WASHINGTON — The Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), a nonprofit organization that brings together workers, growers and retailers to produce safer, more responsibly grown fruits and vegetables, today announced that Alpine Fresh, Inc. has received its first farm certification for two locations in Puebla, Mexico. Alpine Fresh will begin distributing the first organic and conventional French beans and organic broccoli with the EFI Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured™ label this month to the western United States.
The Puebla farm locations are the second EFI certification for Alpine Fresh. They join its MangoPack operation in Tecate, Mexico, which was certified in March 2016.
"We are proud to have been the first packing operation certified by EFI, and now to have two of our farm locations certified under the EFI label," said Manuel Rivera, director of value added operations for Alpine Fresh. "As a company we are working on ways to bring workers and management together to create a better product and better working conditions, and EFI has been an important element in our progress and success."
"After the EFI trainings, we have seen great improvements on the farm," said Alma Rivera, social responsibility compliance manager for Alpine Fresh. "There is better communication, more respect, and everyone wants to work together to solve problems and make the best product possible."
The Alpine Fresh certification has expanded EFI's certifications to seven Mexican states, three U.S. states and one Canadian province. "We value our partnership with Alpine Fresh and look forward to expanding EFI further into the Americas to support their supply chain," said Kevin Boyle, director of business and workforce development for EFI. "EFI is predicated on creating value for growers and workers alike, along with their retail customers and consumers. Alpine Fresh has been key in driving this solution forward."
For more information on The Equitable Food Initiative, visit www.equitablefood.org.
About Alpine Fresh
Alpine Fresh is a Miami-based grower, importer and shipper of a range of fresh fruits and vegetables with operations throughout the United States, Mexico and Latin America.
About the Equitable Food Initiative
The Equitable Food Initiative brings together workers, growers and retailers to provide Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured™ fruits and vegetables. As produce farms comply with EFI Standards — for improved working conditions, pest management and food safety — benefits are seen for the entire food system, from farmworkers to businesses to agricultural communities and consumers.
EFI is a nonprofit organization that receives funding support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, Broad Reach Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Oxfam America and The Walt Disney Company's Supply Chain Investment Program.
Members of Equitable Food Initiative's multi-stakeholder board, instrumental in the development of the EFI Standards, include:
– Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce
– Bon Appe?tit Management Company
– Center for Science in the Public Interest
– Consumer Federation of America
– Costco Wholesale
– Farm Labor Organizing Committee
– Farmworker Justice
– NatureSweet Tomatoes
– Oxfam America
– Pesticide Action Network North America
– Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste
– United Farm Workers
The Equitable Food Initiative Links:
Website: http://www.equitablefood.org
Twitter: @EquitableFood
Facebook: facebook.com/EquitableFoodInitiative
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/equitable-food-initiative
Source: The Equitable Food Initiative
