What We Do
The Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) works to transform the existing agricultural system. We seek empowerment, justice and fairness for all who labor from farm to retail. Central to our mission are the principles that all humans deserve respect, the freedom to live with dignity and nurture community, and share responsibility for preserving the earth’s resources for future generations.
What do farmers have to say about our work?
Take a listen here:
Thank you to NOFA-CT and Monique Bosch for putting together this video and to Elizabeth Henderson, Leah Penniman, Steve Munno and Nancy Vail for providing content!
Consolidation of power; an economy driven by profit; structural racism that has enabled consolidation of that profit and power in the hands of few via a foundation of strategic exploitation of black, brown, immigrant and native peoples; lack of transparency; and the spread of a cultural of divisiveness are among the root causes of the severe injustices in our food system. These give rise to the advantage of some people over others and invite corruption, while silencing many voices. People are pitted against people, sector against sector. Essential values are discredited and true costs externalized as we ignore the interconnectedness of whole systems. Working people who have the power to change the system remain disunited and in the dark. The very same mechanisms that have led to the need for food justice have given rise as well to the need for racial and environmental justice. The negative impacts of climate change, failure to recycle society’s wastes, and infrastructure deterioration fall most heavily on low income neighborhoods and communities of color while threatening the present and future health of all living beings. By focusing on the need for fair trading in farm products and fair treatment of food workers rooted in empowerment of those most marginalized by the current food system, AJP contributes to shifting the dominant system towards greater fairness and equity. We believe that taking care of and engaging and empowering all people is a necessary precondition for the regeneration of a viable biosphere worth sustaining. Farms and food businesses that function as cohesive, integrated, aware social organisms have a special role to play in ensuring the health of humans, cultures, animals, and our planet. Our work spans the U.S. and Canada in the following main focus areas:
Providing Certification and Technical Assistance Tools to Transform the Food System.
We provide farms and food businesses with technical tools to improve work and trade practices from farm to retail, including extensive toolkits and templates, one-on-one technical assistance, and a stakeholder-driven certification program for high bar social justice standards -- Food Justice Certification (FJC), the gold standard for labor and trade practices in North America. We support and partner with third-party certifiers and worker organizations that carry out the certification and inspection process for the FJC program. Food Justice Certified products can be found on grocery store shelves, farmers markets, CSAs and roadside stands. We maintain a Social Justice Fund, through which five percent of all grants received are set aside, and a portion is used to subsidize certification fees through our cost share program for small family farms and independent retailers and cooperatives that have excellent labor practices, but are experiencing economic hardship.
Raising Awareness of the Need for Transforming the Food System and Models that Can Accomplish Change.
We engage in outreach and education to raise awareness of the disparities and injustice in the food system and the types of approaches needed to realize real change for those marginalized by the current system. Our awareness-raising work is done through social and public media, events and presentations, networking and partnering, contributing comments on other fair market claim programs and associations, providing tools for improving working and trade practices, advocating for ethical sourcing with institutions and companies, and promoting the Food Justice Certified (FJC) label in the marketplace. The FJC label helps launch conversations about why such a label is needed and what it means, the existence of inequities and injustice in the food system, the need to address them, and actions that can be taken.
Domestic Fair Trade
Building a Domestic Fair Trade Movement
The members of the Agricultural Justice Project are part of a much larger network of organizations working to build a national movement for domestic fair trade.
Many people today are familiar with International Fair Trade, as it applies to the import of items such as coffee, tea, and cocoa. However, as the movement has grown it has become apparent that many of the challenges facing farmers in developing countries, are facing family farmers and workers here in North America. Big agribusiness continues to thrive while small farms and retailers have gone out of business. Consumers pay more, while farmers and workers receive less. Farmworkers are denied fair wages and basic rights.
This video by the Fair Food Project highlights some of the amazing organizations working to build awareness and change the way our food system works.
Agricultural Justice Project
Complaints and Conflict Resolution
AJP is committed to managing the Food Justice Certified program in a fair and transparent manner. We appreciate feedback, and have developed a system to receive and respond to concerns.
To read our Complaints, Conflict Resolution and Appeals Process language in-depth, please click here to download this section from our Policy Manual.
Summary of the Process:
We handle complaints through one process, and conflict resolution and appeals through another process.
Complaints: Concerns raised by anyone about the integrity of Food Justice Certified (FJC) labeled products or entities, the FJC certification process, FJC standards, the behavior or actions of Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) representatives, and/or AJP policies. An example of a complaint would be a complaint of unprofessional behavior on the part of an AJP representative in their capacity as accreditor, standards maintenance, or technical assistance. A customer could also make a complaint, for example, raising questions about whether an FJC product comes from a farm or business that truly adheres to the FJC standards.
Conflict resolution: We are using this term for internal issues between parties that are directly involved in FJC farms and businesses. All grievances reported between parties within the certified supply chain will be treated as internal and subject to conflict resolution. FJC standards require that every certified farm or business must have a conflict resolution procedure outlined for the workplace or farmer/buyer or business-to-business contracts. Examples of an internal conflict resolution would be: a worker’s claim of the employer’s failure to comply with FJC standards, or a farmer’s claim of a buyer’s failure to comply with FJC standards.
