New ECIP platform helps farm labor contractors assess and strengthen labor management systems
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti, (202) 524-0540, media@equitablefood.org
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2026 – The Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP), overseen by a multistakeholder industry group to build alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and facilitated by Equitable Food Initiative, announces the launch of a new platform for farm labor contractors. The latest Learn, Assess and Benchmark (LAB) platform offers farm labor contractors an accessible starting point for social responsibility, with tools and resources to increase knowledge and assess and strengthen their labor management systems over time. FLC LAB will launch on April 1, 2026, alongside a live informational webinar at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT.
Through a continuous improvement model, the platform helps farm labor contractors increase their knowledge, evaluate their current labor management systems and track progress over time.
Using the LAB platform, farm labor contractors can:
- Learn about management systems that support responsible labor practices.
- Assess their current systems across 56 labor-related work areas.
- Benchmark progress over time.
By participating, farm labor contractors can also showcase existing social responsibility certifications and demonstrate credible engagement through continuous improvement.
“FLC LAB was created to give farm labor contractors a practical and supportive way to strengthen their labor management systems,” said Madelyn Edlin, product marketing manager for EFI. “By focusing on learning, self-assessment and benchmarking, the platform helps farm labor contractors better understand where they are today and provides tools to improve over time.”
FLC LAB is a capacity-building tool, not a compliance test. Farm labor contractors can answer assessments honestly, knowing their responses are confidential and used to support learning and improvement within their own operations.
Farm labor contractors manage a significant portion of the agricultural workforce, and strengthening their labor management systems helps improve alignment with the Ethical Charter across the supply chain.
To introduce the platform, ECIP’s live webinar will provide an overview of FLC LAB and guidance on how farm labor contractors can begin using the platform to strengthen their operations, as well as how this new release will relate to existing growers and suppliers.
“This webinar is designed to walk farm labor contractors through the platform and show how easy it is to get started,” Edlin said. “We want to showcase how FLC LAB can support operations and strengthen their systems.”
Attendees can also ask questions live and explore how FLC LAB fits into the broader ECIP framework. Registration is now open. Farm labor contractors, growers, suppliers and retailers are encouraged to attend.
For more information and to get started:
- Learn more about FLC LAB.
- Register for the April 1 webinar.
- Fill out this form to get an invitation LAB on April 1.
- Visit org for more information on ECIP.
About ECIP
The Ethical Charter Implementation Program is a collaboration among retailers, grower-shippers and implementing organizations to recognize and strengthen engagement around labor practices in the fresh produce industry, highlight existing best-practice efforts and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. The program is built around self-assessment to avoid the burden of an additional audit. Through an assessment tool and capacity-building resources, it helps measure and strengthen alignment with the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. Launched with initial funding from the Walmart Foundation and administered by Equitable Food Initiative, the program is overseen by an advisory group composed of leading buyers and suppliers and key stakeholders, including representatives from AgSocio, Bonduelle Fresh Americas, Costco Wholesale, Kroger, McDonald’s USA, Naturipe, Sam’s Club, Tanimura and Antle, Target, Taylor Farms and Walmart.