How Growers Are Protecting Workers During the Pandemic
April 22, 2020 
Despite a slew of news stories about farmers putting their workers at risk of infection, produce growers are going the extra mile to keep their teams safe.
At the most basic level, normal food safety measures ensure crews wear personal protective gear. But given COVID-19’s highly contagious nature, growers are putting more stringent measures in place. Take a look at what growers have shared with us below and tell us what you are doing on your farm in the comments section.
Adding Buses for Daily Transport
Many larger farms have increased the number of buses they use to transport workers to the fields. This allows for social distancing on the buses. Smaller growers are running crews out in multiple runs for the same purpose.
Wiping Down Equipment with Each Use
Duncan Family Farms asks crews to wipe down equipment with peracetic acid sanitizer prior to using, followed with another swab down after use. It has also increased the number of sanitation stations on its ranches.
Emphasize Hand Washing
The California Department of Industrial Relations’ guidelines for preventing infection among farm workers during the pandemic includes a list of times your workers should wash their hands through the day:
- When employees arrive at work and before they leave work.
- Before and after eating or using the toilet.
- After close interaction with other persons.
- After contacting shared surfaces or tools.
- Before and after wearing masks or gloves.
- After blowing nose or sneezing.
Daily Meetings with Mini Groups
A couple growers report they meet daily with crews, reviewing all the safety requirements. One grower limits the size of each meeting.
“Once a week we have met is small groups of four to six people to discuss the things we need to be doing to help stop the spread,” says Robert Sakata, owner of Sakata Farms.
Appeal to Protective Instincts
It’s human nature to discount risks to yourself. We tend to be much more cautious about risking the health of those we care about. At least one grower is using that to drive home the safety message.
“I voice to them that it is important to comply with social distancing for the sake of their health, the health of their family, as well as the families of others in our company, and our community,” says Mike Clements, farm manager at Top Flavor.
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