Harvesting leafy greens is one of the most labor-intensive jobs. It is handpicked by farmworkers, leaf by leaf, while packhouse employees assured each item is washed, packed safely, and maintained as fresh as possible.
One of these processing facilities is Misionero. The company certified its California and Arizona farming operations by Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), which means continuous improvements in the workplace, safer and healthier environments, and a workforce that follows arduous food safety standards.
We asked Misionero packhouse workers to share the changes they have experienced since beginning the EFI training and certification process. “We feel safer,” that’s what most workers told us. They recalled improvements around food safety, COVID-19 protocols, wages, and upgrades such as additional lunch areas, better illumination in the parking lot, and more bathroom trailers.
These improvements in the lives of agricultural workers are possible when we buy better. Because when we vote with our dollars, we impact the whole supply chain, including the lives of the people that make sure our food is safe, fresh, and responsibly grown. You can find EFI-certified leafy greens from Misionero under the brands Green Wave Farms, Garden Life, and Earth Greens at your local Whole Foods and Costco.
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