Appeals: If either the subject of a complaint or the person submitting a complaint is unsatisfied with the outcome, an appeal can be made to the FJC Board together with the Advisory Council.
Send complaints to:
Agricultural Justice Project
P.O. Box 510
4 Delsea Drive South
Glassboro NJ, 08028
Phone: 856-881-2507
Fax: 856-881-2027, ATTN: AJP Complaints
Email: info@agriculturaljusticeproject.org
The person writing or submitting the complaint should explain their relationship to the project or the individuals mentioned in the complaint.
Exceptions will be made for those who cannot be reasonably expected to submit a complaint in writing. This could include illiteracy or low levels of literacy, language barriers, or cultural reasons. In those cases AJP will work with its partners to ensure that complaints are documented in a complete manner, translated if necessary, and handled on an equal basis with written complaints.
Steps in the Complaints Process
1. Investigator assigned to assess validity and scope of complaint.
2. Investigator gathers preliminary information to determine validity and scope of complaint and communicates finding to complainant and, if AJP representatives or personnel are involved, to them.
3. If investigator declares complaint is not relevant for further investigation, complainant can appeal within 3 weeks.
4. If found to be relevant for further investigation, investigator gathers additional information to formulate recommendations and submits findings and recommendation to AJP Board.
5. AJP Board reviews findings and recommendations and decides by consensus whether to endorse recommendations or request further investigation. AJP Board informs all relevant parties of this decision.
6. Subject or complainant has the right to appeal.
7. AJP files records.
8. AJP assesses if a change in the quality system is needed and if so, change will be made and posted to website and sent out to clients.
Governance
AJP is stakeholder-driven, and committed to the principles of democratic leadership. We consider our stakeholders those who work in and are impacted by the food and agricultural system who shoulder too many of the burdens and enjoy too few of the benefits of how our food and agricultural system works.
Our Stakeholders
The size and membership of the Advisory Council and Standards Committee are determined based on principles of equal representation. AJP has identified key stakeholder groups: Farmers, BIPOC Farmers, Workers (food system workers, farm interns and apprentices, and farmworkers), Small Local Retailers, Food Businesses (manufacturers, processors or brand holders), Food Insecure Eaters and Communities, and Indigenous Communities or expertise in a field related to AJP work. The Council and Committee are established with an equal number of representatives from each stakeholder group to the extent possible. Representatives from additional groups, such as civil-society NGOs or certifiers, are also welcome to join. Contact us for more information on becoming a member.
The label is governed by three collaborative committees made up of representatives from different food system stakeholder groups:
- Advisory Council Members
- Standards Committee Members
- Board of Directors
See our comprehensive list of all food system stakeholders that have had decision-making responsibilities regarding AJP's work, strategies, and standards by serving on our governance bodies since AJP's inception.
You can read about our governance process in section 7.0 of our Policy Manual. Our bylaws are available upon request to info@agriculturaljusticeproject.org.
Advisory Council Members
The AJP Advisory Council is active year-round and offers guidance to the Board of Directors and AJP Staff on standards interpretation, policy development, and many other issues. The AC meets by conference call to consider any program or standards changes proposed by the Board and Staff. Members must be able to contribute time to carefully consider revisions and guide the program in annual meetings and in urgent revisions scenarios. The Advisory Council is composed of food system stakeholders and stakeholder advocates, as well as individuals with expertise useful in our work for a just food system.
- Anita Adalja, Not Our Farm, NM, farmworker stakeholder.
- Denise Aguero, Independent Organic and FJC Inspector, FL; eater and certification stakeholder.
- Becca Berkey, Northeastern University, MA; eater and farm labor justice researcher stakeholder.
- Christina Spach, Food Chain Workers Alliance; a coalition of worker-based organizations that advocates for the following stakeholder groups: food chain workers, immigrant workers, women workers, workers of color.
- Ernesto Bustos, former Executive Director, Centro Campesino, MN; farmworker advocate.
- Gail Wadsworth, former Executive Director of the California Institute of Rural Studies, representing marginalized rural residents of California; farmers and farmworkers. Low wage workers in the food chain.
- Jennifer Taylor, Lola's Organic Farm, GA, BIPOC farmer stakeholder.
- Jim Cochran, Swanton Berry Farm, CA; farmer stakeholder.
- Joy Miller, Keewaydin Farms, WI; farmer stakeholder.
- Kathy Peters, Abundance Cooperative Market, NY; retail food co-operative and retail employee stakeholder.
- Keith Talbot, Workers Legal Rights Project, NJ; worker advocate.
- Nancy Vail, Pie Ranch, CA; farmer stakeholder.
- Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, Farmworkers Association of Florida, FL; represents farmworker stakeholders.
- Rosalinda Guillen, Executive Director, Community to Community Development, WA; a women of color led organization that works to empower under-represented people to bring justice to our food, land and cultural practices and promote community relationships towards self-reliance and human rights for all.
