WASHINGTON, DC - We reported last month that the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) was launching a new customizable audit approach for its partners. With so many advantages to this newly revamped program, I had the chance to learn more from Peter O'Driscoll, Executive Director, and Madelyn Edlin, Marketing and Sales Manager.

“Since the adoption in 2018 of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, the produce industry has placed increasing emphasis on working conditions,” Peter told me. “As buyers and consumers demand greater supply chain transparency, EFI has responded with a range of offerings that meet growers where they are and invite them on a continuous improvement journey. The trend toward social responsibility as a requirement for doing business is picking up speed. EFI is more committed than ever to helping employers engage their workforce in strategies that both provide customer assurance and enhance business performance.”

At the start of February, grower-shippers gained the flexibility to choose whether to include Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized food safety and integrated pest management (IPM) standards in the EFI certification audit. This allows for a more efficient process without EFI’s partners needing to double up on certifications.

“We know that many of our growing partners already have food safety or IPM programs that meet their needs. We want to honor that commitment while helping our growing partners continue on their journey toward social certification,” Madelyn added. “That brought us to the decision to allow growers to present a GFSI-accredited food-safety certificate from another organization, as well as make the IPM standards an optional add on. Offering this customized audit approach alongside the full suite of options in a one-stop audit shop, we will be able to meet more growers’ unique needs.”

As a refresher, here are the new options under the customized audit approach:

• Continuing with EFI’s one-stop-shop audit for labor practices, GFSI-recognized food safety, and IPM/pollinator health. A new, optional addendum will help growers demonstrate alignment with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule
• Auditing to EFI’s social responsibility and culture of food safety standards but submitting a valid GFSI-recognized food safety certificate from another program in place of completing an EFI food safety audit
• Auditing to EFI’s IPM standards to fulfill customer requirements for pollinator health

“EFI is synonymous with the highest social standards in the industry,” Madelyn continued. “Our EFI-certified partners have displayed commitment to investing in their workforce and building a culture of continuous improvement. Our certified farms are sought out among the buying community because of the assurance that comes with the EFI label. None of this would be possible without the EFI Leadership Teams that operate on each certified operation. They have proven time and again to be the defining factor in upholding quality, excellence in food safety, worker-manager collaboration, and continuous improvement.”

From a buyers' perspective, Madelyn explained that industry partners will continue receiving the quality and assurance of their supply chain that they expect from EFI-certified products.

“They can continue to rely on EFI to provide not only the social responsibility standards that we are known for, but also know that we are still emphasizing food safety through a ‘culture of food safety’ addendum that all operations will be audited to in addition to providing their GFSI-benchmarked food safety certificate through an outside partner,” she concluded.

To stay up to date with the latest from EFI, keep following along with reports from ANUK.