The FFP works as a partnership. 

The Fair Food Program’s Participating Buyers (PBs) are retail food giants and food service companies, including Compass Group, Walmart, Whole Foods, Subway and McDonald’s. 

PBs agree to pay a small premium to Participating Growers (PGs) to be passed on to workers as a bonus in their paychecks (PGs receive a small percentage for administrative costs). Buyers also agree to purchase from PGs that are in compliance with the Program’s Code of Conduct, as certified by the Fair Food Standards Council.

• Participating Growers receive the purchasing preference of Participating Buyers, are featured on the Fair Food Program website, and have access to the Fair Food Program label, demonstrating ethical business practices to increasingly aware  consumers.

Other important benefits include:

• Improved employee retention as Participating Growers become employers of choice with improved work environments
• Better management and communication systems
• Identification of potential risks in operations, with corresponding reduction in workers compensation cases as well as legal and administrative actions and fines.

Monitoring by the Fair Food Standards Council consists of comprehensive audits and a worker complaint mechanism.

Monitoring is non-adversarial, confidential and collaborative. Documentation requirements are straightforward and FFSC staff works closely with Participating Growers to make the program’s mechanisms clear and user-friendly. Working together, the FFSC helps Participating Growers come into compliance. 

There is no charge for Fair Food Program certification or FFSC support for Participating Growers.

A new grower commits to implement the FFP Code of Conduct and the Fair Food Standards Council conducts an entry audit to confirm that:

• Workers have been provided with an education session by the CIW Education Committee
• The grower has purchased or ordered adequate shade structures
• Any known outstanding complaints have been resolved
• The grower has started to implement a direct hire system
• The grower has started to implement a timekeeping system in which workers control their registration device
• The grower’s supervisors have been trained on FFP policies, by the company and the FFSC.
• Following the audit, FFSC and the grower then agree on a corrective action plan.