Jan 30, 2019
“One of the most beautiful parts of responsible sourcing is the effort put into raising communities and empowering the farm workers that feed our families.” - Jessie Gunn (3:52)
When mentioning responsible
sourcing in the produce industry, most people may immediately think
of the standards implemented to yield healthy, safe produce.
However, responsible sourcing is about more than just the produce
itself. It’s important to recognize that people, planet, and
resources are all symbiotic. The same parents who are providing
healthy, sustainable food sources for their children also want to
make sure that they have a beautiful green part to play. It’s
crucial to treat farm workers fairly, and also make sure that the
crops they are harvesting and handling each day aren’t poisoned
with countless chemicals. It takes health awareness in each area to
establish sustainable and responsible sourcing.
“If we want to provide good, healthy work environments for workers, we have to be environmentally sound as well.” - Jessie Gunn
While the words “Fair Trade” are often thrown around, not everyone is aware of what this standard entails. In order for a company to be fair trade certified, they have to be willing to submit to third-party audits, both scheduled and unscheduled. These audits include interviewing farm workers and reviewing documentation and growing practices. The standard encompasses much more than just the produce.
With the rise of awareness through social media and technology, consumers are demanding responsible sourcing. In fact, the last two years have shown a 19% increase in purchases of items including “free from” labels, Certified Fair Trade, B Corp produce, and products that support empowering women. This is the most dramatic increase in purchasing power in decades.
Listen in to this week’s episode to learn more about responsibly sourced produce, internationally sourced produce, the rise in consumer awareness, and how you can make a difference in the produce industry.
“Food feeds your whole person. It feeds your values, it feeds your moral alignment. It is about feeding your family what’s best for them to grow them into better human beings.” - Jessie Gunn (26:02)
To learn more about responsible sourcing practices, find Jessie Gunn on LinkedIn, and visit fairtradeusa.org. Be intentional about your produce purchases. If you buy fruit or vegetables that make claims about their sourcing, go to their website and do your research. Be more informed, be more responsible, and help us increase responsible sourcing for a more sustainable produce industry.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
- Introduction // Jessie Gunn - 1:18
- What is Responsible Sourcing? - 3:12
- Understanding Fair Trade - 7:13
- Fresh Produce is an International Collaboration - 12:13
- Environmental Standards - 15:25
- 2017 Data Points and Consumers’ Interest - 19:43
- The Main Takeaway - 25:12
- Wrap-up - 28:49
How to get involved
- Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week! https://www.facebook.com/groups/316715662104709/
- Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you’re at in life and business! Find out more at www.theproducemom.com
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