In this episode of LAB HUB LIVE, Madelyn Edlin and Diona Monroe quickly overview the 2027 Leadership Circle criteria, and then unpack the new Supplier Gold Star for Engagement 3.0.
To qualify for the 2027 Leadership Circle, suppliers must earn all four green stars on their Engagement Profile. The Supplier Gold Star is not required for Leadership Circle recognition during this engagement cycle.
All key dates regarding Engagement 3.0 and the 2027 Leadership Circle can be found here.
For Engagement 3.0, the Supplier Gold Star has been redesigned to encourage stronger engagement around ethical recruitment practices. The star is automatically awarded when a significant majority of a supplier’s growers earn the Ethical Recruitment Star in Grower LAB.
Growers can earn the Ethical Recruitment Star through one of two pathways:
- Engage with a Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) through FLC LAB by selecting a participating FLC or inviting their FLC to join the platform
- Complete and upload one of the approved ethical recruitment tools available in Grower LAB:
Growers that hold an approved program and have earned the Grower Gold Star must still earn the Ethical Recruitment Star to contribute toward their supplier earning the Supplier Gold Star.