Safe Food. Safe Workers
Compliance Nexus
Twin City Produce, Springdale is committed to being socially and environmentally responsible, compliant with labor and ethics laws, and continuous improvement in all areas. It is our policy to comply with U.S. import and distribution of produce and food commodities laws, technology use defend against food fraud and improve produce tracking (Farm to Table). Our Labor and Ethics Policy covers Labor, Health and Safety, and the Environment, and our standards relating to Business Ethics. We have maintained these ethics since inception and publicly posting since 2022.
Labor
We are committed to upholding the human rights of workers, and to treat them with dignity and respect. This applies to all workers including temporary, migrant, student, contract, direct employees, and any other type of worker.
Non-Discrimination
Twin City Produce, Springdale is committed to a workforce free of unlawful discrimination. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, identity, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran or marital status in hiring and employment practices such as wages, promotions, rewards, and access to training. Workers are provided with reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In addition, workers or potential workers are not subjected to medical tests or physical exams that could be used in a discriminatory way.
Hiring Process
Job descriptions with employment terms and conditions are available in English and Spanish. All work is voluntary. Employers and agents may not hold or otherwise destroy, conceal, confiscate or deny access by employees to employees’ identity or immigration documents, such as government-issued identification, passports or work permits, unless the holding of work permits is required by law. Twin City Produce, Springdale does not charge hiring fees. Uniforms and any necessary safety equipment outside of work boots are provided to employees free of charge.
Working Hours and Wages and Benefits
Workweeks do not exceed the maximum set by local law. Workers are allowed at least one day off every seven days. Workers’ paid compensation complies with all applicable wage laws. Workers are compensated for overtime worked in an excess of 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times their regular hourly rates. For each pay period, workers are provided with a timely and understandable wage statement to verify accurate compensation for the work performed. All use of temporary, dispatch and outsourced labor are within the limits of the local law.
Humane Treatment
Twin City Produce, Springdale does not condone any harsh and inhumane treatment including any sexual harassment, abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse of workers, nor the threat of any such treatment. Disciplinary policies and are clearly defined and communicated to workers in our Employee Guidelines.
We have expanded our ethics to include Modern Slavery. The act of working without pay to resolve debt. As this practice has been identified in the agriculture industry, we only source from ethical farms and manufacturers.
Freely Chosen Employment
Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labor, involuntary prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons are never used at Twin City Produce, Springdale.
Young Workers
Twin City Produce, Springdale does not use Child (persons under the age of 14) labor in any stage of business. If employed, Twin City Produce, Springdale provides appropriate support and training to all student workers. In the absence of local law, the wage rate for student workers, interns and apprentices shall be at least the same wage rate as other entry-level workers performing equal or similar tasks.
Health and Safety
Twin City Produce, Springdale recognizes a safe and healthy work environment enhances the quality of products and services, consistency of storage and delivery and worker retention and morale. The Company also recognizes that ongoing worker input and education is essential to identifying and solving health and safety issues in the workplace.
Occupational Safety, Injury and Illness
Forklifts, hand trucks, delivery trucks, even floor scrubbers, can pose a hazard. Worker exposure to potential safety hazards are controlled through design, administrative controls, preventative maintenance and safe work procedures, and ongoing safety training. Workers are encouraged to raise safety concerns. Further, procedures are in place to oversee and report occupational injury and illness, which encourage worker reporting; and aid in workers successfully returning to work.
Industrial Hygiene
Worker exposure to chemical, biological and physical agents is identified and monitored to control overexposures chemicals. When hazards cannot be adequately controlled by such means, worker health is protected by appropriate personal protective equipment.
Physically Demanding Work
Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy or repetitive lifting, prolonged standing and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks is identified, evaluated and controlled.
Equipment Safeguarding
Equipment routinely evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards are throughout the warehouse where equipment use may present an injury hazard to interior structure, racks, and/or subsequent workers.
Emergency Preparedness
Response to potential emergency situations and events procedures are a part of our Food Safety Contingency Plan including emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training and drills, suppression equipment, adequate exit facilities and recovery plans to minimize harm to life, the environment and property.
Sanitation, Food, and Housing
Workers are provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities, potable water and sanitary food preparation, storage, and eating facilities. No housing is provided for workers.
Health and Safety Communication
We provide workers with appropriate workplace health and safety training in their primary language. Health and safety related information is clearly posted in the facility.