Find the full version of EFI’s 2018 Annual Report along with financial statements here.
This summary is available in Spanish.
Collective Impact and Why It’s Important
Large-scale change requires coordination from across the sector, and collective impact brings various actors together with a common agenda and a shared vision to solve a pressing social issue. Collective impact encourages communication and continuous improvement from the multiple actors and relies on a backbone organization to drive the work of the group.
Becoming the Backbone Organization for Transforming the Produce Industry
EFI brings together a unique group of unlikely allies that represent the diverse interests in the fresh produce value chain. In becoming the backbone organization to transform the fresh produce industry, EFI helped the group define a common agenda and work toward its shared purpose to protect farmworkers, consumers and the long-term viability of the fresh produce industry.The group agreed to the common objective represented by the EFI Standards and tested the four-part program it jointly developed in 2012. The program was refined on farms in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and in 2015, EFI was officially launched as an independent organization that would continue to serve as the backbone organization for the distinct actors to fulfill their shared agenda.
Giving Voice and Agency to Farmworkers
The EFI Program fosters a culture of collaboration and respect and has been evaluated as a successful model to drive worker engagement and improve working conditions. EFI Leadership Teams on each farming location provide a space for workers to engage directly with management to share their thoughts, concerns and solutions.
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If we want to improve, we need to do it as a team, and as a team we understand that we need to produce something of high quality so that our buyers are pleased with the product and that consumers enjoy the product. If we make our buyers happy with our quality, there will be more sales and we all benefit.
— Luis Octavio Lopez Calzada,
Leadership Team Member, JV Smith Companies
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Driving Behavior Change on Farms
As communication and collaboration increase following EFI Leadership Team training, shifts in mindsets, attitudes and behaviors begin to drive effective leadership, teamwork and problem-solving.These changes in mindsets and behaviors have large and small impacts across farming operations and result in more employees asking “why” and respecting when others ask “why.”
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Generating Value Across the Supply Chain
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Farmworkers Benefit |
Retailers Benefit |
Growers Benefit |
Consumers Benefit |
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Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement has been an integral part of the EFI Program from its inception. Transforming the produce industry requires big changes but committing to continuous improvement allows everyone in the supply chain to make progress.The EFI training embeds the necessary trust and collaboration for the team to engage around the constant monitoring of health and safety, labor and food safety issues and to provide the innovative thinking required for continuous improvement.
About EFI
Equitable Food Initiative is a certification and skill-building organization that seeks to increase transparency in the food supply chain and improve the lives of farmworkers through a team-based approach to training and continuous improvement practices. EFI brings together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to solve the most pressing issues facing the fresh produce industry. As a nonprofit social enterprise, EFI is funded by a combination of earned income, grants and donations. To learn more, visit www.equitablefood.org/donors.
