of formal and temporary jobs generated
Workplace accident rate (target: zero)
Training hours per employee per year
Number of community beneficiaries
Social investment as % of operating profit

Market Indicators

Compliance with quality and food safety standards
Customer satisfaction level (target: 95%+)
Retention of strategic customers

Alignment with ISO 26000

ISO 26000 Principle	Application at Grupo La Norteñita
Governance	Corporate transparency and ethics. Code of conduct and CSR committee.
Human Rights	Fair labor conditions. Respect for Tarahumara indigenous communities.
Labor Practices	Safety, training, well-being and gender equity for all employees.
Environment	Efficient water use, solar energy, waste management and soil conservation.
Fair Practices	Ethical relationship with suppliers, transparency and anti-competition.
Consumers	Food quality, safety and traceability. 14+ active certifications.
Community	Sustainable local development, regional employment and inclusion of vulnerable communities.

CSR & Environment A comprehensive strategy that places nature and people at the center of the business

Responsible Water Management

In the Chihuahuan highlands, water is not an abundant resource — it is a good we manage with the utmost responsibility. Our technified drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation system, combined with real-time water consumption monitoring, allows us to reduce water use by up to 40% compared to traditional gravity irrigation.

We also implement active aquifer recharge programs and dam conservation on our properties, contributing to the water balance of the Conchos River basin — aligning with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Water target: reduce water consumption per ton produced by an additional 5% each year, maintaining or improving fruit size and quality.

Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation across 100% of the surface area
Soil moisture sensors with automatic block-by-block adjustment
Remote real-time water consumption monitoring
Retention dams for aquifer recharge
Annual water footprint recording and reporting per production cycle

Technified irrigation system · Cuauhtémoc, Chih.

Solar generation facilities · Cuauhtémoc, Chih.

Solar Energy & Carbon Footprint

Our facilities have photovoltaic solar energy generation systems that supply a significant portion of the electricity consumption of our packing plants, refrigeration chambers and offices, directly reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and our operational carbon footprint.

This initiative responds to SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and is part of our roadmap to achieve medium-term emissions reduction targets.

Measurable impact: every kWh generated by our solar panels represents CO₂ not emitted into the atmosphere. We report this metric annually in our ASG Sustainability Report.

Photovoltaic solar generation at packing and refrigeration plants
Monthly measurement of avoided emissions (CO₂ eq. tons)
Installed capacity expansion plan under continuous review
Energy efficiency program throughout the entire operational chain
LED lighting in industrial and administrative facilities

Soil Conservation & Biodiversity

Soil health is the foundation of our long-term productivity. We apply regenerative agriculture practices that preserve organic matter, reduce erosion and protect the ecosystems surrounding our orchards.

Organic Management

Application of organic fertilizers and compost. Progressive reduction of synthetic agrochemicals.

Erosion Control

Vegetative cover between tree rows. Terraces and containment barriers on sloped areas.

Biological Control

Integrated pest management using natural enemies. Reduction of high ecological impact pesticides.

Reforestation

Reforestation programs in buffer zones around orchards and water bodies.

-40%

Water consumption vs gravity irrigation

100%

Instalaciones con generación solar

<5%

Monthly post-harvest loss target

UN SDGs aligned with our strategy

Community Engine of social development in the Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua region

Decent Employment & Decent Work

We are the largest agro-industrial employer in the Cuauhtémoc region, with 3,500 permanent employees and up to 9,000 seasonal workers. Each of them has access to full statutory benefits, competitive wages, safe working environments and professional development opportunities.

In full alignment with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, we guarantee working conditions that go beyond regulatory compliance: we prioritize safety, continuous training and the overall well-being of every person that is part of our work family.

Tarahumara Inclusion: we actively hire workers from indigenous Rarámuri (Tarahumara) communities during the harvest season, providing them with transportation, decent housing, food and basic medical care during their stay.

Full statutory benefits + additional benefits for permanent employees
Safety and hygiene program with a zero-accident target
Continuous technical training in agricultural management and machinery operation
Housing, food and medical care for seasonal workers
Gender equity program in hiring and internal promotion
Active certification: Company Committed to Gender Equity 2024–2026

Harvest workers · 9,000+ seasonal jobs

School Apple Program · 39 schools · SDG 2

School Apple Program

The School Apple Program is one of Grupo La Norteñita's highest social-impact projects. During each school year, we supply certified quality fresh apples to 39 public primary schools in the region, directly benefiting thousands of boys and girls in their early years of schooling.

