eNEWS
March 2010 > Public comment period for Agricultural Justice Project Standards ends April 25
Florida Organic Growers (FOG) is a founding member of the Agricultural Justice Project (AJP), a non-profit initiative to create fairness and equity in our food system through the development of social justice standards for organic and sustainable agriculture. The public comment period for the AJP standards is open until April 25, 2010. This is the final public comment period that allows stakeholders to comment on the standards and recent proposed changes. AJP depends on public and stakeholder participation to help set the bar high for social justice in our food system.
The AJP standards were developed with stakeholder input involving farmers, farmworkers, and indigenous, retail, and consumer groups. The standards are an attempt to codify, in concrete terms, what making a legitimate claim of "social justice" in organic and sustainable agriculture means. The comment period gives an opportunity for stakeholders in the food system to provide input on their priorities for ensuring fairness and equity. If you are a consumer; an employee, manager or owner in a retail food business, food distributor, or food processor; or if you are a farmer, farm manager or farmworker please consider providing input on the standards.
AJP standards address:
• Workers' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining
• Fair wages and benefits for workers
• Fair and equitable contracts for farmers and buyers
• Fair pricing for farmers
• Clear conflict resolution policies for farmers and workers
• The rights of indigenous peoples
• Workplace health and safety
• Farmworker housing
• Interns and apprentices
• Children on farms
To participate in the AJP standards revision, visit www.agriculturaljusticeproject.org/standards.html.
In addition, if you are a farm or food system business in the southern U.S. and are interested in becoming certified to the AJP standards, FOG may have funding for you through a new research and education project on fairness in the food system. For information visit www.foginfo.org/socialjustice, call 352.377.6345 or email fog@foginfo.org.