Homegrown Organic Farms announces Northwest organic blueberry operations have achieved Equitable Food Initiative certification

Porterville, Calif.-based Homegrown Organic Farms has announced its Northwest organic blueberry farms in Oregon have earned Equitable Food Initiative certification. 

The farms join Homegrown Organic Farms’ stone fruit program which became EFI certified in 2020, according to a news release.
“We are proud to add blueberries to the growing list of our EFI certified programs,” Scott Mabs, CEO of Homegrown Organic Farms, said in the release. “Our team members from the field to shipment are professionals in their jobs and EFI brings the system to help facilitate cross-department collaboration and personal development.

Homegrown has always been proactive with the development and value of our team members and EFI is a wonderful support to that mission.”

The Equitable Food Initiative is a certification process designed to develop partnerships between the farm workers and farm management teams, the release said. 

“It is fitting that we would receive notice of Homegrown’s Oregon operations earning EFI certification during Farmworker Awareness Week,” Kevin Boyle, director of new product and business development for Equitable Food Initiative. “Their commitment to EFI is but one effort that the company has put forth to live out its values, engage workers in new ways and provide a fulfilling and professional workplace.”