- Tonya Noel Stevens, Co-founder, Flower City Noire Collective, NY, BIPOC urban farmer and food insecure experienced stakeholder.
Standards Committee Members
The Standards Committee is convened formally every 5 years for the FJC standards revision process. Committee members are invited to participate based on expertise or experience in a particular area of the food system the AJP standards cover. Members may be called upon on occasion in between 5-year revisions to address urgent standards revision issues.
Current Standards Committee Members for the 2015-2016 Revision Process:
- Jim Cochran, Swanton Berry Farm, CA; farmer stakeholder.
- Jessica Culley, Farmworker Support Committee (CATA), NJ, a migrant-farmworker founded, membership-based organization; farmworker advocate.
- Rosalinda Guillen, Community to Community, WA; a women of color led organization that works to empower under-represented people to bring justice to our food, land and cultural practices and promote community relationships towards self-reliance and human rights for all.
- Marion McBride, Canada; Brand and Canadian organic grower stakeholder.
- Joy Miller, Keewaydin Farms, WI; farmer stakeholder.
- Tirso Moreno, formerly with the Farmworkers Association of Florida, FL; Farmworker stakeholder and advocate.
- Kathy Peters, Abundance Cooperative Market, NY; retail food co-operative and retail employee stakeholder.
- Nancy Vail, Pie Ranch, CA; farmer stakeholder.
Board of Directors
The AJP Board of Directors that is made up of farmworker and family and community farmer and rancher representatives. The board can also be comprised of advisor members. All decisions are made via consensus with a quorum that dictates that at least one farmworker representative and one farmer representative be present, in addition to a simple majority of the board.
- Jessica Culley, general coordinator, Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas /Farmworker Support Committee (CATA), farmworker advocate.
- Cali Alexander, representative of Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA – NJ), small-scale rancher.
- Edgar Franx, Washington State Political and Campaign Director at Familias Unidas por la Justicia, farmworker stakeholder.
- Elizabeth Henderson, co-founder of AJP, representative of Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA NY and
the Interstate Council), retired farmer and farmer advocate. - Susan Alan, representative of the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA).
- Marty Mesh, co-founder of AJP, retired organic farmer stakeholder.
- Michael Sligh, co-founder of AJP, rancher stakeholder.
Press, Sign-On Letters, & Newsletter Archives
Edible Community, February 2, 2022, In Labels We Trust: How Food Certification Labels Can Help Consumers Make Better Choices
Rosalinda Guillen, founder of the farm worker advocacy organization Community to Community is quoted in the article:
"Guillen and other food justice activists say the Food Justice Certified label by AJP is the most comprehensive in this regard. 'We call it the gold standards,' say Guillen, who has provided input on AJP's certification since 2000. She trusts the label because farm workers have been deeply involved in setting the standards from the beginning...Guillen advises eaters to ask their local supermarket to carry Food Justice Certified products to boost their prevalence and help both eaters and suppliers recognize the importance of addressing working conditions."
The Gainesville Sun, October 2021, UF once again misses the mark in responding to the call for ethics in dining services
Foodtopias, May 24, 2021, Abolishing Exploitation and Prison Slavery in College Food
The Natural Farmer, Summer 2021, Unto Thyself Be True – A Whole Life Approach to Resilience at Rock Steady Farm
The Independent Alligator, May 21, 2021, UF Students and Gainesville Activists Denied Opportunity to Change the University’s Food System
okayplayer, May 12, 2021, Black Students all Around the Country are Pushing to remove the presence of prison labor exploitation at their respective universities
WUFT (NPR/PBS), April 23, 2021, On Earth Day, Student Activists Urge Action On A Host Environmental Issues Facing Floridians
Woodbridge Town News, April 22, 2021, Work and Play at Massaro Farm this Summer
The Gainesville Sun, April 21, 2021, Protest for Food Service Workers and Others in Food Service Chain
ABC WCJB 20, April 21, 2021,University of Florida Students to Occupy Reitz Union until Food Service Demands are Met
The Gainesville Sun, April 21, 2021, Protesters Occupy UF Reitz Union and Demand Food Justice
Inside Higher Ed, March 31, 2021, Colleges Break from Corporate Dining Services
Florida Political Review, March 16 ,2021, Students Boycott UF Reitz Food Court and Aramark
The Gainesville Sun, March 12, 2021, UF Food Contract Should Require Fair Wages, Working Conditions - opinion
Food Tank, March, 2021, 15 Organizations Supporting Farm and Food Workers
The Gainesville Sun, February 28, 2021, With New Food Contract on the Line for Vendors, Pressure Mounts for UF Administrators
The Wire, February 21, 2021, 'Happened in US 40 Years Ago': 87 US Farmers' Unions Speak Out for Indian Farmers' Protest
CBS4News, February 15, 2021, Students Protest University of Florida's Contract with Aramark
The Independent Alligator, January 22, 2021, UF Students Announce Boycott Against Aramark
Food Justice League National and Local Organizations and Leaders Sign on Letter Targeting the University of Florida, February 22, 2021
*AJP is a member of the Food Justice League coalition
HerCampus at UFL, February 9, 2021, Boycott the Reitz!”: A Human Rights Movement
Salon, January 5, 2021, Tips for Sustainable Grocery Shopping
"When you are shopping consciously, certain words on packaging might seem more wholesome than they actually are. 'Don't just close your eyes and swallow,' writes Bratskeir. '... start following certifications that you trust.'...Instead, it's recommended shoppers seek out trusted certifications that guarantee foods have been produced in a way that is fair to the planet, animals and workers...If you're interested in worker welfare, look for Food Justice Certified or the Fair Food Program."
