Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) Annual Report

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2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Produce Supply Chain Assurance

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icholas Wra

icholas Wra

“EFI is the new way. It’s not just about one person telling everyone what to do, this process teaches us about everyone working together to get things done.”

-- Steve, Farm Manager, A&W Vizcaino, Baja, Mexico

2015 Annual Report Board Members Erik Nicholson, Chair ational Vice resident

nited arm Workers

Maisie Ganzler, Vice-Chair Chief Strateg and rand fficer on App tit anagement Compan

Preston Witt, Secretary: anager Supplier Code of Conduct Compliance Costco Wholesale Corporation

Bruce Goldstein, Treasurer resident

arm orker ustice

Adrian Almeida Vice resident of anufacturing and uman Capital atureS eet

Ernie Farley artner Andre resh roduce

Williamson

Thomas Gremillion Director of ood olic Consumer ederation of America

David Plunkett Senior Staff Attorne ood Safet Center for Science in the ublic Interest

Kevin Boyle Training and usiness Development Director

In Memoriam

Kenton Harmer Certification Director

Peter O’Driscoll

Ramón Ramírez resident and Co ounder ineros Campesinos nidos del oroeste

ecutive Director

Senior Scientist esticide Action et ork orth America

Minor Sinclair ffice

Baldemar Velasquez resident and ounder arm Labor rgani ing Committee

1 Building Produce Supply Chain Assurance 2015 Annual Report

Steve Fox

Jennifer Pelayo usiness Development

Margaret Reeves

Director S Regional fam America

Staff

anager

Johnna Phillips Communications and Director

arketing

Juliana Rodriguez Administrative Coordinator

Gretta Siebentritt Training

anager

Kurt Schweitzer

This Annual Report is dedicated to the memory of Kurt Schweitzer, EFI board member and President of Keystone Fruit Marketing (19532016), and Steve Fox, EFI Business Development Director (1948-2015).

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From the Executive Director eter

Driscoll “This is a certification program that is not only concerned about the fruit, but the wellbeing of employees. The training allows us to know how to work together on production and quality issues also.”

-- Mayra, worker, Alpine Fresh, Tecate, Mexico

The EFI trustmark signals a

new level of assurance that food safety protocols are

being observed, that pesticide use is carefully managed, and that

2015 was a transformational year for the Equitable Food Initiative! We successfully incorporated as an independent non-profit organization, secured federal 501(c)3 status, and significantly expanded our outreach to the produce industry.

EFI emerged out of multiple conversations

over several ears among strange bedfello s ho ere seeking a better a to provide assurance to retailers and consumers that their fruits and vegetables ere safel and ethicall harvested The original stakeholders committed to finding solutions that create real value for gro ers ho meet rigorous standards and for the farm orkers hose skill and hard ork bring health produce to America s tables

EFI was born as a program of Oxfam America,

hich facilitated the multi stakeholder dialogue from then staffed and incubated the organi ation through arch of hen I spun off as a corporation That smooth transition as greatl facilitated b important launch grants from The ohn D and Catherine T acArthur oundation The Atlantic hilanthropies and fam Later in I as bolstered b funding from the road Reach und and the Cedar Tree oundation and the Walt Disne Compan s Suppl Chain Investment rogram accelerated I s e pansion into Latin America

This Annual Report on our first year of

independent operation provides a brief overvie of ho I facilitates collaboration among orkers gro ers retailers and consumer groups to provide fresh fruits and vegetables that are both responsibl gro n and farm orker assured We have big plans for the future engaging more retailers and their suppliers and increasing the number of certified farms and orkers ho are re arded for their continuous verification role We hope ou ll oin us on this ourne Sincerel

workers are treated fairly on a continuous basis. eter

Driscoll

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Photo by Nicholas Wray

EFI Mission The mission of the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is to transform relationships across the produce industry, recognizing the role farm workers play in the supply chain. We improve labor practices, environmental stewardship and food safety for the benefit of workers, agricultural communities, businesses and consumers.

EFI Vision The Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) envisions a thriving produce industry, built on a culture of collaboration. Farmworkers are respected and engaged professionals, living and working in safe, dignified conditions. Growers, buyers, and consumers are assured that their produce is safe and responsibly grown.

Photos by Windset

3 1 Building Produce Supply Chain Assurance 2015 Annual Report

EFI: Multi-Stakeholder Design I believes that innovations in produce assurance must create measurable benefits for all stakeholders farm orkers gro ers food companies and consumers The initiative has been designed and improved through the participation of stakeholders that understand the real potential for mutual benefit through e ploration of ne a s of orking together

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Multi-Stakeholder Board 2015 Andre and Williamson resh roduce on App tit anagement Compan Center for Science in the ublic Interest Consumer ederation of America Costco Wholesale Corporation

arm orker ustice arm Labor rgani ing Committee e stone ruit atureS eet fam America

esticide Action et ork orth America ineros Campesinos nidos del oroeste C nited arm Workers

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The EFI Program:

