WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, at its fall board meeting held in Washington DC on October 2-3, the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) elected Ernie Farley of Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce as the new Board Chair and Carol Schrader, a technology consultant and former software executive, as the new Vice-Chair of the EFI Board of Directors.

“The produce industry is at a critical time that requires us all to reflect on how we can change and adapt to new ways of thinking and doing business,” said Farley. “Issues around labor, food safety, and consumer transparency require us all to evaluate new tools that can help us meet the ever-increasing challenges, and I’ve personally seen how EFI can play a direct role in providing solutions. I also know that the kind of culture change that EFI requires does not come without discomfort or detractors, but I believe the industry needs to better understand how we can adopt programs like workforce development that will strengthen our industry in the long-term.”

With a degree in plant science from the University of California, Davis, Farley has built a career in tomatoes, kiwis, and strawberries in both the United States and Mexico and has worked in various production, sales, and management positions. Currently, Farley is a partner in Andrew & Williamson, a company he has been with for the last 15 years, according to a press release. He has also served on a variety of organizational boards, including as Chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and on the EFI board since it first began.

Newly elected Vice-Chair Carol Schrader joined the board in 2017 and serves as one of three independent members of EFI’s multi-stakeholder governing body, according to a press release. Schrader holds a Bachelor of Arts in management science from Clarke University. She has built a career as a specialist in raising capital, strategic planning, marketing, and executive management after serving in a variety of management roles with start-up technology companies.

“EFI is a young organization, and a robust and diverse board of directors is critical to our long-term success. Visionary leaders like Ernie and Carol provide valuable strategic guidance that helps EFI focus on our overall mission to transform agriculture through workforce development,” Peter O’Driscoll, Executive Director for EFI, said.

Farley and Schrader are taking over for Erik Nicholson of United Farm Workers and Maisie Ganzler of Bon Appétit Management Company, who have completed their respective terms as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively—EFI’s bylaws allow for two consecutive two-year terms of leadership. Nicholson and Ganzler will remain on as Board members.

EFI’s mission is to bring together growers, farmworkers, retailers, and consumers to transform agriculture and improve the lives of farmworkers through the process of workforce development. With over 300 standards for labor practices, food safety and pest management under its belt, EFI has certified 28 farming operations of 11 grower-shipper companies, covering 38 produce commodities with the Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured™ label. EFI’s training programs have also impacted more than 30,000 farmworkers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Congratulations to Ernie Farley and Carol Schrader on your new positions!

Equitable Food Initiative