Fair Food Program

What Fair Food Program does

The Fair Food Program is a worker-driven social responsibility certification program for agricultural supply chains, founded in 2011 and operated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Immokalee, Florida. The program establishes binding agreements among farmworkers, participating growers, and major retail buyers — including Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and Burger King — under a worker-informed Code of Conduct covering wages, freedom from retaliation, health and safety (including COVID-19 and heat stress protocols), and protection from forced labor, sexual harassment, and wage theft. Core operational components include worker-to-worker education sessions delivered by CIW staff at all participating farms, a 24/7 trilingual complaint hotline, and independent third-party auditing conducted by the dedicated Fair Food Standards Council.

The program's commercial mechanics combine a 'penny-per-pound' Fair Food Premium passed down the supply chain from buyers to workers (cumulative buyer-paid premiums of nearly $39 million since 2011), individual and corporate donations to CIW, and a Fair Food Sponsor Program for co-ops, small grocers, and restaurants. The Fair Food Label, launched in 2014, provides consumer-facing certification on products from certified farms. The program has expanded from Florida tomatoes into sweet potatoes, cut flowers, and consumer packaged goods (Soupergirl gazpachos launched June 2022), and now operates across eight US states with international presence in Chile and South Africa. Recognitions include a Presidential Medal (2015), a MacArthur 'Genius' Grant to co-founder Greg Asbed (2017), UN Special Rapporteur designation as an 'international benchmark,' and Harvard Business Review inclusion among the 15 most important social-impact success stories of the past century.

Name

Fair Food Program

Legal name

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Website

https://fairfoodprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Fair Food Program is a worker-driven social responsibility certification program operated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers that partners farmworkers, growers, and major food retailers to enforce humane labor standards across US agricultural supply chains through binding buyer agreements and independent third-party auditing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethical labor certification (agricultural supply chains)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD), Sustainability/Ethical Sourcing Claim Verification (RSPO, Rainforest, Fairtrade) (AFALAGAJ)

Keywords

• Farmworker rights certification
• Ethical supply chain auditing
• Fair labor monitoring
• Agricultural worker protection
• Social responsibility certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Immokalee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fair Food Premium (Penny-per-pound): The Fair Food Program Premium (FFPP) is a 'penny-per-pound' premium paid by participating buyers. It is passed down along the supply chain from retail level to grower level, and ultimately added as a bonus to workers' paychecks as part of the grower's regular payroll process. The FFPP bonus is clearly marked as a separate line item on the worker's paystub. Since the program's inception in 2011, buyers have paid nearly $39 million in FFP premium payments.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations support the program. Donations are received by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 65-0641010). Donations help fund worker-to-worker education sessions and the independent monitoring and auditing of the Fair Food Standards Council.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Fair Food Program is a worker-driven social responsibility (WSR) certification and monitoring program for agricultural supply chains. It combines a worker-informed Code of Conduct, worker-to-worker education sessions conducted by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a 24/7 trilingual complaint hotline, independent third-party auditing by the Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC), a consumer-facing Fair Food Label, and a Fair Food Premium (penny-per-pound) bonus paid down the supply chain to farmworker paychecks. Buyers commit to suspend purchases from non-compliant growers, creating market-backed enforcement of fair labor practices on participating farms.

Product overview

The Fair Food Program is a certification and monitoring program for agricultural supply chains that ensures farmworker rights through multiple integrated components: the Fair Food Label (consumer-facing certification), the Fair Food Code of Conduct (worker protections), Fair Food Premium (financial bonus system), Worker-to-Worker Education (rights awareness), a 24/7 Trilingual Complaint Mechanism, independent auditing by the Fair Food Standards Council, and the Fair Food Sponsor Program for smaller retailers. The program has recently expanded into consumer packaged goods (Soupergirl gazpachos) and added heat stress protocols as a new module.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fair Food Label: A certification label on products indicating they were grown on farms maintaining the highest level of protection for farmworker human rights. The label was launched in October 2014 and appears on products from participating farms.

