SALINAS VALLEY, CA – The Salinas Valley agriculture industry is in the prime of their busy harvesting season. The seeds are sown, the irrigation timing is planned, contracts with clients are settled. All of that careful planning for a prosperous growing season can quickly become negatively impacted if the labor to harvest the crops is not in ample supply.
The local growers and harvesters invest their time and energy each year in finding and employing a carefully selected workforce. The laborers are skilled experts at harvesting and will devote their next few months to being in the Salinas Valley full time to take on the task at hand after returning from other agriculture communities such as Yuma, Arizona.
In 2015, the Yuma community started a unique program that has now made its way to the Salinas Valley. The Labor of Love program is an opportunity to thank those for their service to the agriculture industry. It started as a grassroots effort by the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association (YFVA), a Yuma group made up of growers, shippers and agriculture subsidiary professionals. President of YFVA and grower Steve Alameda shared, "Harvesting is a difficult profession and requires a commitment and unique set of skills. When we find the right workers, we want to make sure we take care of them, respect them and celebrate their invaluable contribution to the industry. This program showcases our work force and thanks them for their hard work."
The Labor of Love program is managed by Limelight Creative Group, based in Yuma, and includes surprise breakfasts delivered to various farms; random acts of kindness to workers; a Facebook page with posts devoted to sharing stories of various workers; a website that will help share the stories; and an opportunity for the community to become involved.
Tanimura & Antle, a third generation family owned and operated vegetable growing, packing and shipping company, was the first company to take part in the Labor of Love in Yuma and is now taking a lead at making sure the program exudes the same commitment and excitement the Yuma community showed as it works its way North. Caitlin Antle, Sales and Marketing Director for Tanimura & Antle, stated, "Our people are at the core of what we do. Our employees are highly skilled and honorable people who deserve to be honored always. We are thrilled to be a part of a program that does just that."
The Labor of Love program contact in Salinas is Jenna Hanson Abramson with Mavelle Media. She has coordinated the first stop at a T & A field on Thursday, May 19, 2016 to provide kindness in the shape of breakfast burritos adorned with a Labor of Love sticker.
This program will continue throughout the summer highlighting different farm workers and their companies each week. In addition to the breakfast kickoff, stories will be shared and random acts of kindness in the fields will be underway. Stay tuned to the Labor of Love Facebook page and the website www.LaborOfLoveSalinas.com to see where the Labor of Love team will share their gratitude next. For more information on the Labor of Love program, contact Jenna Hanson with Mavelle Media. Media is welcome to join us in the field on May 19 by making arrangements through Jenna Hanson at 831-809-0929.
Source: Limelight Creative Group