Alpine Fresh Puebla farm locations receive EFI certification

The Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), a nonprofit organization that brings together workers, growers and retailers to produce safer, more responsibly grown fruits and vegetables, today announced that Alpine Fresh, Inc. has received its first farm certification for two locations in Puebla, Mexico. Alpine Fresh will begin distributing the first organic and conventional French beans and organic broccoli with the EFI Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured label this month to the western United States.

The Puebla farm locations are the second EFI certification for Alpine Fresh. They join its MangoPack operation in Tecate, Mexico, which was certified in March 2016.

"We are proud to have been the first packing operation certified by EFI, and now to have two of our farm locations certified under the EFI label," said Manuel Rivera, director of value added operations for Alpine Fresh. "As a company we are working on ways to bring workers and management together to create a better product and better working conditions, and EFI has been an important element in our progress and success."

"After the EFI trainings, we have seen great improvements on the farm," said Alma Rivera, social responsibility compliance manager for Alpine Fresh. "There is better communication, more respect, and everyone wants to work together to solve problems and make the best product possible."

The Alpine Fresh certification has expanded EFI's certifications to seven Mexican states, three U.S. states and one Canadian province. "We value our partnership with Alpine Fresh and look forward to expanding EFI further into the Americas to support their supply chain," said Kevin Boyle, director of business and workforce development for EFI. "EFI is predicated on creating value for growers and workers alike, along with their retail customers and consumers. Alpine Fresh has been key in driving this solution forward."

For more information:
LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti
Equitable Food Initiative
Tel: 202 796 8815
143287@email4pr.com
http://www.equitablefood.org