Costco Flyer - 05/01-05/31/2023 (Page 30)

andre bull "the efi structure helps change the culture on the farm," explains leanne tions throughout the whole farm." an elected leadership team of farmworkers and managers is trained those skills to help the farming opera- pest management produce at costco costco supports equitable fairtrade by paying the premium for certified small producer partners in ecuador manages the process cut bananas from the consumers' perspective the efi certification on fruits and vegetables signifies that the workers harvesting the produce have been treated respectfully and compensated are assured that the workforce has been given the skills and support to address critical issues like food safety trained efi teams farms in canada and other coun- tries certified by efi are paid a premium by retailers for produce meeting the mium on certified produce appears on the workers' checks as an efi bonus over $19 million in farmworker bonuses growers also benefit from engaged workers who report higher work satis- responsibility for andrew & williamson now the workforce is communicating in turn increases productivity and quality continuous improvement is part of this culture change," zimmerman-lommel from the workforce to top management there is improvement for all and everyone participates in improving processes with clear and transparent communication." buying team encourages suppliers to participate in those programs efi and fairtrade each provide a verifiable program that helps enrich the lives of agricultural workers while empowering them to harvest a better-quality possible.-cg annual audits both efi and fairtrade work with a third-party- certified auditing body to verify the farms follow the standards set by each are completed and farms vary in length of time depending on the number allowed to label produce as coming from a certified which include worker to ensure the farms remain in compliance and any new workers have been trained the certificate holder is responsible for report- well as the committees the amount of product the amount of premiums evaluated and audited as well.-cg ⓒ equifruit