Industry backs fairness
GROWCOM is proud to welcome AUSVEG, the national peak body for the Australian vegetable and potato industries, as a foundation supporter of Fair Farms, the new industry developed workplace training and certification program.
AUSVEG has been very supportive of Fair Farms ever since we’ve embarked on implementing the industry-led initiative.
The national vegetable peak body’s commitment to providing financial support reaffirms the horticulture industry’s firm backing of the training and certification program being developed by Growcom.
Currently in its proof of concept (pilot) phase, Fair Farms provides an industry standard for ethical
❝As an industry, we want to reward the good growers who are doing the right thing by making it easier for them to get their fresh produce to the Australian public.
employment practices which all horticulture businesses can subscribe to.
The Fair Farms Standard sets out what it means to be a fair and responsible employer in the Australian horticulture supply chain.
It clarifies growers’ obligations under Australian workplace relations laws.
As an industry, we want to reward the good growers who are doing the right thing by making it easier for them to get their fresh produce to the Australian public.
Through Fair Farms, growers will be able to take ownership of their fair employment practices and access appropriate training and certification to demonstrate their compliance to customers and the wider industry.
To become Fair Farms certified, a grower must undergo a self-assessment, training to close identified gaps and a third-party audit.
The program is unique in that it is the only scheme designed for Australian growers and benchmarked against Australian legislation.
With support from the whole supply chain, we anticipate that Fair Farms will be operational by mid-2019.
The program is being delivered by Growcom, with initial funding from the Fair Work Ombudsman, industry groups and the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
We will continue to consult with growers and members of the horticultural supply chain to ensure Fair Farms has industry’s consolidated support.
Growers and other members of the supply chain who want to stay up to date with Fair Farms can register their interest via our website: www.growcom.com.au/ fair farms initiative.