‘Tip of the Iceberg’ podcast: Stemilt’s Maggie Torres on traffic and labor relations

What does a traffic sign have to do with employee lunches?

It’s all about working conditions and safety, and sometimes the little things are actually big things.

But first, let’s explain the premise: We’re embarking on a series with Equitable Food Initiative at ‘Tip of the Iceberg" podcast.

Often called EFI, the nonprofit organization works with retailers and growers to create a transparent supply chain, a safer food system and healthier work environments.

These episodes will focus on the advancements companies and their people are making that elevate workers and create better working conditions.

LeAnne Rhodes Ruzzamenti, EFI’s director of marketing communications, chats with Maggie Torres, manager of learning and development and senior business partner for Stemilt Growers, a tree fruit grower, packer and shipper based in Wenatchee, Wash.

They delve into traffic safety — adding stop signs and speed limit signs around the operation to make workers safer.

We’re talking dirt roads near where workers are in the orchards, traversed by four-wheelers, tractors, pickup trucks, H-2A automobiles and vehicles of other growers.

The workers often eat lunch outside, and sometimes a vehicle will go by really fast and kick up a lot of dirt that goes in the air where they’re eating.

“We did an investigation to ask people, ‘is this really a problem, something we can improve on?’ and they’re like ‘yes, because I’m eating or I’m changing a water pipe and I have to get tools because they don’t watch out for us,’” Torres said.

So, Stemilt added speed limit and other signs, which also helps drivers such as vendors and office workers look out and be more conscious of who’s on or near the road.

Don't forget to listen to this 'Tip of the Iceberg' podcast episode on EFI and Stemilt.