PMA, United Fresh partner to promote accountable farm labor policies

Faced with growing questions from consumers about where their food comes from, the nation’s largest produce industry groups say they are joining forces to promote responsible farm labor practices — the latest and possibly most significant attempt by the industry to rid its supply chains of abusive treatment of workers.

The move by the Produce Marketing Assn. and the United Fresh Produce Assn., still at an early stage, would be the industry’s first attempt to unite thousands of growers, distributors and retailers behind a global approach to raising worker standards.

It was prompted in part by a Los Angeles Times investigation, published in late 2014, that exposed widespread labor abuses at Mexican export farms. That series led to reform pledges by Wal-Mart and the Mexican government, and raised consumer awareness of tainted supply chains.

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