'Tip of the Iceberg' podcast — What labor shortage?

Let's unpeel the layers of why one sweet-onion grower has to turn away workers. What are they doing right?

This podcast episode of "Tip of the Iceberg" is conducted by Equitable Food Initiative. It's about driving worker morale and engagement by building personal relationships.

Yes, you've probably heard that the produce industry is a relationship business. But we're talking about real connections with not just other executives or salespeople, but also those who have their boots on the ground, the field, the warehouse concrete — the people planting, cultivating, harvesting and packing our food.

Jessica Pedroza, office and human resources manager of Pacific Agra Farms in Walla Walla, Wash., shares her approach and beliefs about how starting relationships with workers from a place of respect and building personal relationships over time has yielded many positive results for their farming operation.

Although it's a short sweet-onion growing season of only 2 1/2 months, they have many employees return each year and have to stop taking applications because they get more than they could possibly need — while many of companies nationwide have experienced the pain of labor shortages the last couple years.

This might sound like a simple solution, but it’s not an easy one. Building and maintaining real relationships takes dedicated time, consistency and a true caring nature.

Kindness and respect can really make a difference in your staff satisfaction and performance; company culture; and ultimately — bottom line.

So, meet Jessica and dig into it with us.