Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark - Producer: Flint Wiswall

By CommonShare

Flint Wiswall, the current leader of Cate Farm located in East Montpelier, Vermont, continues the family legacy of producing certified organic plants and produce since 1981. Under Flint's guidance, the farm has expanded to include eight 96' long greenhouses and 22 acres of field crops and forage. Their primary focus remains on growing organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers, all of which are certified organic, reflecting their commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Cate Farm's dedication to organic farming sets them apart in the industry, positioning them as a trusted source for high-quality, chemical-free produce. Despite facing challenges such as the recent flood that affected their main crop of burdock, the farm continues to thrive, offering fresh and dried burdock root along with greenhouse tomatoes to their loyal customers. Flint's hands-on approach and deep-rooted knowledge of farming, cultivated since his childhood on the farm, have been instrumental in the farm's success.

As a family-owned and operated business, Cate Farm upholds values of community, sustainability, and quality, evident in their interactions with customers and their dedication to organic farming practices. Their presence in central Vermont and partnerships with local markets like Hunger Mountain Co-op, Plainfield Hardware, Bragg Farm, and Fox Market showcase their commitment to supporting the local economy and providing fresh, organic produce to the community. Looking ahead, Cate Farm under Flint's leadership continues to innovate and adapt to market demands, ensuring a bright future for the farm and its customers.

Overall Rating

1.0

Under-Performing

Traceability

An increasingly important factor in global supply chains, traceability assesses the manufacturer's capability to track products and materials from origin to delivery. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® explores this through the lens of tiered supplier verification, culminating in end-to-end traceability with real-time monitoring and complete transparency.

Digitized Products

The digital landscape has transformed B2B interactions. This facet assesses the extent to which manufacturers have digitized their product offerings. The spectrum ranges from manufacturers without any online product catalog to those boasting advanced B2B e-commerce platforms, providing clients with order customization, real-time tracking, and an integrated view of the supply chain.

Preferred Materials

This aspect gauges the extent to which manufacturers incorporate sustainable, circular, and regenerative materials in their supply chain. It assesses whether companies merely use standard materials or whether they actively prioritize sustainable and preferred materials in their product range, even going so far as to offer digital verification of material certificates.

Facility Verification and Services

This dimension evaluates the openness and commitment of manufacturers regarding their facility's conditions and services. It covers a spectrum, from providing no facility details at all to showcasing comprehensive third-party audits, ensuring transparency in worker welfare and showcasing a clear commitment to maintaining top-tier facility services.

Readiness to Contract

Before entering a partnership, it's pivotal to understand a manufacturer's business legitimacy. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® checks for the presence and verification of essential documents, ranging from basic business licenses to comprehensive documentation, client testimonials, and even third-party attestations that verify a manufacturer's reliability and readiness to contract.

Producer: Flint Wiswall

United States

Learn More About This Company

How our Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark® Works?

By CommonShare

The Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark is a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate and rate manufacturers based on their commitment to sustainability, digital integration, readiness for contracting, material sourcing, and facility standards. It provides a clear, standardized metric for assessing manufacturers in a B2B environment, helping businesses make informed decisions aligned with their sustainability objectives. The benchmark covers crucial areas like end-to-end traceability, the digital verification of supply tiers, utilization of preferred materials, and verified social audits for facilities. By incorporating both depth and granularity across its criteria, the benchmark not only promotes transparency but also encourages continuous improvement in responsible manufacturing practices.