We’re excited to feature Joshua Gray, Supply Chain Manager at Homegrown Organic Farms. Homegrown places people at the heart of their operations and has embraced ECIP as a tool in their journey of continuous improvement. Joshua plays a vital role in advancing this work every day. Madelyn Edlin from the ECIP team sat down with him to learn what makes this compliance maverick so effective in his role.
“My name is Joshua Gray, and I am the Supply Chain Manager at Homegrown Organic Farms. I oversee Compliance, the Quality Control department and Procurement.”
“I started in produce right out of high school and worked in the majority of positions to learn how everything works together. I found myself enjoying the process, and here we are today—still just as invested! I enjoy helping get quality fresh fruit all over the world for people to enjoy. There’s something incredibly rewarding about knowing that the hard work put in by our teams results in healthy, delicious food reaching people everywhere. The dynamic nature of the industry also keeps things exciting, as each season brings new challenges and opportunities to grow.“
“I spent time in ECIP LAB and conducted internal benchmarks to see where we stood. We have a good mix of ranches, so getting ECIP started was a must to keep up. Taking the time to explore all of ECIP’s resources and utilizing the training materials helped me become more proficient.”
“Yes, ECIP has helped because we now review these details more closely and more often. This, in turn, is helping us create a clear path toward continuous improvement. By having a structured framework, we can identify gaps, set measurable goals and track our progress over time. The platform has encouraged a more proactive approach to social responsibility, allowing us to strengthen our relationships with growers and retail partners who share our commitment to social responsibility.”
“We absolutely plan to continue using ECIP and integrating new growers as we continue to expand. As our network grows, it’s important that we maintain a consistent approach to social responsibility across all our operations. We see ECIP as a tool for ensuring that all of our growers align with our values and best practices.”
“Be patient and take your time. Utilize the tools and videos available on the ECIP website to help guide you. The more you engage with ECIP, the more valuable it becomes for your operations. Don’t be afraid to ask for help— ECIP support is always a great resource. Consistency is key, and over time, the benefits of using ECIP will become evident in the efficiency and credibility of your operations.”