The National Co+op Grocers, December 2020, NCG Promotes Equitable Food System through Funds, Time and Advocacy
Food Tank, December 2020, 121 Food Organizations to Watch in 2021
The Washington Post, December 30, 2020, Grocery trends: Fewer new products, but more changes in supermarkets and shopping
Torchlighters Re-entry Support, December 4, 2020, Fair Chance Employers
"We are honored to be a part of this program. We encourage every employer, nation-wide, to make these commitments and follow through. As justice gains ground (and it is gaining ground), attacks continue on the movement towards justice. Employers can voluntarily stand up to do the right thing. Meeting the requirements for Fair Chance Employer is the least we can do, particularly knowing that our criminal (in)justice system serves to provide a pool of cheap labor, in part, by limiting people's options and nurturing desperation.
After a win for worker justice in FL ($15/hour min. wage), just a few days ago a FL senator introduced a measure to reduce the min. wage for prisoners and employees convicted of a felony.
A minimum wage should be what is needed to live a decent life with full time employment. The cost of living a decent life should not be dependent upon whether you have served a sentence, but in fact, the way things are set up, being poor and labeled as "formerly incarcerated" is MORE expensive. The last thing we should be doing if we really care about healing, re-entry, and decency is providing every opportunity for individuals who face the most hurdles to overcome them." - AJP
Grateful Web, October 31, 2020, Nathaniel Rateliff Debuts Cover of Leonard Cohen's "There is a War"
"Nathaniel Rateliff is now sharing a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “There Is A War” performed with Kevin Morby and Sam Cohen. Produced by Sam Cohen (White Denim, Curtis Harding), the track marks the latest installment of The Marigold Singles Series, an ongoing project to raise money for Rateliff’s foundation, The Marigold Project, supporting community and nonprofit organizations working for economic and social justice....The Marigold Project is also set for the release of a community cookbook, Meet Me At The Table, on November 10. Meet Me At The Table features a compilation of musicians’ original recipes alongside profiles of food justice organizations, with short-form essays from historic and present-day activists in the food system: Sean Sherman, Leah Penniman, Nano Riley and Will Allen. Pre-order the cookbook HERE....Through centering the voices of activists, Rateliff’s foundation aims to spotlight issues of inequality and oppression as they exist in our food system. Proceeds from the cookbook will be split evenly among organizations profiled in the book, which include Agricultural Justice Project, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Food Chain Workers’ Alliance, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Soul Fire Farm, The GrowHaus, United Farm Workers and more."
The Cultivator, October 2, 2020, The Quest for Parity: Tales from an Upstate New York produce department
"AJP is modest, yet weighty. The non-profit recently provided technical assistance to 83 Northeast farms that participated in a fairness self-assessment.
...Now is the moment for influential brands to play a role in creating “market pull” for certification, says AJP co-founder Elizabeth Henderson. Her plea: Increase pay to farmer suppliers so fair working conditions are no longer considered a luxury ."
La Progressive, September 13, 2020, A Just Recovery for Sonoma Vineyard Workers?
"A sustainable wine industry is impossible in the North Bay without a living wage, comprehensive benefits, and dramatically improved working and living conditions for farmworkers...The Sonoma County Winegrowers’ sustainability certification should include the Agricultural Justice Project’s social justice screen, to ensure “adherence to workplace standards that protect worker rights…and address fair wages and benefits for workers, housing, workplace health and safety, as well as children on farms.” -Martin Bennett
Cornucopia, September 4, 2020, Fair Food.
The Real Organic Project, June 22, 2020, Farm Labor at Swanton Berry Farm.
'One of our Real Organic Project certified farms is Swanton Berry Farm in Davenport, California. Swanton is the national pioneer in creating different relationships between farm owners and farmworkers. They have given numerous workshops, appeared in books, and spoken to the UN. They are also certified by the Agricultural Justice Project. We are proud to have Swanton Berry Farm as part of our Real Organic community. “What would be the point of farming organically if the workers were underpaid, overworked or treated without respect? Just carrying the California Certified Organic label did not address these important issues.” – Jim Cochran, owner of Swanton Berry Farm'
Food Print, June 11, 2020, Food Justice.
Food Justice League. March 11, 2020, Sign On Letter, 5 Demands for a Top 5 University.
