Cultivating Excellence
with Windset Farms®
10 Years as EFI Certified
For more than a decade, Windset Farms® has stood as an example of leadership in responsible agriculture. In 2025, Windset Farms is marking a 10-year milestone as EFI certified, a testament to their dedication to excellence and continuous improvement across all operations.
With significant data collected meticulously by Windset Farms teams and EFI audits, we can showcase remarkable shifts and accomplishments that speak volumes about their leadership. From the EFI premium to the improvements made in safety, culture of food safety, workers’ well-being and communication, their metrics tell a compelling story of tangible positive change. Perhaps one of the most powerful indicators of their success and worker satisfaction is their 98% return rate for guest workers year after year. Keep reading to learn more about Windset’s accomplishments and learnings during this decade of continuous improvement.
Windset Farms is an example of what’s possible when a company commits to creating a better, more ethical and more efficient agricultural system.
By The Numbers
EFI Premium Payed
Since 2017, an astounding $5.5+ million has been distributed in worker bonuses to Windset Farms’ farmworkers through the EFI Premium program.
Certified Commodities
EFI-certified commodities include: Long English Cucumber, Mini Cucumbers, European Cucumbers, Mini Pepper, Tomato Roma, Tomato Round, Tomato Small, Tomato Vine, Peppers, Cherry Tomato.
No. of Employers Trained
A total of 70 workers have completed direct training with EFI in essential skills such as communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving as part of their Worker-Manager Collaboration (WMC) Team.
Employee Return Rate
An 98% worker return rate isn’t just a statistic; it’s a direct reflection of a workplace where employees feel valued and secure. Creating a level of trust and loyalty that exceeds the industry standard.
“At Windset Farms, we’re committed to providing consumers with the highest quality produce possible. This includes the value and quality throughout the entire food system made up of workers, growers, retailers and consumers alike. Our certification with EFI makes sure that our workers are receiving fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions.”
Jeff Madu
Sr. VP of Operations at Windset Farms
A Journey of Continuous Improvement
Windset Farms stands out among growers for its consistent and high rate of compliance with EFI’s rigorous standards during audits over the past 10 years. Learn how they are doing it:
Worker-Manager Collaboration
By bringing together workers from different departments and levels, the WMC Teams are vital for identifying issues and collaborating on solutions.
- Regular meetings create space for open dialogue and quick action on worker feedback.
- WMC Teams practice effective communication, like active listening, building consensus and solving problems through respectful conversations.
- WMC Teams learn how to use data to find issues and suggest real, workable solutions.
Proactive Problem Solving
Windset Farms’ early certification journey presented unique opportunities for growth and refinement.
- Addressed early issues like equipment handling and safety through training and clearer team communication.
- Trained 10 certified first aiders to support on-site safety.
- Acted on worker feedback by installing water fountains to improve drinking water access.
- Shares clear, simple information about workers’ compensation, benefits and worker rights.
Continuous Improvement
Becoming a leader in responsible agriculture isn’t just about a checklist; it’s about a continuous journey of learning, adapting and innovating.
- Supports new guest workers by making them feel welcomed, informed and ready to contribute.
- Uses incident data to improve safety protocols and prevent future issues.
- Builds trust by explaining why reporting issues matters and making it safe to speak up.
- Because of the systemic improvements and collaborative practices implemented for EFI certification, Windset’s process for achieving Certificate of Recognition* was significantly streamlined.
*The Certificate of Recognition program is an incentive program recognizing and rewarding employers for implementing an effective Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program which demonstrates a commitment to workplace health and safety. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Communication within Diverse Groups
Communicating in three different languages can be challenging. However, Windset Farms has discovered effective strategies to improve communication.
- EFI training was delivered in English, Spanish and Punjabi to make sure everyone understood and participated.
- Some workers are learning second or third languages to better communicate with each other.
- Incorporation of images and visual aids into meetings makes complex information universally understandable regardless of language.
- Multilingual channels support open dialogue on workplace issues and solutions.
Shaping the Future of Responsible Agriculture
EFI is dedicated to cultivating a more transparent and responsible fresh produce supply chain by supporting growers to achieve the highest standards and some partners truly stand out.
Windset Farms is a long-standing partner whose commitment to excellence consistently places them among the industry’s top performers.
Windset Farms stands out among agricultural operations for their consistent and high rate of compliance with EFI’s rigorous standards during audits over the past 10 years. Their dedication is clear, showing a remarkable ability to deliver on EFI’s promises of “Responsible Grown, Farmworker Assured.” This isn’t just a one-time achievement; it’s a testament to their continuous effort and commitment to quality.
“I’m thankful to [participating retailers] and the EFI Committee because they listen to workers’ voices and improve communication with management. This is the first time I’ve worked for a company that takes care of its employees. During the pandemic, they have put so many things in place for our well-being.”
Socorro Mendoza
Packhouse Worker at Windset Farms
“When you have workers who know they are being listened to, you are going to have good workers. Because a happy worker is a good worker and it creates trust, which leads to strong communication.”
Tony Pacheco
Operations | Health & Safety Manager at Windset Farms
Stories from the Field
Click on the title of each image to read the story.
Learnings from a Decade
Encourage Incident Reporting
Educating workers on the importance of full incident reporting, including minor incidents, led to more reports, a safer workplace, and increased transparency and trust.
Shifting the Safety Culture
Fear, not the absence of incidents, stopped reporting. Explaining why and what to report changed the culture, improving incident data.
Native-Language Training
Investing in training and communication in workers’ native languages is essential for effective safety protocols, understanding of rights and overall worker well-being.
Multiple Perspectives
When dealing with special projects, bringing every perspective into the problem-solving process ensured plans were well-made and executed without costly mistakes.
Leverage Internal Knowledge
Windset’s proactive sharing of best practices and learnings streamlined the EFI certification process for the second greenhouse, leading to stronger initial results.
Manager Involvement
Windset managers and supervisors unlocked the power of WMC Team by being genuinely invested and actively involved, ensuring that workers felt listened to and cared about.
