Equitable Food Initiative has named two new board members. Fernanda Suárez will now represent NatureSweet Tomatoes and Natalie Camacho Mendoza takes the place of retiring Bruce Goldstein for Farmworker Justice.
EFI attracts board members who reflect the diversity of perspectives across the fresh produce industry. “We believe in representative decision-making and our board composition assures that all players in the produce supply chain are at the table, including retailers, grower-shippers, farmworkers and consumers,” said Peter O’Driscoll, executive director of EFI.“I am thrilled to welcome these talented and compassionate women to our board to join EFI in promoting better agricultural workplaces and a more equitable food system.”
Left to right: Fernanda Suárez, Natalie Camacho Mendoza
NatureSweet Tomatoes is a founding member of EFI and has been an advocate for creating socially responsible workforce programs in the fresh produce industry. Suárez, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, is the sustainability and social impact director for NatureSweet. She brings more than a decade of experience focused on human resources and social compliance and is passionate about the produce industry.
Camacho Mendoza joins EFI as an extension of her role with Farmworker Justice. Her family roots in the agriculture and railroad industries run deep and influence her work as an attorney and owner of Camacho Mendoza Law. She has worked in Idaho with and on behalf of unions and employers and as a farmworker advocate. Camacho Mendoza served and continues to serve on a variety of local, state, regional and national boards and committees addressing criminal justice reform, income inequality, civil rights and art and culture.
“I understand the power of individuals to contribute to the greater good and I’ve seen first hand how powerful diversity, equity, leadership training and inclusion initiatives can be in transforming cultures,” said Suárez. “EFI provides opportunities for organizations to be a champion for farmworkers and ultimately be the change we want to create in building safer, more equitable food supply chains.”
“My goal is to encourage more comprehensive views of farm labor and to help stakeholders understand the business side of agriculture,” said Camacho Mendoza. “On the heels of the pandemic, more people are aware of the ‘always essential’ workers who contribute to our food supply. I’m eager to leverage that for improving working conditions and supporting everyone who plays a role in agriculture.”
For more information:
LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti
Equitable Food Initiative
Tel: +1 (202) 524-0540
[email protected]
https://equitablefood.org/