COVID Education Resources for Employers and workers
COVID Education Resources for Employers and workers

While we’re finally seeing a flattening of the curve in the general population in the US, the reports of outbreaks among field and plant workers seem to be on the rise. In Mexico, where the virus arrived later than in the US, the number of newly infected people is still growing rapidly.

All of this coincides with the start of the harvest season in many crops in the US and Mexico, and the corresponding movement of people to pick those crops. H2As from Central Mexico are headed to California and Washington. Workers from Southern Mexico are headed to Northern Mexico for the grape harvest.

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Ag Industry InsidersHannah Freemancovid19, resourcesComment
One Employer’s COVID-19 Playbook
One Employer’s COVID-19 Playbook

You might recognize Matt Roger’s name from his days as a Global Produce Coordinator at Whole Foods Market. Two years ago he traded that powerful job for the adventure of building a business in agriculture. He wanted to do farm labor contracting the right way. AgSocio’s stated purpose is to create value for farmers, farm workers, and the broader food industry by building a more just, safe, professional, and competitive agricultural labor employment system.

This week, Matt sent out a great newsletter to his stakeholders outlining their initial steps responding to the challenges that COVID-19 is presenting and how they’re working to keep their people healthy.

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Ag Industry InsidersMidori PinillosComment
Keeping our food system strong during these uncertain times. Communication is key.
Keeping our food system strong during these uncertain times. Communication is key.

Together we are experiencing truly trying times as the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect our communities and businesses. The processing of H2A visas is still uncertain and this might further affect agricultural companies with labor shortages. In these difficult times, it’s truly important that our food system stays strong. To address the current challenges, communication is key.

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Ag Industry InsidersMidori PinillosComment
All we want for Christmas is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
All we want for Christmas is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act

$3.1B is lost each year as farms are unable to plant, harvest or process their crops due to the labor shortage. Just about every grower I know has a heartbreaking story of having to leave their crops unpicked. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would

  • Allow farmworkers to seek legal status in the US

  • Make the H2A program more flexible

  • Require e-verify (though thankfully only after providing legal status to existing workers)

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Ag Industry InsidersHannah Freemanfarm workforce modernization act, ag workforce, ag industry updates, agriculture, farmworkersComment
Driscoll's Interview: Part One
Driscoll's Interview: Part One

Two Driscoll’s Executives, Brian McElroy, the VP of Global Ethics and Standards, and Kelley Bell, VP of Social and Environmental Impact, took some time to talk about the current labor dynamic in agriculture and the associated opportunities and challenges for the industry.

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Hannah FreemanComment
Interview with Superfresh Growers' Kristin Kershaw
Interview with Superfresh Growers' Kristin Kershaw

Kristin Snapp of Domex Superfresh Growers has orchard work in her blood. She was just eleven years old when her dad told her to drive his truck....without any instructions other than to keep it out of the Roza Canal. At the age of twelve her first job was pruning fireblight out of a block of baby pear trees. The trees are no longer alive, but Kristin went on to have a big impact on the apple industry in eastern Washington, including serving as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

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Hannah FreemanComment
Interview with Andrew & Williamson
Interview with Andrew & Williamson

Andrew & Williamson’s Amalia Lommel has been deeply involved in agricultural human resources issues during her 24 years at the company. As the Director of Social Responsibility, she's helped lead cultural change initiatives as well as the company's involvement with EFI and Fair Trade USA. A&W grows berries in California and Mexico and grows tomatoes and cucumbers in Mexico. Amalia shared with us some of the insights she's gained as A&W blazes new trails in human resources management. 

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Hannah FreemanA&W, Andrew & Williamson, Amalia Lommel, best practices, farmworker engagement, h2a, H2AComment
What's your Net Promoter Score?
What's your Net Promoter Score?

The Net Promoter Score was introduce by Fred Reicheld in 2003 after several years of customer satisfaction research. Reicheld found that not only could you reduce your customer satisfaction surveys to a single question, but you could also use it to predict growth. “In fact, in most of the industries that I studied, the percentage of customers who were enthusiastic enough to refer a friend or colleague—perhaps the strongest sign of customer loyalty—correlated directly with differences in growth rates among competitors.”

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Hannah Freemanemployee satisfaction surveys, employee retention, agricultural workers, employee satistfaction, net promoter scoreComment