Balancing Planet, People And Profits

One of our goals is to eliminate dependence on foreign oil, and to contribute to the local economy by increasing demand for domestically produced seed crops that can be used for fuel.

What other unique challenges do you face in your job?

Petrick: We have set the bar very high with our declaration to become a leading sustainable organization. Basically, we have said that making a profit is not enough. We want to make a profit, but we want to do it in a way that respects the three components of the triple bottom line—planet, people, profit. We want to reduce our ecololgical footprint, maintaining partnerships with people across the food trade, and be a business capable of sustaining itself for years to come.

When you have to consider all those factors, it makes decision-making a little more challenging. No longer can you simply look for the solution that will save the most money, you have to think about what is the greatest good. — Leonard Klie