Workforce Development Leading to Certification

RIGOROUS STANDARDS: The

I standards ere developed for S farms and have since been updated to cover Canadian and e ican operations Workers are assured of decent conditions and consumers ill kno that throughout the suppl chain committed partners are orking together to make their food as safe and health as possible

LEADERSHIP TRAINING: At the farm level

I trains a representative team of orkers and managers on ho to appl labor pesticide and food safet benchmarks on site and ho to engage the entire orkforce in compliance ro ers and retailers benefit from a orkforce that improves production processes and ensures a safer food suppl Workers find ne opportunities to broaden their skills

Rigorous Standards

Leadership Training

Workforce Development Consumer Label

CERTIFICATION:

nce the farm declares itself to be in conformit ith the I Standard a third part auditor from nder riters Laboratories or SCS lobal Services visits the farm to verif its claim and recommend final certification arms that compl ith the I Standard are issued a certificate listed on I s ebsite and licensed to appl an I trustmark to their product

CONTINUOUS WORKER VERIFICATION:

Is approach creates both an on farm mechanism the Leadership Team and an incentive improved orking conditions assured b the standards through hich farm orkers collaborate ith management to identif and address threats to food safet sustainabilit and social accountabilit on a continuous basis

Assurance

Certification

Continuous Improvement

Continuous Verification

“EFI has brought about unanticipated change that has improved our organization beyond the standards and certification. We are going to implement in all of our facilities.”

-- Jeff Madu , VP, Windset Farms, Delta, BC, Canada

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The EFI Process:

Collaborating to Build Supply Chain Assurance

Relationship Cultivation -

relationships standards

ith gro ers

ho

I builds ant to meet higher

Grower Mapping -

I gathers data about the farm to be certified and its e isting protocols

Customized Training -

I trains a mi ed Leadership Team of orkers and managers over hours tailoring the approach to the farm s s stems

Standards - the Leadership Team and

management ork together to make sure the farm complies ith labor pest management and food safet re uirements

Audit - farm hires Certif

Continuous Worker Verification

ing od to conduct

da on site audit

Certification - if auditors are satisfied

ith a corrective action plan and all standards have been met the farm receives a ear certificate

Labeled Product - certified farms are

licensed to use the I Responsibl ro n arm orker Assured label on their produce

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icholas Wra

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“What I like about EFI, it’s not just a piece of paper that says we are certified, it teaches a process to stay certified.”

-- Marcela, supervisor, AgriBean, Puebla, Mexico

2015 Program Highlights How EFI is already making a difference EFI’s vision of a safer and more sustainable produce industry is being built farm by farm, grower by grower, retailer by retailer. By the end of 2015 we had: Worked ith major produce suppliers on plans to certif all the farms in their suppl chains The training and certification process as under a in facilities in Canada the nited States and e ico and farms had alread been certified Trained 142 men and 105 women to ork on I Leadership Teams in those facilities hich together emplo a total of

7,291 farmworkers.

ith 10 major retail and food service companies around ho the can support their produce suppliers to achieve I certification egotiated

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Discussed at the highest levels of the U.S. government ho certification to I labor pest management and food safet standards can enhance compliance ith the regulator agendas of the Department of Labor nvironmental rotection Agenc and ood and Drug Administration Developed press and social media outreach to consumers about I and our Responsibl ro n arm orker Assured label reaching over 158 million readers. uilt a team of 7 full-time staff and 8 trainers and consultants, along ith an

engaged and committed board of directors

icholas Wra

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icholas Wra

Audited inancial Statements

EFI would like to thank the following organizations for their support in 2015: Atlantic hilanthropies

Statement of inancial osition December

road Reach und Cedar Tree oundation ohn D and Catherine T

acArthur oundation

fam America Walt Disne Compan s Suppl Chain Investment rogram

ASS TS Cash and cash e uivalents rants and accounts receivable repaid

penses

Deposits TOTAL ASSETS

LIA ILITI S A D

T ASS TS

Liabilities Accounts pa able and accrued e penses Total Liabilities

T ASS TS nrestricted Restricted Total Net Assets TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

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Statement of Activities ear nded December Temporaril Revenue

nrestricted

Restricted

Total

Contributions and grants In kind contributions rogram income et assets released from restrictions Total Revenue and Support

$1,321,464

$3,626,619

$4,948,083

Expenses rogram service anagement and general undraising Total Expenses

$1,378,879

-

$1,378,879

Change in Net Assets Net Assets, Beginning of Year Net Assets, End of Year

($57,415)

9 Building Produce Supply Chain Assurance 2015 Annual Report

$3,626,619

$3,569,204

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icholas Wra

“Now, with EFI, we have been able to have a voice on the farm. They are responding to our concerns, our needs... That’s why we like it a lot, since they are concerned about everyone, from the workers to the consumers, and all of us come out winning.”

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-- Maria, Leadership Team Secretary, A+W, Oxnard, California

1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009.

equitablefood.org

Equitable Food Initiative