Engagement 2.0 is launching July 14! This update to Grower LAB is shaped by user feedback and includes new resources, updated engagement criteria and a more user-friendly experience. Growers will notice clearer guidance, streamlined navigation and improved tools to support alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.
This page is built to support growers and suppliers on their journey with Engagement 2.0, scroll down for a library of resources.
FAQs
How are stars earned in Engagement 2.0?
See our How Stars Are Earned (LINK), or scroll down to on this page (ANCHOR LINK) for full details.
Can growers be grandfathered into ECIP 2.0? Can previous responses be copied over so they only need to answer new or updated questions?
Previous responses will remain visible to the user as a tool for continuous improvement. However, they will not be saved as active responses—the user will need to complete the assessment again after July 14.
What does it mean when you say engagement profiles will reset, and how does that impact suppliers and growers?
On July 14, growers’ engagement profiles will reset, and responses will need to be re-entered. Growers will have until September 3 to complete the new assessment without it appearing on the supplier profile or buyer dashboard. After September 30, the updated grower assessments will go live, impacting the connected supplier engagement profiles and becoming visible to buyers on their dashboards.
To learn more about how grower engagement profiles are connected to—and impact—supplier engagement profiles, watch this video.
By what date should all our growers be enrolled in ECIP?
The grower engagement profile directly impacts the supplier engagement profile, which is visible on the buyer dashboard. To learn more about how these are connected, watch this video.
- July 14: Engagement 2.0 is released, and the buyer dashboard is temporarily frozen, preserving each supplier’s current engagement score.
- September 2: Supplier Gold star and 2026 Leadership Criteria released (view the 2025 Leadership Circle).
- September 30: The buyer dashboard is reactivated, and updated supplier engagement profiles become visible to retailers. Any changes to grower engagement profiles made after the Engagement 2.0 release will impact the supplier’s engagement score.
- September 30: Meet the 2026 Leadership Circle criteria by September 30th to earn recognition from retailers at the IFPA event.
Our growers participating in the ECIP program currently have only one star. Should I reach out to them in June to help them reach two stars before the update, or is it better to wait?
If your grower is already participating in ECIP and you’re looking to improve their engagement score, we recommend waiting until the Engagement 2.0 release on July 14. While previous responses and internal notes will remain visible (though not saved as active responses), waiting until after July 14 will help avoid duplicating efforts within a short timeframe.
Will the grower gold star for certified growers change?
You’ll now be asked about your certifications during the Assessment, in addition to providing this information on the “How to Earn Your Stars” Benchmark page. To waive your grower fee, simply send your certificate to support@ethicalcharterprogram.org. EFI staff will verify it, and your subscription fee will be waived for the duration of your certification’s validity.
“At Costco, we see ECIP as a dynamic program, one that will continue to evolve as we raise the floor on social responsibility across the produce industry. Grower and supplier participation is essential as we move into a new phase of ECIP engagement. Through continuous improvement, we can build a stronger and more resilient supply chain.”
Amanda Kuhn, Produce Buyer
Upcoming Webinars
These webinars are designed to help users navigate Engagement 2.0. Sessions will include open office hours (in both English and Spanish), targeted trainings to support your marketing and sales teams in communicating your ECIP efforts to retail customers, and deep dives into specific updates included in the Engagement 2.0 release.
See below for details on these upcoming free offerings.
Everything You Need to Know About Engagement 2.0
Join ECIP staff for a one-hour webinar introducing Engagement 2.0, the latest evolution of the Grower LAB experience. Launching July 14, Engagement 2.0 features a redesigned grower journey and updated engagement criteria that will impact both grower and supplier engagement profiles.
This session will walk through the changes, explain what’s expected of growers and suppliers, and provide tips for making the most of the updated system. Whether you’re new to ECIP or already engaged, this is an essential opportunity to understand what’s changing, and why.
Who should attend:
Supplier & grower operations.
When: July 14, 2025 | 10:00am-11am PDT/1:00pm-1:00pm EDT
New in Engagement 2.0: Supply Chain Question
Join us for a 30-minute walkthrough of the newly released supply chain question in Engagement 2.0. ECIP staff will provide a brief overview of why this question matters and offer guidance on how growers can approach it. A live Q&A will follow the presentation.
