Two produce industry members have joined the Equitable Food Initiative board, representing growers on the organization that supports farmworker issues.
Vic Smith, president and CEO for JV Smith Cos., oversees farming, cooling and distribution operations for the company, which has facilities in Arizona, Colorado and Mexico, is new on the board.
Kathryn Ault, vice president of sales for NatureSweet Tomatoes, is also new to the board. NatureSweet’s Mexican greenhouse operations uses Equitable Food Initiative’s Leadership Team training, according to a news release.
“EFI and NatureSweet share the mission of transforming the lives of agricultural workers, and I am happy to work to extend that focus beyond NatureSweet to other agricultural operations in the EFI program,” Ault said in the release.
Smith commended the organization’s efforts to “create a safe, equitable and sustainable work environment.”
“I hope to contribute to this process since EFI’s work directly aligns with the core values of JV Smith Cos.,” he said in the release.
Other EFI board members include Ernie Farley, partner at Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce; and Preston Witt, director of supplier code of conduct compliance for Costco Worldwide.
The EFI brings growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers together to “solve the most pressing issues facing the fresh produce industry,” according to the release.