Products and services

• Fair Food Program Certification Worker-driven social responsibility certification program that ensures humane wages and working conditions for farmworkers through a partnership among farmers, farmworkers, and retail food companies. Issued to participating growers and required by participating buyers.
• Fair Food Label Consumer-facing certification label that appears on fresh produce and packaged goods to indicate products were grown on farms maintaining the highest level of protection for farmworkers' human rights. Available at Whole Foods, Giant, and Stop & Shop.
• Fair Food Code of Conduct Worker-informed code covering all protections for farmworkers in the program, including wages and hours, freedom from retaliation, health and safety protections, and expanded protocols for COVID-19 (2020) and heat stress illness (2021).
• Fair Food Premium (FFPP) A 'penny-per-pound' premium paid by participating buyers that is passed down through the supply chain from retail level to grower level and added as a separate-line-item bonus to workers' paychecks.
• Fair Food Sponsor Program Membership-based program allowing co-ops, small independent grocers, restaurants, and chefs to support the Fair Food Program through annual payments that fund worker bonuses and FFSC oversight.
• Soupergirl Fair Food Certified Gazpachos First consumer packaged goods product to bear the Fair Food certification — tomato gazpacho sold at Whole Foods Market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero instances of forced labor on participating farms since implementation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SoupergirlminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 June 2022Washington, DC-based soup company; first consumer packaged goods firm to obtain Fair Food certification for tomato gazpacho line; products sold at Whole Foods Market.
• The Trashy VeganminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2022Asheville, NC-based food truck and restaurant; first restaurant to join Fair Food Sponsor Program; committed to ethical food sourcing.
• Three Rivers MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 February 2022Tennessee's first Fair Food Sponsor; leader in sustainable food movement; contributes annual payment funding Fair Food bonus and FFSC oversight.
• Watkins FarmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 November 2021Family-run organic sweet potato farm in Oxford, NC that joined as Participating Grower in November 2021, marking FFP expansion into North Carolina and new crop category.
• Each Peach MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2021Washington D.C.'s first Fair Food Sponsor; first small independent grocery to join program; offers Fair Food certified tomatoes and contributes to program.
• Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-OpminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 February 2021Maryland's first Fair Food Sponsor; contributes portion of sales to fund Fair Food bonus paid to workers and comprehensive monitoring via FFSC.
• BloomiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 August 2020International leader in cut flower industry with farms on four continents; brought US greenhouse operations in King George, Virginia into the FFP as first floral supplier, marking FFP expansion into cut flower industry.
• Sunripe Certified Brands (formerly Pacific Tomato Growers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2011The very first major grower to sign a Fair Food Agreement in 2010; operates Smoky Mountain Family Farms in Tennessee as FFP-participating grower. CEO Jon Esformes serves on the FFP Working Group.
• Whole Foods MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Participating buyer since 2008; undertook ambitious marketing campaigns in collaboration with CIW to educate customers and promote Fair Food label; instrumental in setting up partnership between Happy Dirt and Fair Food Program; sells Soupergirl Fair Food certified products.
• Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Coalition of Immokalee Workers is the farmworker human rights organization that founded the Fair Food Program. CIW conducts worker-to-worker education sessions at all participating farms, develops the Code of Conduct curriculum, and serves as the worker voice in the program. CIW is a Presidential Medal recipient internationally recognized for achievements in social responsibility, anti-sexual violence efforts, community organizing, and ending slavery.
• Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fair Food Standards Council is the independent third-party monitoring organization that enforces the Fair Food Program. FFSC conducts in-depth audits on participating growers' farms, investigates complaints, and manages the 24/7 trilingual complaint hotline. The dedicated organization ensures transparent, measurable results.
• Giant and Stop & ShopcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating buyers committed to undertaking ambitious marketing campaigns in collaboration with CIW to educate customers and promote Fair Food label. The Fair Food Label is available at these retail locations.
• Happy DirtminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth Carolina-based certified B Corporation organic produce distributor that pools produce from over 90 farms; championed partnership with FFP and helped broker relationship with Watkins Farm.
• Park Slope Food Co-OpminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecond co-op to join the Fair Food Sponsor Program after Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op; located in New York City.
• Burger KingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor fast food company with binding agreement with CIW as a Participating Buyer under the Fair Food Program.
• WalmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail buyer with binding agreement with CIW as a Participating Buyer under the Fair Food Program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Equitable Food Initiative: EFI is a worker-driven certification program for fresh produce that trains farmworkers and uses a Leadership Team model on each farm, directly comparable to FFP's worker-to-worker education and certification approach in agriculture.
• Social Accountability International (SA8000): SAI operates the SA8000 standard for worker welfare and supply chain accountability, providing auditable workplace certification comparable to FFP's Code of Conduct and FFSC auditing.
• Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade USA certifies agricultural products for ethical sourcing and labor practices, with a consumer-facing label, comparable to FFP's Fair Food Label and farmer certification model.

Others

• Sedex: Sedex is a supply chain ethical data platform connecting buyers, suppliers, and auditors on labor rights; it is an adjacent ecosystem player that retailers use alongside FFP-style certifications.
• FoodChain ID: FoodChain ID provides food safety, traceability, and sustainability certification services; it is an adjacent certification vendor competing for the same buyer and grower certification budgets.
• Worker-Driven Social Responsibility (WSR) Forum: WSR Forum convenes and advocates for worker-driven enforcement models across industries; it is a peer movement-builder and ecosystem partner that amplifies FFP's model beyond agriculture.
• B Lab (B Corporation): B Lab certifies companies for social and environmental performance; it is an adjacent certification ecosystem that some FFP-aligned companies (e.g., Happy Dirt) hold alongside Fair Food certification.

Broad incumbents

• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance certifies agricultural and forestry products for sustainability and social criteria, offering an overlapping ethical sourcing certification that competes for retailer shelf space and grower participation.
• Fairtrade International (FLO-CERT): Fairtrade International is the global fair trade standard-setter and certifier across multiple commodities and geographies, operating as a broader incumbent with overlapping certification and traceability functionality.
• Ethical Trading Initiative: ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions, and NGOs promoting workers' rights in supply chains; it is a broader governance/incumbent framework influencing the same labor standards space as FFP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fairfoodprogram
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CIWvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/fairfoodprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fair-food-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fair Food Program