Beyond Chron: The Voice of the Rest, March 10th, 2020, A Just Recovery for Sonoma County Farmworkers?
Civil Eats, December 26, 2019, Our Best Food Justice Stories of 2019.
Fresh Fruit Portal, December 18, 2019, New International Guide to Fair Trade Labels.
National Family Farm Coalition, November 18, 2019, NOFA: Spreading Soil Health Practices, Keeping Fairness in Organic
AJP's Comments on the Proposed Changes to the Guestworker Program, submitted to the US Department of Agriculture, September 20, 2019.
Fair World Project, September 2019, Reference Guide to Fair Trade and Labor Justice Programs.
Mic, September 17, 2019, How to Read Food Labels When You’re Looking for Organic, Ethical, or Sustainable Products.
AJP Press Release, September 5, 2019, AGRICULTURAL JUSTICE PROJECT AND OHIO ECOLOGICAL FOOD AND FARM ASSOCIATION JOIN FORCES TO CERTIFY FOOD JUSTICE STANDARDS
Sign-on Letter, August 31, 2019, Justice for Black Farmers.
Sign-on Letter, August 8, 2019, Defending Immigrant Workers Means Defending Us All: A Joint Statement by Food, Farm, and Labor Organizations. AJP's statement on the ICE Raids in Mississippi: These mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters feed us. A system that creates fear in them of exactly what has happened in these raids (being ripped from their families and imprisoned) attempts to keep them silent about unjust conditions. Their low wages (in 2016 poultry trimmers’ median household income was $22,510) line the pockets of higher ups in big food companies, who have such strong monopolies they can exploit workers and farmers alike without consequence. Now these workers' imprisonment will line the pockets of giant and growing private corrections facility companies that dominate the detention center system. We owe the workers respect, support, advocacy, and gratitude. Think about each of them as you eat your chicken tonight. We only have it on our plates because of the work they did. Our system, and the policies that support it, is designed to exploit food system workers for profit. Immigration policy is just one of the policies that perpetuates an unjust system that was never designed to be fair, or for the people. The law is unfair and needs to change. Our hatred of others is a cultural strategy manufactured to encourage us to allow the oppression of many for the benefit of a few. That also needs to change. Read the statement linked above by food, farm and labor organizations.
WUFT (NPR/PBS), May 29, 2019, A Small Gainesville Farm Works To Bring Food Justice to the South.
Civil Eats, April 29, 2019, Does Your Food Label Guarantee Fair Farmworkers’ Rights? This One Does.
Lacrosse Tribune, April 23, 2019, Higher Level Organics becomes first-ever certified fair trade CBD hemp farm
'“We strive to set the high bar in quality. Both in final product and in our production methods,” said Luke Zigovits, Higher Level Organics founder and co-owner of HempScience, a certified organic and fair trade CBD hemp brand...Zigovits, who has more than 20 years of experience in hemp advocacy and research, made the decision to pursue the certification in order to model a new path for hemp production, which has a long history of labor abuse.
“It’s simply the right thing to do. As hemp production continues to rise, an increase in agricultural labor will be necessary. Much like other large scale agriculture systems, there will be opportunities for companies to take advantage of farm labor,” explains Zigovits. “By certifying our farm to the AJP standards, Higher Level Organics can lead by example and pioneer fair trade hemp production.”'
Farm Stands, April 23, 2019, Higher Level Organics Partners with Agricultural Justice Project for Hemp Flower Production.
Cannabis Business Time, April 22, 2019, Higher Level Organics Partners with Agricultural Justice Project for Hemp Flower Production.
In Good Tilth - November 2018, Dividing the Pie: Creating a Fairer Food System.
AJP Press Release- November 29, 2018, Soul Fire Farm latest family and community farm to receive Food Justice Certification.
The Natural Farmer, Summer 2018, Keeping Fairness in Organic: The Agricultural Justice Project’s Food Justice Certification
KQED Food- March 2018, Acknowledging Programs That Protect and Empower Farmworkers for National Farmworker Awareness Week.
Dr. Bronner's Press Release - February 2018, Dr. Bronner's Unveils Special "Heal Earth!" Label, Promotes New Regenerative Organic Certification, And More at Natural Products Expo West 2018
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - February 2018, Hog Heaven? Health Livestock the Heartbeat of Sustainable Meat
Dr. Bronner's All-One Blog - January 2018, Moving Towards Regenerative Organic Certification
Sourcing Journal - October 2017, Rodale Institute Unveils Regenerative Organic Certification
Consumer Reports: Greener Choices - September 2017, Food Justice Certified Evaluation
Vegetable Growers News - May 2017, Program certifies farmers treat their workers right
Huffington Post - May 2017, Approach with Caution: Assessment of Fair Trade USA's Domestic Labeling Initiative
Yes! Magazine - April 2017, 4 Not-So-Easy Ways to Dismantle Racism in the Food System
Rochester City Newspaper - April 2017, Abundance Opens New Location in South Wedge
Willits News - April 2017, Students Learn about Farm Wages and Conditions
Edible Northeast Florida - March 2017, Farmworker in Northeast Florida
Dr Bronner's All-One blog - March 2017, How the Regenerative Agriculture and Animal Welfare Movements Can End Factory Farming, Restore Soil and Mitigate Climate Change
Modern Farmer - February 2017, High Cost of Cheap Labor
Progressive Grocer - January 2017, The Food Justice Certified Label is Here-- Are You Ready?
