WASHINGTON, DC - Never an organization to shy away from pressing industry issues, the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is now shining a light on the high level of sexual harassment facing farmworkers. With studies estimating female farmworkers face this type of harassment at a rate 2–3 times higher than employees in other sectors, EFI is facilitating new training programs to raise awareness and create safer working environments.

“EFI is addressing the issues that can ultimately transform the lives of farmworkers and help to expand the bright future of fresh produce through safer food and a vibrant, skilled labor force,” LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications, explains. “Focusing on keeping workers safe, including creating a zero-tolerance for sexual harassment, is just one way we can facilitate that conversation. Our goal is often to provide the training and tools that help growers and shippers begin positive culture change.”

Part of EFI’s work to keep laborers safe is by offering a toolkit launched in 2019 and created by researchers in the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH), a part of the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS). Research for the toolkit began in 2012 and has evolved into a new curriculum called ¡Basta! Preventing Sexual Harassment in Agriculture, which was developed alongside farmworkers and other members of the Washington agricultural community.

Everything on PNASH’s website is free to use, with hard copies of the material available for a nominal fee. In addition to its toolkit, the organization is also planning remote, live training and self-paced training for industry partners and those wanting to learn more about sexual harassment prevention in ag through PNASH. EFI is currently a supporting partner, providing funding while promoting the toolkit and ensuring its value is understood throughout the industry.

This curriculum works in tandem with EFI’s other training, all in the name of creating a healthier, safer fresh produce industry.

“Part of EFI’s main mission is to facilitate training in soft skills. This training includes communication, negotiation, active listening, leadership, and other skills that create a more open and safe working environment,” LeAnne adds. “The development and training of leadership creates multi-departmental teams and opens new dialogues to inspire transformative cultures that allow workers to share concerns and create opportunities for change.”

Data shows that 85 percent of women have experienced sexual harassment at work, and women make up 32 percent of farmworkers. That means nearly 700,000 workers may be impacted by sexual harassment, showing the prevalence of this issue and the need for our industry to come together to protect workers who play such a vital role in fresh produce.

LeAnne tells me that the first step the industry can take in the fight against sexual harassment is awareness.

“We know that sexual harassment is not an easy subject to tackle, and it’s difficult to look inward and see flaws in our system. The point of EFI training is always about continuous improvement. It’s about recognizing problems and turning them into opportunities for change,” she imparts. “Sexual Assault Awareness Month is April, and it’s a good opportunity to draw attention to the issue within the industry and provide education about what sexual harassment looks like, how many individuals are vulnerable, and how we can facilitate change.”

To learn more about the issue of sexual harassment in the industry and how EFI is working alongside its partners to mitigate it, look for the next article in this series.

Equitable Food Initiative