Who should attend: Growers
When: July 23, 2025 | 10:00am – 10:30am PDT/1:00pm-1:30pm EDT
ECIP Office Hours (English)
Join us for a one-hour webinar on leveraging the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP) within your Sales and Marketing teams. Learn what your customers expect to see from ECIP, how to use your engagement score as a key talking point in sales conversations and hear from the ECIP Marketing team about the tools and resources available to ECIP users.
Who should attend: Growers
When: July 30, 2025 | 10:00am-10:30am PDT/1:00pm-1:30pm PDT
ECIP Oficina Abierta (Español)
Únete a nuestro ECIP Oficina Abierta para una sesión de preguntas y respuestas en directo con el equipo de apoyo del Programa de Implementación de la Carta Ética (ECIP). Tanto si es minorista, proveedor o productor, traiga sus preguntas sobre “Engagement 2.0” y mucho más: estamos aquí para ayudarle. Es necesario inscribirse. Las sesiones se desarrollarán en español.
Quién debería participar: Productores
Cuándo: Agosto 6, 2025 | 10:00am-10:30am PDT/1:00-1:30pm PDT
How to Strengthen Customer Conversations with ECIP
Join us for a one-hour webinar on leveraging the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP) within your Sales and Marketing teams. Learn what your customers expect to see from ECIP, how to use your engagement score as a key talking point in sales conversations and hear from the ECIP Marketing team about the tools and resources available to ECIP users.
Who should attend: Marketing, Sales and Business Development
When: October 1, 2025 | 10:00am-11:00am PDT/1:00pm-2:00pm EDT
How to Earn Engagement Stars in Engagement 2.0
Assessment Star
Growers must complete the assessment at 100% .
Once all statements within the assessment flow are completed, the corresponding checkboxes will be locked, preventing any further changes. If the assessment is not yet complete, you retain the flexibility to check and uncheck these boxes on this page.
Users are expected to completed the assessment knowing:
- Responses are shared only within your organization and will not lead to any punitive action or special benefit.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that answers reflect the current status of your management systems. You have provided credible responses to all 54 questions, resulting in full completion.
You can revisit the assessment at any time via the provided link.
Learning Channel Star
To earn this star, Growers must respond to the following Yes/No questions about follow-up and documentation:
1. Learning Channel Commitment:
- “Do you plan to use the resources in the Learning Channel to address questions where you answered ‘we are struggling’ or ‘we are developing’?”
If you answer “No”, you’ll be given an optional space to share alternative resources you plan to use:
- “What resources will you use to improve in these areas?”
2. Willingness to Provide Documentation:
- “If asked, are you willing to provide documentation for any questions in the assessment where you answered ‘we are doing well’ or ‘we are setting an example for our peers’?”
Responses are not scored but are required to complete this section.
Keep on mind that open text input is optional and only appears if you select “No” to the first question.
Advanced Engagement Star
To earn this star, Growers must check all of the following statements to confirm their understanding and commitment:
- “We understand that each Supplier we are connected to has real-time access to our Engagement Profile, but not to any other information entered in Grower LAB.”
- “If asked, we are willing to share best practices documentation with ECIP Suppliers and Buying Partners.”
- “When our workers are surveyed, we believe their views on working conditions and policies will generally align with the responses provided in this assessment.”
Growers are expected to review and check each statement to demonstrate transparency, a willingness to collaborate with supply chain partners, and confidence in the accuracy of their self-assessment.
Workers & Recruitment Star
To earn this star, Growers must answer a short set of Yes/No questions related to recruitment practices. You’ll be asked:
When recruitment workers directly, have you used or do you plan to use any of these resources:
- The Stronger Together Responsible Recruitment Toolkit (link)
- The Recruitment Cost Calculator from Verité (link)
- Do you use Field Labor Contractors (FLCs) to recruit labor for your operations? (if Yes, FLC’s must be entered in a required text field)
If you respond “No” to all three questions, the star will be automatically granted. If you select “Yes” to using FLCs, completing the text box is required in order to earn the star.
Gold Star
To confirm your certification and earn this star, simply:
Check the box indicating your organization holds a current certification with one of our 16 ECIP-vetted programs.
Select the appropriate certification from the dropdown menu.
Enter the certification number and expiration date.
Once submitted, this gold star will remain valid for the full duration of the Engagement cycle.
To waive your grower fee, email a copy of your certificate to support@ethicalcharterprogram.org. EFI staff will verify the documentation and apply the fee waiver for the length of your certification’s validity.
Need more assistance navigating Engagement 2.0? Send us an email, support@ethicalcharterprogram.org