National Geographic - December 2016, Organic Farming Doesn't Mean Fairer Labor
Reveal - November 2016, Beware the Little Green Frog Logo on Your Sustainable Food
California Institute for Rural Studies - November 2016, Certification of Agriculture Fair Labor Practices
Food Tank - November 2016, 20 Organizations Fighting for Food Justice
Cornell Small Farms Quarterly - November 2016, Farmers Sign on to the Agricultural Justice Project
Organic Consumers Association - October 2016, 'Fairly' Confusing
Fair World Project - "For A Better World" magazine - October 2016, Issues and Challenges For A Just Economy
Morning Ag Clips - October 2016, Group Evaluates Farmworker Labels
YAHOO! Sports - October 2016, New Report from Fair World Project Evaluates Certification Programs that Seek to Ensure Transparency and Integrity of Working Conditions for Farmworkers
Center for Good Food Purchasing - 2016, Recommended Good Food Purchasing Values - Valued Workforce
In Good Tilth - Summer 2016, Perspective From a Food Justice Certified Farm
Cotter Crunch - May 2016, Garlicky Green Crock-Pot Chicken and Lentils {Gluten Free}
KQED Food- April 2016, Pie Ranch Sells Food for Thought at Highway One Non-Profit Farm Stand.
Heritage Radio Network – March 2016, The Farm Report: Episode 283 Fair Farm Labor for Farmers & Farm Workers
WCJP-TV – March 2016, Certification Looks at Employment
John Hopkins's Center for A Livable Future – February 2016, Instituting Change: An Overview of Institutional Food Procurement and Recommendations for Improvement
National Young Farmers Coalition – February 2016, Dismantling Injustice in the Food System: An Interview with Elizabeth Henderson
Forage Newsletter – February 2016, Organic and Fair Farming Practices in Gainesville, FL
Rochester Human Rights Committee – December 2015, Food Justice: The Right to Good, Clean, Local Food
Farmer to Farmer Podcast – December 2015, Elizabeth Henderson on International and Personal Perspectives on CSA
EcoFarm Newsletter – December 2015, From Our Fellow Farmer
Northeast Organic Farming Association - Rhode Island (NOFA-RI) – December 2015, Agricultural Justice Standards Update Comment Period Open
TIME – November 2015, The Best Way to Give Thanks? How About a Raise?
Food First – October 2015, $15/Hour Minimum Wage: Disaster or Opportunity for Family-scale Farms?
San Francisco Chronicle – September 2015, A Guide to the Fair Trade Labels
iEat Green – August 2015, iEat Green Interviews Elizabeth Henderson; A Farmer, Author, NOFA-NY Board Member and Lifetime Activist
Washington Post – July 2015, Will there ever be an organics label for worker rights?
AJP Press Release – June 2015, Taste the Fairness in North Central Florida’s Watermelons
AJP Press Release – April 2015, Whole Foods Market presents 2014 Supplier of the Year Award to the Agricultural Justice Project
edible Monterey Bay - Spring 2015, Edible Life: Not Easily Labeled
USDA Blog – March 2015, In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Lindsey Lusher Shute
Merced Sun-Star – January 2015, Food Justice Label Could Help Local Farmworkers
The Nation – November 2014, Can the Foodie Trend Also Help Food Workers?
New York Times – November 2014, Ban ‘Natural’ as a Marketing Label on Foods
Weavers Way Co-op – The Shuttle – October 2014, Fair Trade Certification for Food Made in the USA
The Friedman Sprout - October 2014, Justice on the Table: A Food Label for Justice
Alachua County Farm to School - September 2014, Jordan Brown and The Family Garden farm - growing salads for school lunches
Food Navigator-USA – September 2014, Food Justice Certified label aims to verify fair treatment of farm laborers, others in food chain
Takepart – September 2014, Sure, Organic is Great, but Where’s the Labeling Telling You How Farm Workers are Treated?
GreenStar Co-op – September 2014, GreenStar Named First Food Justice Certified Supermarket in North America
The Recorder - August 2014, Fresh Look at Fairness for Farmworkers
Tompkins Weekly – August 2014, Seeing the Faces Behind Agriculture
Small Farm Quarterly – July 2014, Cornell University, Small Farms Program – July 2014, First Food Justice Certified Farm and Food Stores in New York
Civil Eats – July 2014, Why Grocery Store Workers Are Making Less While Big Chains Clean Up
Honey Colony - May 2014, Hungry For Justice: A Filmaker’s Quest to Transform The Food System
Happenings – April 2014, Food Justice – What It Means and Why We Need it in Western New York!
