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Civil Rights Policy

Civil Rights Complaints

FRESHFARM is  committed to diversity and building equitable and inclusive programs for people of all backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate and have established the following policy to ensure that our programs and our staff uphold these values.

Reporting

If you, as a participant or customer in one of our programs, do experience harassment or discrimination from a FRESHFARM employee based on your race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth or related condition) citizenship, familial status, mental or physical disability status, veteran status, genetic information, other non-disqualifying disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, you should promptly report any incident(s) of harassment or discrimination via this form. Information sent via this form will be received by the Executive Director. If you feel that the Executive Director is the source of the harassment, you should send your complaint directly to the FRESHFARM HR & Admin Manager. As a participant or customer, you have a right to file a complaint in this manner within 180 days of the alleged incident. You will not face any retaliation for making a good faith report of harassment or discrimination. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that disabled individuals may participate in the complaint process.

Investigation & Corrective Action

Once the matter has been reported, FRESHFARM will promptly investigate each complaint appropriately in a timely manner.  FRESHFARM will handle the investigation discretely and will attempt to keep the investigation confidential to the extent possible. Through the investigation process, FRESHFARM may do any of the following, depending on the circumstances of the complaint:

  • Interview the complainant, witnesses, and the person alleged to have committed acts of harassment;
  • Ask the complainant what steps they would like FRESHFARM to take as a consequence of the alleged harassment;
  • Conduct further interviews, with or without the support of outside counsel, as necessary to objectively gather the facts regarding the complaint.

If FRESHFARM determines that discrimination or harassment (as previously defined above) has occurred, FRESHFARM will take prompt and corrective action. The appropriate corrective measures will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If the discrimination or harassment continues, you should promptly report this to the  FRESHFARM Executive Director. 

Records & No Retaliation

FRESHFARM shall maintain a complete written record of each complaint and how it was investigated and resolved. Written records shall be maintained in a confidential manner to the extent practical and appropriate.

Additionally, this procedure for reporting incidents of harassing or discriminatory behavior is not intended to impair, replace, or limit your right to seek remedy through the appropriate local, state, or federal agency.

FRESHFARM does not permit any retaliation, including, but not limited to, adverse impacts on the terms and conditions of your participation or partnership with FRESHFARM, for filing or responding to a bona fide complaint of discrimination, appearing as a witness in the investigation of a complaint of discrimination, or threatening to file a complaint of discrimination.

Third Parties

Please note that, if the prohibited conduct included in your complaint was perpetrated by a third party other than FRESHFARM, such complaints are handled separately. FRESHFARM is not responsible for the behavior of any such third parties. In such cases, you may seek to file a complaint with that third-party. Furthermore, while FRESHFARM is not liable for such third party complaints, if your complaint against a third party violates any of FRESHFARM’s program policies against harassment and/or discrimination, you may report this policy violation to FRESHFARM by contacting the Director for that program. In such cases, FRESHFARM will review your complaint and may take action in line with the program policy in question.