Superfresh Growers has expanded its Equitable Food Initiative certification, which builds on its certified apple and pear acreage and now covers the majority of the company’s cherry acreage.
The company says it plans additional apple, pear, blueberry and cherry acreage certification over the next two years to extend EFI standards across the company’s full range of operations.
The expansion reflects a multiyear commitment to making EFI the operating standard across Superfresh Growers’ farms and production facilities, with a particular emphasis on apples and blueberries in the next phase, the company says.
“We’ve always tried to support the well-being of teams across the company and run strong operations, but EFI gives us a structure to keep improving and a way to measure if we’re actually getting better,” says Derek Tweedy, vice president of operations for Superfresh Growers. “It helps us listen to our teams, identify issues earlier and make practical changes that improve safety, culture and day-to-day work. When our teams are engaged and feel heard, the whole operation runs better.”
Superfresh Growers says it was among the early adopters of EFI when the program first launched and has continued expanding its participation as the program has grown.
Through EFI training, the company has implemented several employee-led improvements across both orchard and warehouse operations.
Recent additional improvements focused on Superfresh production facilities, including enhanced lighting in work areas and reflective safety vests for forklift operators. Superfresh Growers says that while some improvements are large in scope, others are simple solutions that come directly from employees doing the work every day. The EFI process encourages communication and problem-solving across all levels of the organization, creating a culture where employees feel ownership and responsibility in improving their workplace.
“EFI has changed the ‘that’s how we do it’ mentality to an ‘I have the power to make change’ mentality,” says Melissa Gomez, HR generalist and EFI coordinator for Superfresh Growers. “The biggest change we’ve seen is the level of ownership from our teams. Employees are speaking up, identifying issues and helping solve problems. That level of engagement is what makes this program successful.”
