Welcome to the latest episode of The Tip of the Iceberg podcast. In this episode, Blanca Acosta, Director of Care and Culture at Abundant Harvest Organics, which proudly grows for Homegrown Organic Farms, joins LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing at EFI, to share more into the vital topic of safety and wellness within the agricultural industry.
Blanca takes us back to the roots of their safety and wellness efforts, which began in 2020 with EFI certification. Their primary focus revolved around ensuring the safety of their workers, particularly concerning ladder usage in the fields and fruit picking at the packing house.
The EFI Leadership Team representatives brainstormed innovative strategies to minimize the risk of falls. One special solution was the design of ladders with a claw added to the legs, providing a stable platform for fruit picking. Furthermore, they initiated a “lead by example” approach, encouraging everyone to pick up any fallen fruit on the packline to prevent slips and falls. As a result, accident rates significantly decreased, fostering a safer work environment.
But the commitment to safety doesn’t stop there. Abundant Harvest Organic conducts monthly safety training tailgate meetings at their fields and packaging facilities. These gatherings provide a platform to address various topics, including illness prevention, hygiene, and fall prevention. The team has even introduced morning stretch and exercise routines to counteract the physical strain of repetitive tasks, promoting long-term wellness among their workforce.
In the realm of wellness, the organization recently implemented a thoughtful update in the female workers’ bathrooms. Workers noted that menstrual cycles can sometimes create discomfort and inconvenience, so the EFI Team embarked on a mission to improve the experience established a dedicated hygiene section within the bathroom. This area offers a place where employees can store their own supplies and offers a range of feminine products, ensuring that female employees have easy access to essential items during their shifts.
At the heart of these initiatives lies a profound understanding: the well-being of their workers directly impacts the quality of their produce. Join us in this insightful episode as we explore the intersection of safety, wellness, and agriculture, and learn from Abundant Harvest Organics’ remarkable journey towards a healthier, safer, and more inclusive workplace. Tune in now HERE.