The program responds directly to SDG 2: Zero Hunger, with a measurable objective: reduce the overweight body mass index (BMI) in at least 40% of beneficiaries throughout the school year, through regular fresh fruit consumption as a nutritional habit.

Benefited schools

40%

Overweight reduction target in beneficiaries

ODS 2

Zero Hunger · Agenda 2030

Certified fresh apple, without additional waxes or post-harvest treatments
Punctual delivery throughout the entire school year (August – July)
Nutritional follow-up with educational and health authorities
Building healthy eating habits from childhood
Nutritional impact report at the close of each cycle

Local Supplier & Producer Development

We are the economic engine of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua. Our value chain generates indirect jobs through hundreds of local suppliers: transportation services, agricultural inputs, packaging, machinery maintenance, catering services and more.

Through our supplier development program, we prioritize hiring local companies and workshops, contributing to the strengthening of the regional economic fabric and shared growth.

Regional economic impact

Preferred supplier to local transportation companies
Purchase of agricultural inputs from regional distributors
Hiring of maintenance services from local SMEs
Catering and logistics services with Chihuahua micro-enterprises

Linkage programs

Linkage with local educational institutions (CBTA, UACH)
Professional internship program for regional graduates
Donations to social welfare institutions in Cuauhtémoc
Participation in municipal and regional job fairs

9,000+

Seasonal jobs generated

Schools benefited by School Apple Program

3,500

Permanent employees with benefits

2026

Gender Equity Certification validity

Certifications & Recognitions 14+ active certifications that validate our commitment to quality, food safety and responsibility

Our certifications are not an administrative formality — they are the verified demonstration, year after year, that every process at Grupo La Norteñita meets the world's most demanding standards in food safety, social responsibility, organic production and environmental management. Each certificate represents independent audits, documented processes and teams committed to continuous improvement.

Food Safety & Quality

FSSC 22000

Food Safety

International food safety management systems certification. Integrates ISO 22000 with sector prerequisite programs. Required by the leading national and international supermarket chains.

SENASICA

Agri-food Safety

Federal authorization from the National Service of Agri-food Safety, Quality and Health. Legally enables the production, packing and marketing of agricultural products in Mexico.

Secretaría de Salud

Public Health

Federal health authorization for packing and processing facilities. Guarantees optimal hygienic conditions throughout the production chain in accordance with national regulations.

NORMEX

Quality & Standardization

Normalization certification that guarantees compliance with Mexican technical standards in products, processes and quality management systems throughout the entire operation.

Organic Production & Specialized Markets

USDA Organic

International Organic

Certification from the US Department of Agriculture. Enables export and marketing in the demanding North American and European organic market — one of the fastest-growing segments globally.

Star-K Kosher

Specialized Markets

Kosher certification recognized by Jewish communities in the US, Israel and Europe. Opens niche markets willing to pay a premium price. Very few Mexican agricultural companies hold this certification.

Certimex – Orgánico México

National Organic

Organic production certification under Mexican standards. Accredits that our processes respect ecosystems and biodiversity, excluding synthetic chemical inputs in primary production.

Social Responsibility & Ethical Trade

SMETA

Ethical Audit

Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. Independent assessment of labor practices, health and safety, environment and business ethics. Required by the leading international commercial chains.

CEAR

Responsible Agricultural Company

Certifies the company's commitment to responsible practices in labor, social and environmental matters in agricultural operations. Validates dignified conditions for all field workers.

CEDH

Human Rights

Reconocimiento que certifica el compromiso de la empresa con la protección y promoción de los derechos humanos en sus operaciones, incluyendo el respeto a comunidades indígenas y trabajadores vulnerables.

Equidad de Género 2024–2026

Inclusión

Active 2024–2026 certification that accredits equal opportunity policies, non-discrimination and active promotion of female leadership at all levels of the organization.

Awards & Country Brands

México Calidad Suprema

Country Brand

Mexican government brand that distinguishes the highest quality agri-food products for national and international markets. Recognition of the premium segment of Mexican agricultural production.

TOP Company 2024

Business Recognition

Distinction that recognizes companies with outstanding performance in responsible management, leadership, innovation and contribution to the development of the Mexican agro-industrial sector.

Sec. de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural

Federal Compliance

Registration and compliance with federal regulations on sustainable agriculture, plant health and good agricultural practices in accordance with current SADER regulations.

14+ Active Certifications · 4 Categories · Ongoing Independent Audits

Each certification is periodically renewed and audited by independent certification bodies. They are the strongest guarantee of our quality, responsibility and traceability.

See all certifications

The Annual ASG Sustainability Report will be available shortly.

More Information