Today the Fair Food Program is celebrating another major milestone: the launch of the first packaged food sporting the Fair Food Program label!
One year ago this week we had our first conversation with Sara Polon, founder and CEO of Soupergirl, the Washington, DC-based soup and gazpacho company and Whole Foods supplier, about partnering with the Fair Food Program. When we met Sara and heard her describe the vision behind her company, we knew instantly that this could be a groundbreaking collaboration. Over the next year we worked to close the deal, moving one piece of the puzzle into place after another -- from finalizing a new set of standards specific to consumer packaged goods (CPG) like soup, to developing a new label. Soupergirl is committing to only buy tomatoes for its gazpacho from FFP Participating Growers, where workers serve as frontline monitors of their own rights and are treated with respect.
Sara's enthusiasm for the Fair Food Program and a more just food system is infectious! Check out this excerpt from the Soupergirl blog post on our new partnership:
... I am proud that our company, Soupergirl, is the first consumer packaged goods firm to obtain a Fair Food certification, just for our tomato gazpacho line. Our certification is limited, for now, and must represent the beginning of something bigger. We hope that more companies like us join this incredible program.
What can you do as a consumer? First, learn about the incredible work that the Fair Food Program is doing, every single day. The FFP has been praised for its unique effectiveness in preventing forced labor, sexual assault, and other horrible violations–by the same law enforcement agencies that prosecute these very offenses. It even received a Presidential Medal from the Obama-Biden administration.
Then, speak with your dollars. Look to see if your favorite retailer supports the Fair Food Program. If not, fire up your email and ask them to join. But don’t stop there. Call your favorite salsa company. Demand answers from your juice company. Does your favorite brand claim to have a responsible supply chain? Ask them why they aren’t working with the Fair Food Program. Email them. Write letters. Call. And don’t let up until they commit to doing the right thing for our farm workers... (read more)
Starting today, Soupergirl’s Tomato Gazpacho and Spicy Tomato Gazpacho become the first CPGs sold as part of the Fair Food Program. FFP-certified gazpachos will be sold at select Whole Foods Market stores.
The video below celebrates that partnership as part of the launch. We look forward to continuing to work with Soupergirl to expand its FFP-certified offerings in the years to come!
