EFI Certification
The most rigorous social responsibility certification in the industry
Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) offers a unique approach to addressing the industry’s most pressing issues, including labor, sustainability and food safety. Our programs — tools, courses & workshops, FLC certification, ERGO certification — promote growers, retailers, and farmworkers to learn vital skills, adopt sustainable practices for the future, foster a culture of continuous improvement and help drive business performance via worker-manager collaboration.
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What Is a Social Responsibility Certification?
EFI certification is a comprehensive, third-party certification that ensures better working conditions, a culture of food safety, and more transparent and responsible farming practices across the fresh produce supply chain.
For retailers and consumers, a social responsibility certification builds confidence by offering insight into the growing environment of their fresh products.
For growers, it’s a sound business strategy. It builds your reputation and builds confidence in your workforce by providing the skills and support needed to excel in a global marketplace.
Why Choose EFI Certification?
EFI sets the standard for certificate programs in the fresh produce industry. Our process tackles social responsibility, a culture of food safety, and integrated pest management. In addition, the EFI certification is one of the 16 ECIP-recognized certification programs, benchmarked by The Sustainability Consortium, that have been evaluated to ensure that compliance with their standards demonstrates alignment with the Ethical Charter
EFI Certification is a lasting investment that supports business performance. By engaging workers at all levels, the positive impact of our education programs extends far beyond the certification process.
Key Benefits
- Meeting retailer requirements for social responsibility
- Addressing labor shortages through responsible recruitment and workforce retention
- Boosting efficiency through investment in workforce development
- Strengthening buyer relationships
- Fostering a culture of food safety
Comprehensive, Customizable Audit
EFI Certification requires a comprehensive audit by a third-party certifying body that applies broadly to all crops. However, we know that each farming operation is unique, so we can customize and scope each audit to meet your needs.
Our auditors are trained to conduct a human-centric audit through a trauma-informed audit lens. This unique approach ensures a thorough evaluation — considering the well-being of the workforce throughout the auditing process and preparing the operation for success throughout the certification process and beyond.
Over 300 Certification Standards
EFI Certification Standards were created and reviewed by a multi-stakeholder group. Members of the EFI Certification Standards Committee represent the following organizations: AgSocio, Costco Wholesale, ELEVATE, GoodFarms, Kroger Co., Misionero, Pesticide Action Network North America and other independent members like Bill Jordan (IPM Expert).
Beyond Compliance: A Certification Program Built on Workforce Engagement
A commitment to continuous improvement creates a workforce that is invested in maintaining the highest standards. The EFI premium further reinforces this commitment, encouraging employees to take the time to ensure thoroughness and to speak up when things aren’t quite right.
Recognizing and rewarding employees through increased collaboration with the EFI Leadership Team not only motivates current workers but also attracts talent and decreases turnover. This inherent commitment to continuous improvement positions your operation for success throughout the certification journey and beyond.
EFI Leadership Team Training
We cultivate an engaged workforce by leveraging our unique Leadership Team Training, which is central to our certification program. Our Leadership Team Training covers worker-manager collaboration, communication skills and certification standards.
Leadership Team members will be tasked with:
- Understanding the EFI Standards
- Identifying problems
- Proposing potential solutions
- Communicating EFI standards with the broader workforce
Our approach builds a more engaged workforce and increases worker-management collaboration. Engaged workers create a better work environment, resulting in enhanced retailer and consumer trust.
Retailer-Paid Premium Program (EFI Premium)
EFI’s retailer-paid worker bonus program aims to relieve the certified operation of additional costs and burdens. The program is funded entirely by the retailer. Premium prices for each commodity vary, reflecting the difficulty and effort involved in harvesting the product. For a detailed breakdown of commodity premium prices and participating retailers, refer to the commodity schedule.
Out of the total premium, 87% directly benefits farmworkers, 3% supports the certified operation by offsetting administrative costs, and the remaining 10% is designated as a licensing fee returned to EFI. This fee contributes to marketing efforts showcasing the remarkable achievement of EFI certification.
At a Glance: Stages to Achieving EFI Certification
What are the stages of acquiring EFI’s social responsibility certification?
Site Visit for Relationship Cultivation and Grower Mapping
Leadership Team Training
Compliance With Standards
Audit Process
Certification Completion
Labeled Product
Completing your EFI Certification can take as little as two months or as long as you need to, depending on your operational needs and timeline. Please contact us with questions!
Video: What You Need to Know About Becoming EFI Certified
Learn more about EFI’s retail partners, worker bonuses, training programs and audit processes!
In this webinar session, Certification Manager Karla Cook explains the EFI Certification process, from the initial meeting with EFI staff to the final labeled product. If you have considered EFI Certification for your operation, this is a great opportunity to learn more and have your questions answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends, each operation has its own needs and timing. We have seen growers take as little as 2 months to get fully certified, others can take closer to a year. One thing to keep in mind is that audits need to be done during harvest of a commodity, working back from that timeline can be helpful. We are here for as quickly as you’d like to get through to the finish line, or if you’d like to take it slow.
Yes! You can find us on page 11 of this document under “Approved Audit Programs”.
Yes! Be sure to bring up that you’re exploring EFI with your Costco buyer to get all the details.
We sure do. If you’re wanting to meet the IPM/Pollinator health requirements for Walmart, be sure you let your EFI rep know you’ll need to be audited to our IPM/Pest Management standards.
Absolutely!
Whole Foods, Costco, Alhold Delhaze, Walmart, Target, Albertsons/Safeway and Kroger.
