The Packer, EFI put spotlight on social responsibility

(Photo courtesy Stemilt Growers; Graphic by Brooke Park)

EFI webinar

People First is a spotlight on social responsibility in fresh produce with several weeks of focused content published and promoted across all The Packer platforms. Headlining the program will be a free, four-part webinar series that will feature interviews with changemakers in the field and cover topics including social compliance, worker voice, recruitment, and The Ethical Charter for Responsible Labor Practices.


The Packer and Equitable Food Initiative have partnered on a new content series called People First: A Spotlight on Social Responsibility.

Launching Feb. 22 and continuing through March 16, the spotlight will feature a four-part webinar series from EFI that will showcase industry leaders discussing topics including recruitment, worker voice, social compliance and the Ethical Charter for Responsible Labor Practices, according to a news release.

To complement the webinars, The Packer will produce articles, videos and podcasts focusing on how companies throughout the industry are practicing social responsibility, and there will be a special insert in the March 8 issue of the newspaper that is dedicated to social responsibility.

“The fresh produce industry has taken major steps on food safety and sustainability, but now is the time to take the same leadership role to elevate social responsibility,” Peter O’Driscoll, executive director of EFI, said in the release. 

“We are proud to partner with The Packer and commend them for focusing on stories of social responsibility and the direction and actionable steps necessary to create long-lasting organizational change,” O’Driscoll said.

The webinars and other content will be heavily promoted throughout the span of the event.

“Farm Journal and The Packer follow a ‘people first’ philosophy and invest heavily in employee well-being, and we believe it’s important to partner with like-minded organizations to encourage others to put people first as well,” Matt Morgan, Farm Journal’s executive vice president for produce, said in the release. 

“Plus, People First will be a strong lead-in to National Farmworker Awareness Week in late March, which will further showcase the people behind fresh produce.”

Related articles: 
EFI grows during challenging year
Farmworker groups file lawsuit over H-2A wages
EFI, AMHPAC present social compliance web seminars

 

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