Stemilt Growers, a 2026 Leadership Circle Supplier, already holds an approved program from Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). Even so, the company has leveraged ECIP to expand social responsibility efforts across its growers and build its ECIP engagement profile.
Maggie Torres in Talent Management at Stemilt uses ECIP to develop and retain people at the grower level, while Auna Lundberg in Marketing sees high engagement with ECIP as a direct line to customer trust.
As suppliers across the industry work toward the 2027 ECIP Leadership Circle, Madelyn Edlin from the ECIP team sat down with Torres and Lundberg to find out why high engagement with ECIP matters, from both a people and a business perspective.
Maggie, you noted that ECIP helps growers gain experience with social responsibility compliance, even when they’re not part of the EFI Program themselves. Can you walk us through what that verification process looks like from your seat?
Maggie Torres: “From my perspective, an audit-based program can be a significant investment for some of our growers, both in cost and time. ECIP gives us another way to meet growers where they are. As the supplier, we cover the ECIP cost and invite growers to participate, which helps increase engagement, especially among family growers. As a result, growers are often more willing to complete the assessment. Many tell me, ‘Maggie, these are practices we should already be following because they align with legal requirements and good workplace standards.’ This approach creates greater participation while helping growers better understand and meet worker well-being expectations.”
How does the work you do with growers on compliance and worker well-being feed into Stemilt’s work being in the ECIP Leadership Circle?
Maggie Torres: “The work I do with growers on compliance and worker well-being directly supports Stemilt’s participation in the ECIP Leadership Circle. My role is to build relationships with growers, help them understand labor and compliance expectations and provide guidance on practices that support workers.
Through the ECIP framework, we gain a better understanding of growers’ practices and challenges, which allows us to work collaboratively on continuous improvement. The goal is not just compliance, but creating healthier workplaces, supporting worker well-being and building a stronger, more sustainable supply chain. By being part of the ECIP Leadership Circle, Stemilt demonstrates its commitment to working alongside growers to drive meaningful improvements rather than simply auditing for compliance.”
Auna, Stemilt has been closely involved with the ECIP Leadership Circle, including sponsoring our Leadership Circle celebrations. Why does being part of the Leadership Circle matter to Stemilt, beyond the recognition itself?
Auna Lundberg: “Being part of the ECIP Leadership Circle is about more than recognition for Stemilt. It helps us expand our work beyond EFI-certified orchards by engaging more growers and strengthening industry connections. It also increases awareness of our progress and supports priorities that are important to our customers. Most importantly, it allows Stemilt to lead by example and help drive positive change across the industry, aligning with our mission of cultivating people and delighting consumers through excellence.”
From a supplier’s perspective, what does Leadership Circle status communicate to your retail partners? Why does that signal matter in today’s market?
Auna Lundberg: “Leadership Circle status signals to our retail partners that Stemilt is actively engaged in this important work and committed to meeting the standards and expectations that matter to their businesses. It demonstrates that we take compliance, accountability and continuous improvement seriously. In today’s market, values matter more than ever, and retailers want to work with suppliers who share their commitment to responsible business practices. Being part of the Leadership Circle reinforces that commitment and helps build trust with our customers.”
For a supplier who’s overwhelmed by pursuing the 2027 Leadership Circle, what would you tell them about why it’s still worth the effort?
Maggie Torres: “For suppliers pursuing the 2027 Leadership Circle, our advice is to break the process into manageable steps and focus on making incremental progress. You don’t have to do everything at once. Start by earning one star at a time and build from there.”
Auna Lundberg: “The program also helps validate and recognize the work you’re already doing, while highlighting opportunities for improvement. The journey itself can create value by helping your organization strengthen practices, demonstrate commitment to customers and continue moving forward.”
Is there a specific moment or story, maybe from a grower or a farmworker, that stands out to you as a sign this work is making a real difference?
Maggie Torres: “From the certification side, the story that really stands out to me involves an individual who was invited to participate on the EFI Worker-Manager Collaboration Team (we call our teams the EFI Leadership Teams). At first, they were very hesitant and told us they didn’t think of themselves as a leader. They weren’t comfortable speaking up and didn’t feel they had anything significant to contribute.
Through the program, they were given opportunities to share their ideas, participate in discussions and help identify ways to improve the workplace. Over time, their confidence grew tremendously. Today, that same person actively contributes, speaks up on behalf of their coworkers and has become a respected member of the EFI Leadership Team.
For me, that’s a powerful example of the impact this work can have. While compliance and assessments are important, the real value comes from empowering people and giving them a voice. Seeing someone grow into a leadership role they never thought possible shows that these efforts are creating meaningful change, both for individuals and for the workplace as a whole.”