HistoryFamily farming operation established in Ventura County in late 1800's

Rio Farms established in 1979

Gills Onions launched in 1983 in Oxnard, California

FarmingGrown by sister company Rio Farms

Proprietary seed varieties

Only highest quality U.S. number one yellow and red onions

Consistent quality and supply

Diverse growing regions throughout California

Stable Pricing

Year-round availability

•

ProcessingProcessed from a 95,000 square foot operation

Peel and process 90,000 tons annually

Proprietary operating equipment

Efficient, productive and environmentally sensitive

In-house high tech food safety lab

ProcessingSophisticated tracking system allowing us to follow an onion from seed all the way to the customer’s door

Microbial testing for quality and safety

AIB certified superior

Kosher certified

Food SafetyProgram

Company FocusOne focus - Onions!

Time and money aving convenience

Provide highest quality, US number one, yellow and red hybrid onions

Strict quality control

Seamless growing and processing

Retail ProductsRetail onions placed in clear square cups giving retailer most efficient use of space

Cups feature peelable lid and snap resealable cover which seals in aroma and locks in freshness

Washed and ready to use

100% usable

No preservatives or additives

Products: Retail• Diced Yellow Onions• Diced Red Onions• Sliced Red Onions• Diced Celery & Onions• Sweet Sliced Yellow Onions• Organic Diced Yellow Onions• Holiday Size Diced Celery &

Onions

Products: Foodservice

Whole Peeled

Sliced

Diced

Slivered

Rings

Sustainability and Innovation: Zero Waste Strategy

What does Sustainability mean to us?

• Staying business by being profitable

• Preserve, conserve and use our resources efficiently

• Take responsibility for our environmental impact

• Taking care of our employees and the community

What does Sustainability mean to us?

• Generating 300,000 lbs of onion waste on a daily basis

• Waste was becoming unmanageable and cost prohibitive

• Look at waste not as a liability but as a resource

“Necessity is the Mother of Invention” – Plato

Onion Waste-to-Energy

• Converts onion waste to renewable energy, ultra clean biogas & cattle feed• 30,000 gallons of juice and 20 tons of onion cake are produced per day.

Fuel Cells Help Meet Gills Waste & Energy Goals

• Improves energy efficiencies, reduces costs of waste disposal• Satisfies 95% of Gills base load requirements• Meets goals for Air Quality, Zero Waste, and Renewable Energy

Zero Waste Strategies for Gills Onions’ Sustainable Innovation and Waste Management

• What is Zero Waste?• Why are businesses

interested in Zero Waste?• Zero Waste is good for

business and the environment.

Methodology

• Establish baselines• Analyze resource

consumption• Develop strategies to

reduce, reuse, recycle

Resource Categories

Onions Energy Material Water

The Climate Registry• Allows us to measure our energy sources

and emissions• Gills Onions became one of 243 founding

members in 2008• Why we Joined:

– Risk Management– Develop a baseline from which we can

document our improvements over the years

– Recognition/Validation as an environmental leader in our industry

• More information: www.gillsonions.com