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) – April 2014, Food Justice Certified – A New Label for Food Justice
takepart – April 2014, Does Buying Organic Help Farmworkers?
City Market: Onion River Co-op – April 2014, The Search for Social Sustainability on the Farm
Slow Food Evenings: Understanding and Changing Our Food System – April 2014, April Slow Food Evening: Elizabeth Henderson, Food Justice and Slow Food
Community Alliance for Global Justice – March 2014, Confused About Ethical Labels on Your Food? Not this World Fair Trade Day!
KQED – Bay Area Bites – March 2014, Swanton Berry Farm, Bringing Justice to the Table
CAN – Community Agroecology Network – March 2014, “Beyond Organic: Narratives of Our Local Food System” Was A Success!
Just Food – March 2014, “Food Justice Food? Just Read the Label!”
CUESA – Cultivating A Healthy Food System – February 2014, Swanton Berry Farm: Bringing Justice to the Table
Agrarian Trust - February 2014, News In Farm Justice From Agrarian Trust Advisor Elizabeth Henderson
Half Moon Bay Review – February 2014, Pie Ranch Leads State with New Certification
Farm Fuel Blog – February 2014, 2014 Fundraising Kick-Off for Farm Fuel at Pie Ranch
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) – February 2014, Food Justice Certified: Ensuring Equity in Organic Agriculture
Organic Consumers Association – January 2014, The Whole LOAF
Take Part – November 2013, Move Over, Big Ag: Sustainability’s Movement Is Here
Grist – 2012, Labor of Love: Domestic Fair Trade Grows
Food Day – November 2012, Got Food? Thank Food Workers!
Peninsula Press – August 2012, Serving Justice- New Food Label Certifies Workers Rights’ on U.S. Farms
Forbes – May 2012, Consumer Demand for Food Justice Labels: The Next Big Thing
Civil Eats – April 2012, The Conscientious Omnivore – April 2012
A Fair Deal for California Farm Workers
City of Portland Oregon – April 2012, Social (Justice) Network
Food Sovereignty News – April 2012, Food Justice Certified Label
Sustainable Food News – January 2012, Organic Farms First in Northwest to Earn Food Justice Certified Label
PCC Natural Food Markets: Sound Consumer – January 2012, Justice for Farmworkers
Groundswell: Center for Local Food & Farming – August 2011, Food Justice Certification Gains Momentum: Certifiers and Farm Worker Representatives Complete Training and Qualifying Exam
Food Freedom – July 2011, Food Justice Certification Gains Momentum
AJP Trains Certifier and Worker Organization Representatives
May 2011, in Eugene, Oregon, Download July 2011 Press Release
Bon Appetit – June 2011, Advice For Young Farmers From Swanton Berry Owners
Southeast Green, Food Justice Certified Label Rewarding Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Farms and Businesses
Download Southeast Green article in PDF
CtNOFA – May 2011, Food Justice Certified
Fair World Project – March 2011, Swanton Berry Farm Promotes Labor Rights and Fair Trade
Cooperative Grocer – February 2011, Questioning At Will Employment – Food Justice Standards, Coop Practices Diverge on HR Strategy
Download Coop Grocer article in PDF
The Daily Yonder – February 2011, Letter from Langdon: Labeling Sustainable
Cooperative Grocer Network – January 2011, Questioning At-Will Employment
Groundswell - October 2010, Revising Social Justice in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture
Justice Feed Newsletter:
- September 2020
- January 2020
- July 2017
- Final FJC Standards Public Comment Period - July 2017 (Spanish)
- June 2017
- Final FJC Standards Public Comment Period - May 2017 (English)
- April 2017
- End of Year Letter 2016
- November 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- December 2015
- September 2015
- June 2015
- March 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
Agrictultural Justice Project
Check our our Founders Video Series: The Why & How of the Agricultural Justice Project.
In 1999, Michael Sligh, formerly of the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI – USA), Richard Mandelbaum and Nelson Carrasquillo, formerly of Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas/Farmworker Support Committee (CATA),
Oscar Mendieta,
Fundación RENACE,
Bolivia, Elizabeth Henderson, formerly of
Peacework Organic Farm and Marty Mesh, formerly of Florida Organic Growers and Consumers began a stakeholder process to develop standards for the fair and just treatment of the people involved in organic and sustainable agriculture.
While their experience was in North America, they set out to create standards that could be adapted for use anywhere in the world. They began with a review of existing social standards and then assembled a first draft of what became “Toward Social Justice and Economic Equity in the Food System: A Call for Social Stewardship Standards in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture.”
They circulated this draft to organic farmers and organic farming associations, non-profits, certification programs, eco-labeling experts, and labor and farm labor organizations. CATA also engaged in an internal process through which the organization’s farmworker members provided input to the worker standards. For two years, AJP circulated successive drafts of their standards to stakeholders in the US and abroad and received comments from around the world. To make the document accessible to a wider audience, they arranged for translations into Spanish and French. With each major revision of the document they circulated the new draft to those who had commented on previous drafts, as well as to people new to the project.
