In this episode of Tip of the Iceberg, Brianna Shales, Marketing Director at Stemilt Growers, joins LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing at Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), to discuss a topic close to the heart of the fresh produce industry: the importance farmworkers.
This episode not only elevates the importance of farmworkers but also highlights programs like the Farmworker of the Year (FWOY) and Farmworker Awareness Week (FWAW), which are shining a much-needed light on the skilled individuals who power the produce industry. You can nominate a farmworker at equitablefood.org/nominate.
For Shales and the team at Stemilt, the Farmworker of the Year program is deeply meaningful. “To be able to spotlight the best of the best in the industry is very special. It ties directly with the reason Stemilt exists by cultivating people and delighting consumers,” she shares.
Last year, Stemilt had a finalist in the FWOY award: Andres Aguilar. The award’s impact on him and his team was profound: “One word? Pride,” says Shales. Andres had to overcome adversity, but he showed up every day to make his workplace better. His story symbolizes what these awards are all about: recognizing dedication, resilience, and leadership. It takes a lot of hands to get fruit to market, and farmworkers are the reason for it.
To learn more about the way Stemilt identifies candidates like Andres, make sure to listen to the whole podcast episode here.
During this episode, LeAnne also goes a little deeper into Farmworker Awareness Week and the labor of love behind every single apple that is handpicked and ends up on the consumer’s table. You can see this commitment brought to life in Stemilt’s recent video series, World-Famous Food by World-Famous Families, which was created in celebration of its 60th anniversary. The videos highlight families that have played a major role in helping Stemilt grow, and this series honors their legacy.
Looking ahead, Stemilt plans to continue sharing Stemilters’ stories that celebrate the people who make a difference every day. Because behind every piece of fruit is a human story worth telling.
