This week, Windset Farms® and the agricultural industry celebrate National Farmworkers Awareness Week and honor the hardworking, dedicated farmworkers who help bring nutritious, sustainably grown produce to consumers.
National Farmworker Awareness Week is a call to action for communities to help raise awareness of the millions of essential workers that plant, raise, grow, handle, harvest, pack, and ship the food we consume.
Windset Farms celebrates its workers during this week and every day of the year. The greenhouse grower was the first greenhouse vegetable company to adopt the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) in 2017, with all of its facilities being EFI-certified. This independent certification program is centered around employee well-being and sustainable practices, including Employee Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Pest Management. Being an EFI-certified farm builds on Windset's existing employee wellness programs, providing employees with added trust that the company is putting their needs first.
Consumers continue to take a genuine interest in where their food comes from and the workers who help bring that food from farms to the table. The EFI label on Windset products lets consumers know they are supporting a more sustainable food system, with a monetary bonus going back to the workers with each labeled product sold.
Windset Farms always finds fun and meaningful ways to appreciate and celebrate its farmworkers throughout the year. This includes bringing in food trucks for lunches, monthly raffles, and holiday giveaways and events. In Delta, Windset partners with a local church organization that comes to the facilities to teach foreign workers how to read, write, and speak English. Most recently, it has also launched a program to help foreign workers complete their annual taxes, providing support during and after the process. "It's important that we teach our employees these vital life skills," says Tony Pacheco, operations manager. "We educate them on everything from computer skills to WorkSafe BC responsibilities. We talk to them about what is expected of us and what we expect from them in return. You see a great sense of ownership and pride when employees have the tools and resources to succeed."
Pacheco adds that Windset recently hosted a dinner to celebrate the first planting of the season and to thank the farmworkers who assisted with this milestone. Similar initiatives take place at Windset's Santa Maria facility.
Champions of the EFI Leadership Team also recently worked with EFI on a waste reduction project implemented across the Santa Maria facility. These initiatives and growth opportunities aim to support the mental well-being of employees.
The company encourages everyone to support a more ethical, sustainable food system and thank the skilled people of the food industry. Look for the EFI logo on produce when grocery shopping and #ThankAFarmWorker during this significant week.
For more information:
Randi Church
Windset Farms
Tel.: +1 (778) 908-1029
rchurch@windset.com
www.greenhousegrown.com
https://equitablefood.org/farmworkerawareness