On May 30 at this year’s West Coast Produce Expo in Palm Desert, Calif., The Packer and the Equitable Food Initiative will present the second annual Grow the Good Farmworker of the Year award. To recognize the critical role farmworkers have in the fresh produce industry, The Packer is spotlighting each of this year’s five finalists, who were selected from nominations submitted in February.
With 20 years in agriculture — 16 of them with the same employer — Maria B. Resendiz Martinez of Sierra Farms is living proof that perseverance, intelligence and humility can move mountains. Once a strawberry picker, Martinez has risen to crew foreman, shattering stereotypes and showing her peers what’s possible with dedication and heart.
Martinez leads by example, never afraid to ask questions to solve or avoid a problem. She works collaboratively and is open to feedback, and she seeks solutions that benefit not only herself but also her coworkers and the company as a whole.
Her intelligence is matched by her ability to share knowledge in a way that builds confidence and trust among her team. Her philosophy is that everyone must win for the entire agriculture industry to function.
“Maria was invited to help participate in a company project and excelled, saving the company money and utilizing untapped resources,” the company said.
Working closely with a supervisor, Martinez helped create a program that grew from just two workers to a team of 30. She has become a cornerstone of the team and a role model in the community.
Martinez proves every day that a strawberry picker can do so much more, and she brings the power of transformation in the fields and beyond.
