Topline Farms Hires Justine Taylor as Chief Sustainability Officer: 3 Things to Know

Greenhouse vegetable company Topline Farms has hired Justine Taylor as chief sustainability officer (CSO). Here are three things to know about the business and Taylor's executive experience.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Topline Farms, founded in 1999, is based in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. The company focuses on "growing fresh, high quality greenhouse vegetables." The company's greenhouses, which blanket more than 900 acres, operate year-round. Moreover, Topline's truck fleet -- which spans more than 100 vehicles -- services retailers and foodservice companies across North America. We don't know annual sales figures, nor do we know if Topline has developed an overall sustainability and net-zero business strategy.

2. Executive Expertise: New CSO Justine Taylor arrives with more than 15 years experience in various agriculture roles. She previously was executive director for stewardship and sustainability at CropLife Canada. Earlier, Taylor held key posts at the Agrichemical Warehousing Standards Association, and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.

3. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Executive VP Max Mastronardi said: “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Justine Taylor to our leadership team at a pivotal time of growth and expansion across North America. As a vertically integrated organization, we are guided by traceability, transparency, and trust—principles that Dr. Taylor will help shape as we advance our sustainability journey.”

Added Taylor: “I’m excited to join Topline Farms as Chief Sustainability Officer, embedding sustainability into every aspect of our business. From reducing our environmental footprint to strengthening long-term resilience, I’m excited to lead initiatives that drive smart, sustainable growth while aligning with regulatory and retailer goals. We’re building a resilient supply chain that creates value at every stage—from our greenhouses to the grocery aisle."

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.