FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW GROUP TO CERTIFY GOOD FARM LABOR PRACTICES

Socially Accountable Farm Employers is a first for Florida and the industry

MAITLAND, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2005) - A farmworker services group and a leading Florida agriculture trade association are teaming up to establish an independent organization that will certify fruit and vegetable growers who follow fair, lawful labor practices - the first organization of its kind in Florida and the industry.

The organization, called Socially Accountable Farm Employers (SAFE), will provide independent certification of companies that adhere to an established employer code of conduct. The code sets benchmarks by which producers will be assessed. The Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) are collaborating on the effort.

Corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly important in the marketplace as consumers express interest in the work environment where goods and services are produced. "Social responsibility is not an option. Today's consumers insist on it," said SAFE spokeswoman Lisa Lochridge.

"Our customers - the nation's food retailers and restaurant chains - are looking to our industry to do the right thing. SAFE certification will demonstrate that growers are treating their employees fairly and providing a safe workplace," she said.

Producers who apply for SAFE certification will first undergo a self-assessment that includes a variety of workplace parameters. An independent, third-party audit of the grower's operation, from field to packinghouse, will follow. Audits, which will be based on standards outlined in the organization's Farm Labor Employer Code of Conduct, will be conducted by New York-based Intertek Group.

The code covers general employment practices and specific issues such as forced labor, child labor, discrimination, wages and benefits, employment records, workplace safety and housing. The grower will either receive SAFE certification, be advised of measures to take conditional to certification, or be denied certification.

The groundwork for SAFE is still being laid, Lochridge said. "We're still in the development stages, although we expect to begin certifying producers during this harvest season - perhaps before the end of the year."

In the coming weeks, a board of directors will be selected and bylaws developed. Two board members were appointed this week: RCMA executive director Barbara Mainster and Mike Stuart, president of FFVA, an agricultural trade association representing the state's producers of fruits, vegetables and other crops.

"This initiative is unique to Florida and can make a real difference to workers," Mainster said. "SAFE certification will give consumers assurance that the products they buy were produced according to standards that ensure a safe and equitable workplace."

For almost two generations, Florida's farming communities have seen the benefits of RCMA's programs. As one of the largest community-based organizations serving farmworkers and their families in Florida, RCMA provides quality education and family services through its more than 76 centers in 20 counties.

"Our goal is to ensure the board will be well-rounded," Mainster added. "We want it to encompass groups that represent all interests of agriculture: the farmworker community, growers and others."

SAFE also will be a good thing for the agriculture industry, Stuart said. "Rather than looking at a single issue, SAFE will take a comprehensive approach in examining the production environment and how employers treat their workers."

Socially Accountable Farm Employers is a Florida-based nonprofit organization that provides independent auditing and certification of fair, lawful farm labor practices in the agriculture industry. For more information, visit www.safeagemployer.org.

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