MARSHA Aralar has been appointed the new national program manager of the industry-led training and certification program for fair and ethical employment, Fair Farms,
Fair Farms, an initiative of Growcom, has been designed with input from Australian farmers and retailers and offers local training and support to participating farms.
It supports all members of the Australian horticultural supply chain.
Ms Aralar has worked in a variety of food safety and compliance roles across Australia and the Middle East.
"In my previous role I was lucky enough to get onto farms and get my boots dirty. I really enjoy engaging with growers, getting to understand their business and concerns, and helping them meet market and regulatory requirements," Ms Aralar said.
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In its second year, Fair Farms is now backed by Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, demonstrating a commitment to fair and responsible employment practices from all three major retailers.
"Our goal from here is to build a critical mass of Fair Farms certified businesses. This will enable ethical buyers and sellers to work towards improving the conditions for farm workers, stamping out exploitation," Ms Aralar said.
"It is an exciting time to join the team at Growcom. I am looking forward to further enhancing Fair Farms and driving the continued success of the program and showcasing our world-class growers."
Fair Farms is developed and delivered by Growcom with support from the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and Ausveg.
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