Latest News From Social Responsibility

How did this retail professional get into farm labor contracting? What's his greater mission? Read the story summary or listen to the whole story on this episode of the "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast.

Superfresh Growers and its sister company, DSG Logistics, had 35 employees participate in company-sponsored volunteer efforts.

Rice, who shared his own path to fair trade, said movements of conscious consumerism are expressions of kindness and wisdom, but they can also be about profitability.

Fyffes and its winter melon business, Sol Group, have organized community medical brigades to reach 15 communities surrounding its cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew melon farms.

The move brings FWP's fair trade advocacy work in-house and will strengthen work to stymie exploitation in global supply chains and combat false claims made by certifications and brands, according to a news release.

In this Tip of the Iceberg Podcast episode teaming up with EFI, learn about a greenhouse brand that expanded a program because of how many supermarket shoppers called the customer hotline about it.

The company released co-branded packaging under its Dulcinea line of grapes and mandarins in U.S. retail locations, and a percentage of every purchase was then donated to the foundation.

No one wants to be seriously worried about their physical safety — beyond the usual look-both-ways-when-you-cross caution — when they get out of their vehicle and walk to their work building. 

The influencer-based health and wellness fundraising initiative rallies the nation’s top fitness, wellness and nutrition experts to host health-related livestream classes and web-based instruction throughout January.

Anticipated events include workplace health and wellness efforts, community development activities, and environmental acts of service, company officials said.

EFI certified 53 operations in five countries, with 19 more farms in progress. Together, those operations employ almost 60,000 workers, and EFI’s premium program generated over $3.2 million in worker bonuses in 2022.

Fairtrade America, which has a food-packaging label certifying that social justice and sustainability standards have been met, released its five key trends that will drive consumer choices and brand action in 2023. 

Here’s what a couple inches on a ladder can mean to a produce business and its employees. Listen and learn.

The San Antonio-based company said the food gifts have provided 6.25 million meals to families in need throughout North America.

The organic grower-shipper hosted events at its farm in Sonora, Mexico, including art, music, a ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks from special guest Paul Rice, founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA.

It's all fine and good to accept that sustainability is important. But how do you make this kind of positive change amid all the economic pressures companies face today?

One onion grower has more than enough workers, and others are clamoring to join. What's their secret?

The food safety and social responsibility certifier has updated social responsibility standard to meet the International Fresh Produce Association’s Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.

What do strawberry carts have to do with food safety, high quality product and worker retention?

What does Windset Farms do for its Punjabi-speaking workers? Why does it matter and how can it help your business? Our EFI-partnered series episode of the "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast answers these questions and more.

Dole Food Co. has launched a new video series recognizing some of the hundreds of family farmers it works with in the U.S. and around the globe.

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, DNO Produce has mobilized seven companies to donate 25,950 pounds of ready-to-eat produce and 350 cases of bottled water to storm victims. 

Hunger relief non-profit led by IFPA keynote Chef Jose Andres provides relief through freshly cooked meals to Florida residents.

Listen to this podcast episode, which answers the question: What does a traffic sign have to do with employee lunches?

Avocados from Peru debuted its first Fighting Hunger with Nutrition Award at a celebration of its donation of 26,000 avocados to fight food insecurity.

EFI director: “Rather than an audit-based approach to compliance, this program will focus on self-assessment, capacity-building and measurement of continuous improvement [for] responsible labor practices at scale.”

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Chiquita is once again giving its iconic blue sticker a pink makeover to match the pink ribbon — an international symbol for breast cancer awareness.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers adds the first Florida-based indoor leafy greens and herbs farm to its rigorous Fair Food Program.

Fair Trade USA hosts a Board of Directors Dinner Sept. 22, at Orsay in Manhattan's Upper East Side for members, donors and advocates of the social responsibility and sustainability cause.

Running through March 2023, the episodes will feature voices from across fresh produce discussing topics from mental health and workplace safety to the importance of diversity and more.

To date, the partnership has delivered 13,151 nutritionally balanced lunches to the children of two schools in Choluteca, Honduras.

The Oxnard, Calif.-based company, now in its 60th year of farming strawberries, has launched an annual scholarship program.

The Walt Disney Company has contributed to Feeding America to support efforts to source more produce and increase the number of nutritious meals provided to children and families, according to a news release.

Fyffes and its Honduran melon subsidiary Sol Group have launched a series of ‘Community Medical Brigades’ to reach community members and seasonal workers surrounding their farms during the off-season.

Fresh Del Monte is expanding its fresh fruit offering and now sells Fair Trade Certified organic bananas in Canada and is working to start selling them in the U.S.

Stress, anxiety and depression can kill. And there are many produce professionals suffering silently without knowledge of how to cope in healthy ways, how to seek support and, when necessary, professional help.

On June 15, 2022, R.E.A.CH. International held its annual Greenhouse Competitions including “The Hottest Tomato,” “The Perfect Pepper,” “The Coolest Cucumber” and the “Best Berry” Competitions.  

Salinas, Calif.-based Taylor Farms recently hosted employees and their families at its annual scholarship luncheon, where 30 students were presented with college scholarships, according to a news release.

The California Association of Food Banks has recognized Grimmway Farms for the company’s contribution of more than 4.3 million pounds of fresh produce to the CAFB’s Farm to Family Program in 2021. 

The partnered project has launched in New York City, Washington D.C. and Houston with plans to extend into more cities in 2022.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers participated in a community fundraiser to help families with children suffering from chronic illness, according to a news release.

The B Lab, a nonprofit organization, measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact in its standards for this certification.

The pandemic has changed the world, and more consumers than ever are affecting the global marketplace with their strong commitments to positive social and environmental impacts through their purchasing power.

Giving back to the community, Immokalee, Fla.-based Lipman Family Farms hosted the eighth annual 5K Run for Backpacks as a hybrid event in early April.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is using Farmworker Awareness Week to celebrate its companywide Equitable Food Initiative certification.

The past two years of food supply disruption have brought greater awareness of essential workers and the challenges of supply chain woes, including the role of agriculture's frontline workers, farmworkers.

In an effort to help “nourish a nation in need,” Walt Dasher, vice president of G&R Farms, is donating $2,500 to World Central Kitchen on behalf of Ukrainian refugees.

Attendees at SEPC’s Southern Exposure will be able to learn more about the organizations’ giving back and cause-marketing efforts. Visit Shuman Farms Booth no. 918 and Healthy Family Project Booth no. 1147.

Wenatchee, Wash., based Stemilt Growers LLC., puts people first through their partnership with Washington, D.C., based Equitable Food Initiative (EFI).

Glenville, Ga.-based G&R Farms has tallied more than $100,000 in donations this year, according to the company.