A Closer Look at Our Supplier Code of Conduct for Sustainable Sourcing

Fresh produce reaches consumers through a long chain of growers, packers, transport operators, labour providers and service partners. A supplier code of conduct gives that chain a shared set of expectations, helping turn broad commitments on human rights, environmental care and business integrity into practical requirements.

For Fresh Del Monte Produce, sustainable sourcing connects responsible procurement with the realities of farming across different regions. The approach matters in Australia, where shoppers expect reliable quality, retailers apply detailed supplier standards, and issues such as water security, seasonal labour and modern slavery are part of everyday business conversations. The company’s wider sustainability work provides the context for understanding how supplier relationships support these priorities.

Why A Supplier Code Matters

A supplier code translates corporate values into standards that can be used during procurement, onboarding and ongoing relationship management. It can cover employment conditions, workplace safety, environmental protection, legal compliance, accurate recordkeeping and ethical dealings. This gives suppliers a clearer picture of what responsible performance looks like before contracts are signed.

The code also creates consistency across countries with different laws, farming systems and labour markets. Legal compliance is the baseline, but a responsible sourcing framework can ask suppliers to identify risks, correct problems and show evidence of progress. That approach is particularly important for fresh food, where a single product may pass through several businesses before it reaches a supermarket shelf in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.

Respecting People Across The Supply Chain

Human rights expectations are central to sustainable sourcing. Suppliers should provide employment under lawful terms, communicate conditions clearly, keep accurate wage and time records, and avoid recruitment practices that leave workers in debt or unable to leave a job. Workers should be treated with dignity and protected from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

These principles have a direct connection to Australian horticulture. Seasonal workforces may include people from Pacific nations, backpackers and other temporary workers, while labour hire arrangements can make accountability harder to see. A strong code therefore needs to extend beyond the farm gate to recruiters, contractors and accommodation providers. Clear contracts, accessible grievance channels and checks on recruitment fees can help prevent exploitation.

Safe Workplaces And Fair Treatment

Agriculture and food distribution involve real occupational risks. Machinery, vehicles, forklifts, packing equipment, chemicals, repetitive tasks, heat and long shifts all require proper controls. A supplier code should expect businesses to identify hazards, train workers in languages they understand, provide suitable personal protective equipment and record incidents so that underlying causes can be addressed.

In Australia, heat management is a practical concern during summer harvests, particularly in inland growing areas and regions such as Far North Queensland. Safe work also includes access to clean drinking water, rest breaks, sanitation and emergency procedures. These details matter because a policy is meaningful only when workers can experience its protections during a busy picking or packing day.

Environmental Care From Farm To Market

Environmental stewardship within a supplier code usually covers efficient water use, soil health, responsible chemical management, waste reduction, energy use and protection of habitats. Suppliers may be expected to comply with applicable environmental laws, prevent pollution and maintain records that show how key risks are controlled.

The Australian context makes these expectations tangible. Drought and variable rainfall affect production across areas such as the Murray-Darling Basin, while flooding and cyclones can disrupt farms and transport in Queensland. Good sourcing decisions consider resilience alongside volume and price. Practices such as irrigation monitoring, integrated pest management, packaging recovery and protection of waterways can reduce pressure on farms and surrounding communities.

Traceability, Quality And Transparency

Traceability links a product to its source and records the important steps between harvest and sale. For fresh produce, this can include farm or growing location, packing dates, batch information, transport records and handling conditions. Reliable data supports food safety, faster response to incidents and more informed purchasing decisions.

Traceability also supports environmental and social claims. If produce is described as responsibly sourced, the business should be able to explain the evidence behind that statement. Australian retailers operate in a market where supermarket specifications, food standards and customer expectations are closely connected. A supplier that keeps complete records is better placed to meet buyer requirements and respond when a shipment, batch or labour concern needs investigation.

Ethical Business And Responsible Procurement

A supplier code must address conduct between companies as well as conditions on farms. Expectations may include avoiding bribery, protecting confidential information, declaring conflicts of interest, keeping accurate books and records, and competing fairly. Suppliers should also know how to raise concerns without fear of commercial retaliation.

Procurement teams have an important role in making these standards credible. If contracts reward the lowest price without allowing realistic labour and environmental costs, suppliers may struggle to meet the code. Responsible purchasing considers quality, continuity, worker welfare, environmental performance and the ability to provide evidence. That is especially relevant in Australia, where long transport distances and a concentrated grocery sector can place pressure on margins and delivery schedules.

Checking Performance And Correcting Problems

A code of conduct is a working system rather than a document filed after supplier approval. Implementation may involve self-assessments, document reviews, site visits, worker interviews, third-party audits and follow-up action plans. The appropriate method depends on the risk, the supplier’s role and the information available.

Audits have value, but they do not reveal everything. Workers may be reluctant to speak during a scheduled visit, and records can look complete while daily practice falls short. Effective oversight combines different sources of evidence and gives suppliers a reasonable route to correct issues. Serious breaches involving forced labour, violence, falsified records or immediate safety threats require decisive escalation, while less severe gaps may be addressed through time-bound improvement plans and repeat checks.

Building Accountability Into Everyday Decisions

Supplier responsibility works best when it is shared across commercial, sustainability, quality, legal and operational teams. New suppliers can be screened against risk criteria before engagement, while existing partners can be reviewed according to geography, commodity, labour model and environmental exposure. Training helps employees understand how the code applies when selecting growers, negotiating contracts or responding to concerns.

For suppliers, the practical priorities are straightforward: understand the standards, appoint someone accountable, map subcontractors, keep reliable records, train workers and report problems early. Australian businesses can also align their processes with relevant obligations under workplace, work health and safety, environmental and modern slavery laws. The next step is to map every supplier relationship to its highest people and environmental risks, then assign a documented review date for each one.