From 2002 - 2005, the founders worked with stakeholders around the world from IFOAM Organic Trade Conference in Bangkok, Thailand to meetings with the International Union of Food (IUF) in Montevideo, Uruguay. Ambitious goals and commitments were set by these meetings. One commitment was to further develop strategies to advance the social agenda in organic and sustainable agriculture, and to build cooperation between the organic and fair trade movements - strengthening the voice and participation of indigenous peoples as an urgent theme. At the close of 2005, the AJP team committed to designing a pilot project to test the standards and their practicality in the U.S. marketplace. (Download full history here)
The Original Pilot – Upper Midwest Region
The Agricultural Justice Project team worked for several years to develop a U.S. Pilot project to test its social stewardship standards on the ground. Through outreach and collaboration, the group built relationships with farmers, retailers, non-profits, and farmworker organizations around the county who are interested in developing a model of a just food system. The AJP also convened a national Advisory Council representing a broad array of stakeholders to advise and inform the group’s progress AJP meets with this Advisory Council on an annual basis. During this time, Quality Certification Services (QCS) developed the application and inspection forms, report language, and confidentiality documents necessary for a social justice certification.
The first step in piloting the project was to do informal inspections of farms in four regions of the county. These exploratory audits confirmed that AJP standards are realistic: farmers expressed the ability and desire to meet them.
A “pre-audit” of several of the region’s exemplary farms and co-ops in 2006 revealed outstanding practices, but a lack of the type of documentation that would be required for verification by a certifier.
Over the following winter, the AJP team developed a toolkit of information and resources to help the farms and co-ops document their good practices.
In the spring of 2007, Quality Certification Services (QCS) and the AJP team conducted official pilot certification audits of four farms and two co-ops in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Bluff Country Co-op, pictured here receiving their initial pilot certification.
The AJP Partners
Project partners Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas/Farmworker Support Committee, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association, are leaders in the fields of sustainable agriculture policy, workers’ rights, community-based food systems, and organic certification. Each of the non-profit organizations in this unique partnership is grounded in decades of grassroots change-making and community-organizing. These three organization sit on the board. More information about our three governance bodies can be found on our governance page.
When we have positions available, AJP strongly encourages those from historically underrepresented populations, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA, individuals who have been previously prosecuted, and veterans to apply.
AJP is also certified as a Fair Chance Employer by Torchlighters Re-Entry
"Torchlighters Re-Entry Support envisions a community where returning citizens (a.k.a. formerly incarcerated people) are welcomed with open arms and given support to thrive in their new lives. When incarcerated people are released in Gainesville, Florida, their return to society is met with closed doors. Barriers to employment, housing discrimination, and social stigma often cause returning citizens to become homeless or cycle back through the justice system. Torchlighters Re-Entry Support is run by Community Spring Fellows who have been directly impacted by incarceration." - Torchlighters Re-Entry Support See AJP's statement about earning Fair Chance Employer Certification on our press page.
The AJP Staff and Team Members
Elizabeth Henderson
Fair Farms Technical Assistance Coordinator & Trainerinfo@agriculturaljusticeproject.org
Elizabeth Henderson farmed at Peacework Farm in Wayne County, New York, producing organically grown vegetables for one of the first CSAs in the country. As NOFA’s representative to the Board of the Agricultural Justice Project, she has spent two decades observing and studying work conditions on farms and farm labor policies and practices with the goal of transforming farmwork into the respected vocation it deserves to be given the significance of food for human like. She blogs at - https://thepryingmantis.wordpress.com
Jon Magee
Fair Farms Technical Assistance Specialistjon@agriculturaljusticeproject.org
Leah Cohen
General Coordinatorleah@agriculturaljusticeproject.org
Leah Cohen (she/her) is the General Coordinator for the Agricultural Justice Project. She comes from a rural working-class upbringing and has worked with projects aimed at addressing disparities experienced by farmworkers, farmers, and fishing households and rural communities for over 25 years. Her experience with the Agricultural Justice Project began in 2004 with development of the verification system for certification and development of the certifier and worker organization training in verification of compliance to the standards. Recognizing that western, white supremacist, patriarchal-centered charity and aid work is unable to transition us to a just food system and society, she is committed to working towards justice work that is rooted in the those most impacted and harmed being centered in the solutions and power structures to address systemic injustices and disparities.
Leon E. Orange Jr.
Social Media Manager/Photographer for Whose Voice is Missing Project
Patty Love
Bookkeeper and Queen of Quick BooksPatty is a lifelong gardener and forager who, for over a decade, has suburban homesteaded on an acre of traditional homelands of the Haudenosaunee People in the Genesee Valley (now known as Rochester, NY) while she patiently waits to become a farmer. Grounded in regenerative living practices, patty has a foot in both the business and the land stewardship worlds. She provides business consulting and bookkeeping to social justice organizations from her keyboard. Patty is also a Certified Permaculture Designer and Teacher, who mentors folks working with nature to create regenerative foodscape ecosystems. Cooking and eating locally sourced organic food with beloveds is her idea of fun!