Latest News From Social Responsibility

Fair Trade USA is honoring National Farmworker Awareness Week (March 25-31) and urging both consumers and businesses to support impacted farming communities by purchasing and sourcing Fair Trade Certified produce.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Divine Flavor has said their new Jalisco grape operation at Grupo Alta- Don Mario has become the latest ranch within the company to become Fair Trade Certified.

In observance of National Farmworker Awareness Week, Wholesum celebrates another year with their Fair Trade program, which empowers farmworkers, brings equity to the supply chain and uplifts farming communities.

Industry opinion is split on whether third-party certification of a company’s social responsibility commitment is necessary to achieve meaningful results.

You’ve got more than enough on your plate, but you know you need good people to make your business work.

One woman stands out in Carolyn Fairman’s memory of Cierto’s early days.

If a produce company was to build a social responsibility program, what should it consist of?

Integrating worker voices into agricultural operations can improve efficiency, contribute to better employee retention, discover hidden problems and create a more cohesive culture.

Kristin Dinsmore interviews marketing director Brianna Shales about Stemilt's social responsibility efforts.

The Equitable Food Initiative is celebrating National Farmworker Awareness Week by offering growers and other stakeholders a free communications toolkit.

Brookes speaks with retail editor Ashley Nickle about different areas of social responsibility, the value of certifications, the challenges of a triple bottom line approach, and long-term strategies. 

Fyffes, Coral Cables, Fla., has committed to implementing gender equality programs across 100% of its owned sites in Latin America by 2025 and 50% of its suppliers’ sites by 2030.

Industry opinion is split on whether third-party certification of a company’s social responsibility commitment is necessary to achieve meaningful results.

Most produce industry leaders think that investments in social responsibility programs can pay dividends with better relationships with workers.

Common misconceptions about social compliance and the reality behind them was the focus of a March 2 People First Farm Journal web seminar for the Equitable Food Initiative. 

When it comes to giving attention to social responsibility issues, produce industry operators think there is room for improvement. 

The costs, benefits and return on investment of social responsibility programs were considered by respondents to The Packer’s social responsibility survey.

J&C Tropicals has been certified by the Great Place to Work Institute in back-to-back years, and CEO Jessie Capote said communication, transparency and accountability are among the key components of the company culture.

Social responsibility is all about helping people do better, most industry leaders agree.

You would think earning Equitable Food Initiative certifications during the year of the COVID-19 pandemic would be … not the most convenient time.

There is every good reason for produce operators to support the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, and no reason not to.

Episode 37 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Hugo Hays, global director of compliance and food safety for Fyffes, on the topic of social responsibility.

This discussion among decision makers in agricultural operations will offer strategies and advice on how to implement social compliance as an investment.

How does a company go from generally caring about its employees and endeavoring to treat them well to having a defined structure and accountability around those aims?

New York City’s Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. honored three FreshDirect employees in a surprise ceremony, in keeping with Black History Month celebrations.

The Equitable Food Initiative has a web page with resources that growers/shippers can use to educate farm workers on the coronavirus vaccine.  

During Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 15-21, Thx! launched a Be Our Guest campaign, a contest that asks for submissions from other produce companies to share about the good things they do for their guest farmworkers.

The Equitable Food Initiative has relaunched its online Responsible Recruitment Scorecard as an interactive version to help growers identify their risk factors in the recruitment process and pursue recommended steps.

The Washington, D.C.-based Partnership for a Healthier America said it has eclipsed 2 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables distributed to communities in need through its COVID-19 Fresh Food Fund.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried applauded the introduction of the Justice for Black Farmers Act and the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Colors Act in the U.S. Senate.

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

Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets offer funding for projects that engage Black people, indigenous people and people of color in agriculture.

Sakata Seed America, through its Woodland Innovation Center, significantly increased the volume of fresh produce donations to the Yolo Food Bank in Woodland, CA. 

Good Foods, a category leader of dips and good-for-you products, looks back at charitable efforts put forth in 2020 and prepares for another philanthropic year ahead. 

2020 was a year full of uncertainty and unprecedented times but the Allen Lund Company continued with good deeds and acts of kindness for its fifth year.

Tacoma, Wash.-based Cierto, a recruiter of H-2A workers for U.S. growers, has received an $800,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation.

Episode 31 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview between Tom Karst, editor-in-chief of The Packer, and Navina Khanna, executive director of the HEAL Food Alliance.

Healthy Family Project wrapped 2020 raising $210,780 through cause marketing programs focused on living a healthy lifestyle and inching ever further passed the $7 million raised milestone.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council had its Annual Charity Auction virtually on Dec. 17th, raising $35,250 to support Caterina’s Club and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. 

An unprecedented year highlighted innovation and integrity at Rainier Fruit Company that lead to groundbreaking and industry-setting standards.

FeedMore WNY, a western New York state hunger relief organization, is providing fresh produce and other foods from New York growers to veterans.

Pelion, S.C.-based leafy greens grower-shipper WP Rawl honored fallen military heroes by participating in Wreaths Across America Day in December.

Fair Trade USA, Oakland, Calif., the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America welcomes Ricardo Crisantes as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Honeybear Growers, Brewster, Wash., recently received the Brewster Chamber of Commerce’s Best Large Business of the Year Award.

Divine Flavor's distribution center received certification for the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, becoming the first produce company in the state of Arizona with the recognition. 

IFCO, the world’s leading provider of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) for fresh food, continued to deliver on its social responsibility and engagement commitment throughout 2020.

Although 2020 has been a year like no other, Equitable Food Initiative continued to grow and prove its unique value to the fresh produce industry.

It's been 10 years since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act became law: What's happened with schoolchildren's health as a result and how have different aspects of this policy fared so far? 

California Giant Berry Farm’s 13-week digital fundraiser, Spreading Smiles, has culminated to $40,000 distributed to 13 non-profit organizations throughout the greater Pajaro Valley area.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Bolthouse Farms has a mission of Plants Powering People that’s motivating the company to increase its support of communities in need across the U.S.