How does the industry move from endorsing responsible labor practices to taking action?
Peter O’Driscoll, executive director of Equitable Food Initiative, and Kim Combs, supplier verification manager with The Kroger Co., explore the topic, along with EFI Director of Marketing Communications LeAnne Ruzzamenti, in this “Tip of the Iceberg” podcast brought to you by EFI and The Packer.
While the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices was released in 2018 and many fresh produce companies have endorsed the principles it lays out, this program is designed to move the industry from endorsement to action, Ruzzamenti says.
The inclusion of respectful professional conduct guidelines was groundbreaking, O’Driscoll says.
Buyers can invite suppliers into the program and suppliers can identify their growers via an online platform, Ruzzamenti says. Growers can then use the online platform to better understand the management systems that align to the ethical charter and can self-assess their operation on each one.
As the industry comes together to implement responsible labor practices, listen to this podcast for an overview that addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.