Equitable Food Initiative, the certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, says 2023 was a year of progress toward its mission to offer supply chain assurance programs to the fresh produce industry.
Notable achievements in 2023 include a new program launch, expanding its staff and streamlining its certification to make it more cost-effective for growers starting in 2024, according to a news release.
EFI said its launch of the Ethical Charter Implementation Program in 2023 followed a four-year process of planning and beta testing. ECIP offers the fresh produce industry a framework to align with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices without additional audits. An advisory group overseeing ECIP development invited hundreds of suppliers and growers to the online ECIP LAB self-assessment platform in November.
“We’ve gathered a dedicated group of innovative problem solvers from throughout the industry, representing both buyers and suppliers, to help create and implement a scalable solution that helps growers assess their labor management systems and improve over time,” Peter O’Driscoll, executive director for EFI, said in the release.
ECIP Marketplace
In partnership with The Sustainability Consortium, EFI launched the ECIP Marketplace in 2023, connecting growers and suppliers with service providers for support in addressing key challenges identified during self-assessments, according to the release.
“The ECIP Marketplace is a pivotal component of the Ethical Charter Implementation Project and a needed step toward helping ECIP LAB users address the challenges that surface in self-assessments,” Christy Slay, CEO of The Sustainability Consortium, said in the release. “In this marketplace, users can find not just solutions, but a shared commitment to ethical and responsible practices as we work toward a more sustainable future.”
More certifications
EFI said another achievement in 2023 was the certification of produce facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Peru. The organization said it certified Fruit World and Veg-Fresh Farms.
The organization said it trained more than 4,000 people in communications and problem-solving skills, which helped to improve the working conditions of 60,000 workers who generated 942 million pounds of produce and represented 46 commodities on EFI-certified farms.
Another milestone the organization celebrated is the generation of more than $18 million in worker bonuses since its inception, the release said, adding that the bonus incentivizes workers and rewards the extra diligence required to maintain EFI certification standards. The organization said this bonus program helped EFI-certified farms experience lower-than-average worker turnover.
“The industry continues to suffer the effects of a labor shortage caused by market and political pressures, and the average farmworker’s age is rising,” O’Driscoll said. “Cultivating a positive culture where hard work pays off is a great tool to help grower-shippers become employers of choice in a tight labor market.”
EFI additions
The organization also welcomed three new employees in 2023 to support growth, EFI certification and ECIP. Adriana Martinez joined as director of certification programs, Gabriela Lopez-Barry was added as the Ethical Charter Implementation Program manager and Alexandra Martinez joined as a marketing and sales associate.
Related: EFI, Kroger explore the Ethical Charter Implementation Program
