In an interview, San Miguel's Fresh Fruit Commercial Director explains what measures the company is taking in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and elaborates on the main challenges the sector will face in the near future.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced companies, production sectors and industries around the world to change their work routines, establish new health protocols and, in many cases, adapt their business models to these days. Since the beginning of the pandemic, San Miguel has put into practice a number of measures intended to take care of our associates’ health and ensure quality food supply in this emergency.
“We have formed a Global Crisis Committee in coordination with local committees and we have prepared a protocol adapted to each operation with measures to prevent transmission throughout the production chain. This protocol is regularly reviewed and updated,” explains Alejandro Lucas, Fresh Fruit Commercial Director. Additionally, he says that since the first cases of Covid-19 appeared in the world, San Miguel has applied all the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the regulations of the competent authorities.
What are the challenges of the pandemic for San Miguel as regards safety measures, production costs and labor in the field?
As it is logical, we face the huge challenge of keeping operations running in this complex context to ensure food supply while taking care of the health of all the associates in the chain. The main measures of the protocol are established around five pillars: 1) Avoid crowding; 2) Strengthen hygiene measures of people; 3) Strengthen hygiene and sanitation routines in work areas, shared spaces and transportation; 4) Encourage teleworking wherever possible; 5) Internal training and communication of all current measures and action plans.
How is coronavirus impacting citrus and avocado harvest in Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and South Africa?
Covid-19 has found us at the beginning of the crop season: avocado season in Peru and citrus season in Argentina, Peru, South Africa and Uruguay. Since local regulations consider our business an essential activity and therefore authorize us to continue working during the mandatory quarantine, we continue operating, but of course strengthening our safety and health measures and accommodating our processes to respond to this new context.
For the full interview, please click here.