As we continue to navigate the ever-changing regulations regarding COVID-19 affecting the agriculture industry, we are proud of our teams’ ability to adjust to meet safety requirements continually. Beginning June 3rd, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has set forth a new set of requirements to protect workers against the spread of COVID-19. To keep our teammates safe and continue to deliver fresh fruit worldwide, Superfresh Growers® has already implemented the majority of these recommendations long before they were mandated. One of these is temperature screenings of everyone entering our Superfresh campuses. We are proud to have successfully executed this measure for several weeks. Additionally, we are practicing social distancing in our orchards, warehouses, and office buildings. All employees are wearing face coverings, and barriers have been installed wherever six feet of distance cannot be kept between Superfresh teammates.
These essential teammates work to fill bags off Autumn Glory apples all while wearing CDC recommended cloth face coverings and maintaining social distancing.
In areas of our warehouses, such as the one pictured above, where social distancing of six feet is impossible, barriers have been installed to create separation between team members. These barriers can be wiped down and replaced as needed. Sanitation crews come through each warehouse multiple times a day to ensure the safety of our teams.
Ensuring the safety of our teams begins the moment each Superfresh employee drives into our facility site and extends throughout the work day, including breaks. Since current breakrooms do not allow all teammates to hold six feet of distance, and our PNW weather is becoming so beautiful lately, we have set up outdoor break stations at various locations. Several picnic tables are set up daily, allowing two people per table. Each available seat is marked to guarantee a safe distance is met.
One of our COVID-19 hereos setting up tents so that our teams can have safe and comfortable breaks.
While sanitation has always been a priority at Superfresh Growers, additional hand washing and sanitation stations have been set up in and around all locations. Investing in sanitation equipment and new technology, such as a touchless facial recognition clock-in system, adding additional crew members for sanitation, installing barriers, and providing PPE, is helping us do our part to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our teams have also worked hard to keep morale up by hosting a mask-making contest, giving essential teammates COVID-19 heroé swag, and providing free lunch on multiple occasions. As we progress through this pandemic, we will continue to follow regulations and recommendations set forth by the CDC and Washington State and do our best to be leaders in the produce industry.
