Every year, we highlight the tremendous work that Rouge River Farms does to put on the EFI Fair. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the EFI Fair, so we bring you an interview with Estefani Oceja, food safety representative and member of the worker-manager collaborative team at Rouge River, to learn more about this great event.
Estefani had the original idea of creating the EFI Fair with the main goal of providing a space where both learning and team building could thrive. Following her vision, all employees have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions, presentations and spaces to bring their opinions and ideas. In addition to these training activities, the fair includes informative presentations led by the Leadership Teams (now known as Worker-Manager Collaboration Team), where they review EFI standards and the importance of EFI certification for the company.
Year after year, with the support of the leadership team coordinator and all the members, this fair continues to grow with more activities to keep everyone engaged: contests, gifts, piñatas and cakes are just some of the things that make this event an unforgettable moment for all Rouge River Farms employees.
The Interview:
Hello Estefani! Please give us a brief introduction about yourself and tell us how the idea of creating the EFI Fair came about, when it happened, and what was the main motivation behind it.
Hello Alexandra. My name is Estefani Oceja, I am the Food Safety representative for Rouge River Farms and I am part of the leadership team trained by EFI.
The EFI fair began because I wanted to raise awareness of the importance of EFI certification in the company. The fair is organized so that every worker can understand the importance of implementing each standard and also have a special time together with the whole team in Verona.
Tell us a little about the topics covered during the EFI Fair
The entire leadership team prepares weeks in advance with the topics assigned to them so they can review them with the workers. Topics include social standards, safety standards, integrated pest management standards and processing and packaging standards.
What other types of preparation does the EFI Fair involve, besides preparing the topics?
Every year, we have organized extra activities such as piñatas, cake cutting and even surprise gifts for employees. This part also requires a lot of planning. We need to find suppliers, choose the people who will lead each activity and organize everything during the event.
If you could give one piece of advice to an organizer who is starting a similar event at another company, what would it be?
It is extremely important to have a leadership team that is willing to work together, organize the event, and understand the value of the EFI program within the company. Communication is also important, from preparation to the final moment of the event.
What is the most valuable feedback you have received from participants in previous years?
Workers have given positive feedback to the leadership team, saying that the EFI fair is a special time for them and that they feel valued and recognized.
What do you think will be the most valuable lesson or lasting experience for Rouge River Farms workers after this EFI Fair?
In addition to having clarity and understanding of EFI’s standards, it is important to us that workers feel proud of the work they do and fortunate to belong to the Rouge River Farms company.
You are the person behind the EFI Fair, behind the idea. What has been your favorite part each year?
My favorite part of organizing this activity each year is seeing the leadership team participate and demonstrate unity, commitment and teamwork.
This interview was conducted in Spanish. To read the original interview, click here.
The Event:
To read more about the EFI Fair, organized by Rouge River Farms, visit: