Mar 21, 2024

New EFI online training available

Equitable Food Initiative, the capacity-building and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, is launching new online training products.

The training is designed to share core social responsibility concepts that build the capacity of workers and managers in the fresh produce industry, according to a news release.

Aligned with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, the trainings offer a variety of learning formats to suit individual needs and schedules. From a series of one-hour seminars to intensive customized courses, participants can choose the best format for their learning style and busy schedules. 

The resources are designed to help managers, supervisors and workers develop the skills and knowledge necessary to cultivate a more ethical and sustainable work environment. The trainings are also valuable to farming operations that have achieved or are seeking EFI or other third-party certification, according to the release.

Peter O’Driscoll, EFI’s executive director, said the new online resources underscore EFI’s dedication to providing accessible and affordable tools to strengthen labor management practices. 

“These new offerings support EFI’s goal of meeting grower-shippers where they are,” he said in the release. “We aim to reach a larger segment of the produce industry, providing services that support implementation of the industry’s Ethical Charter by helping employers strengthen their management systems.”

In line with EFI’s mission of building skills across farming operations, the trainings range from free webinars to affordable one-hour seminars to multi-session workshops. Currently, courses are scheduled for various dates from March through June, and registration is open. A list of options, dates, prices and registration details can be found here.

The online trainings cover a wide array of topics in English and Spanish, including:

• Improving communication and worker protections
• Preventing harassment and discrimination
• Developing management systems that support responsible labor practices
• Embracing continuous improvement
• Addressing sustainability needs to meet retailer requirements.

One example of the new offerings is EFI’s Sustainability 101 course, which helps grower-shippers understand evolving retail requirements regarding climate and environmental reporting, and introduces resources and tools for measuring impacts. 

Through its certification program, EFI has helped educate and train more than 4,000 farmworkers and managers in problem-solving, communication and conflict resolution strategies.