EFI certifies all of Rouge River Farms’ operations

Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) has certified Rouge River Farms’ fourth location.

The worker treatment certification makes the grower-shipper’s entire sweet corn supply chain – from south Florida to Ontario, Canada — EFI Certified, according to a news release.

EFI is the capacity-building and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer advocacy groups.

Rouge River offers a year-round supply of fresh sweet corn from operations in Clewiston, Florida, Climax, Georgia, Verona, Virginia, and Gormley, Ontario. Rouge River previously achieved EFI certification for its three U.S. operations.

“Rouge River Farms has been a great example of a collaborative partner, working with EFI since 2017 to achieve and maintain certification for its three U.S. farms,” Peter O’Driscoll, EFI’S executive director, said in the release. “With the addition of their Canadian operation, Rouge River Farms has certified its entire supply chain, which is clear proof of the company’s commitment to continuous improvement through the inclusion of worker voice and agency.”

The EFI certification program has allowed Rouge River to document marked improvements at all its operations, Margaret Stuart, Rouge River’s senior compliance manager, said in the release.

“Rouge River Farms is committed to responsible farming because sustainability and social responsibility aren’t just trends, they have a direct effect on our future success,” she said in the release. “We’re grateful to have a partner in EFI that provides us with tools to support our workforce and continue achieving next-level success, which is why we chose to pursue the certification for our Canadian operation.”

Beginning as a small roadside corn stand in the late 1980s, Rouge River has grown to become a large grower and distributor of sweet corn to grocery chains throughout North America. The company grows on more than 10,000 acres of farmland in the listed states, with packinghouses in Florida, Virginia and Ontario.

The EFI certification program assists farming operations like Rouge River Farms to:

•  Reduce audit fatigue by meeting the labor, food safety and pest management requirements of multiple retailers through a single certification.
• Develop cross-functional collaborative teams that foster consistency and efficiency.
• Promote a culture of food safety through safer and healthier work environments.Build lines of communication and problem-solving across departments.
• Commit to continuous improvement to ensure compliance and drive business performance.