Stemilt honors farmworkers for Farmworker Awareness Week

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Stemilt BB #:113654 is celebrating Farmworker Awareness Week from March 25-31 across social media to recognize the people behind its World Famous Fruit while promoting the essential role farmworkers play in the production of fresh produce.

The company will feature content about its farmworkers and educational content tying into a partnership with the Equitable Food Initiative BB #:385632 which aims to increase transparency and assurance around farm working conditions, food safety, and industry challenges. Today, Stemilt has 9 active EFI leadership teams that spend a combined 8,000 hours annually towards EFI and continuous improvement initiatives that benefit more than 3,000 Stemilters.

“Farmworkers are essential and play an integral role in tending to, harvesting, packing and shipping Stemilt fruit,” said Shales. “We’re taking Farmworker Awareness Week as an opportunity to recognize the people who make it possible for us to delight consumers with apples, pears, and cherries, and spread awareness that they are on the front lines of bringing fresh produce to the tables of families around the world.”

In 2021, Stemilt became the first tree fruit company to achieve EFI certification in all of its company orchards and packing facilities. Active leadership teams now collaborate on continuous improvement projects throughout Stemilt’s operations to drive efficiency and an enhanced work environment. Retailers that pay a premium for EFI certified produce directly benefit farmworkers because the model has a bonus structure that benefits individual participants.

“Our commitment to EFI standards helps us continue creating an environment where farmworker voices are heard, and continuous improvement is incorporated into all Stemilt’s facilities and orchards,” said Shales. “We are thrilled to shine the light on our front-line Stemilters during this celebratory week for all farmworkers.”

Photographed left to right: Azucena Villa, Jr. Business Partner of Learning and Development and EFI Trainer; Rosa Perez, Production Line Supervisor and EFI team member; Maricela Barbosa, Packing Line Baler and EFI Coordinator; Minerva Barbosa, Fruit Packer and EFI Coordinator (courtesy Stemilt)

About Stemilt  
Stemilt is a family-owned grower, packer, and shipper of tree fruit. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt’s mission is to cultivate people and delight consumers with its World Famous Fruits. Stemilt is a leader in sweet cherries and organic tree fruits, and a key supplier of apples and pears. The company stewards an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible business through its Responsible Choice® program, which has been in place since 1989. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com.