On Tuesday 8th Feb, Angus Soft Fruits and Angus Growers held our annual UK Grower Ethical Forum.
These events have been running since 2009 and act as a platform for our growers to discuss key challenges and share best practice. During the forum, growers received training from BTF Partnership, Verner Wheelock, Scottish Government, and RSABI. Key topics included worker recruitment, worker voice, health and safety, and covid testing.
At ASF, our objective is to have a supply chain free from forced labour, slavery, human trafficking and exploitation. A significant focus area has been working closely with growers to improve their ethical management systems. We are pleased to report no non conformities raised in this area in 2021 audits. Some priorities for the coming season include engagement with workers – through worker surveys, welfare chats, and committees – and increased transparency for migrant workers during recruitment, including sharing newly made videos showing accommodation and job activities.
During the forum we also welcomed our new grower ethical representative, David Porter, who will sit on Angus Soft Fruits ethical meetings throughout this year.
