Produce on the brain: Stress, mental health and fresh produce
If you’re looking for a job where you can rest on your laurels and tune out, fresh produce might not be for you. By contrast, constantly chasing updates on pricing, availability and quality is considered normal in a fresh produce industry that includes seasonal and highly perishable products, as well as dynamic markets and slim profit margins.
While often complex and interesting, the produce industry can also be volatile and nerve-wracking at times. Successful produce leaders often spend much of their day swiftly adapting, communicating and deal making to maintain a business. The other end of the supply chain is no less stressful; agricultural workers tackle a nonstop productivity cycle of growing, harvesting, packing and transporting fresh fruits and vegetables as efficiently as possible.
The stressful business of delivering fresh produce from seed to plate
In a recent LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group survey, over 100 produce professionals described their stress level working in fresh produce. The responses underlined that while the sector is full of professionals who are navigating the stress, the industry still has room to improve.
While a quarter of fresh produce professionals surveyed said that the stress level in a typical week was “unsustainable” and even “toxic,” 40% of those surveyed reported that, in their experience, the fresh produce industry was “never dull” and they “mostly enjoyed it." Another quarter of those surveyed reported that a week in fresh produce included an “about average” level of stress. Only 6% reported they are “living the dream.”
“The produce industry is full of passionate and highly motivated individuals, and with that comes a certain amount of inherited stress and competition," Madelyn Edlin, marketing and sales manager for Equitable Food Initiative, told The Packer. "Those in this industry are some of the most humble and hardest working people I have ever met. However, that can result in a high-stress environment that is compounded by prolonged burnout and a sense of never being or doing quite enough,”
But, she added, to include a full picture of mental health in the fresh produce industry, you must start with understanding what farmworkers are experiencing and prioritizing their needs.
“It’s imperative to remember the 2.5 million farmworkers who are the backbone of this industry. Without the incredible work they do, there are no cocktail hours, show floors, emails or Zoom calls,” Edlin said. “Coming from politically and economically stressed environments, farmworkers are working to provide us with the highest-quality and safest food while fearing the impermanence of working under H-2A or without a proper visa. Bringing in a trauma-informed approach to the employment and management of farmworkers is critical to maintaining humanity and a thriving industry.”
In fact, agricultural workers rank at the top of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 report as one group more likely to die by suicide compared to other industry groups, just behind mining and construction industries.
From the farmworker harvesting strawberries to the logistics specialist communicating updates to the investor weighing risks and benefits, no matter where you work along the fresh produce supply chain, stress is something you will likely confront of a regular basis.
Supporting mental health in fresh produce
After a string of days, years and even decades, managing the labor, deals, relationships and adrenaline rushes that come with succeeding in fresh produce, how do individuals manage stress and cope with the highs and lows of the business?
Mental illness affects 1 in 5 U.S. adults every year, according to a recent National Alliance on Mental Illness report. Add to this factor such as long hours, low wages and stressful working conditions, and there are plenty of reasons to reflect on how to support mental health — both on a personal level and within spheres of influence.
For starters, undeniable employment factors such as paying employees a living wage, fair compensation, safe and respectful working conditions, and responsive, empathetic and capable leadership go a long way in fostering a healthy workforce, boosting morale and preventing burnout.
For many organizations looking to promote a healthy company culture, recruit talent and gain helpful insights to improve, it starts with listening.
“EFI is all about worker engagement and voice, and we try our best to practice what we preach. All voices are brought to the table throughout the organization; we are encouraged to learn through failure and seek continuous improvement,” Edlin said. “Companies — and EFI is a great example of this — [that] are asking for and responding to input and suggestions from their employees are a great starting point of a healthy culture and work-life balance.”
A flourishing organization and fresh produce industry includes a diversity of lived experiences and points of view, she continued.
“Attracting up-and-coming talent to this industry is going to involve recognizing that the industry is made up of humans who live full lives outside of their jobs,” Edlin said. “This industry is providing the healthiest foods on the planet; I hope we can start talking about mental health as easily as we talk about physical health in the produce industry, from farmworker to the C-suite."
Thriving — personally and professionally
While thoughtful systemic and institutional measures go a long way in fostering a corporate culture where workers thrive, resources are available now to individuals in fresh produce to help cope with stressors and gain mental health support.
One advocate for mental health, Marshal Sewell, a strategic accounts manager for U.S. Open Fields at Bayer Vegetable Seeds, seeks to shed light and remove stigma around mental health, especially in agriculture. After Sewell’s father died by suicide during Sewell’s senior year of high school, in part due to a series of financial catastrophes on the farm, Sewell knew he had to speak out.
Related: "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast Episode 10 — What Marshal did after his farmer dad's suicide
"One in every five Americans at some point in time will face a mental illness, but the common misconception is that mental illness is the same as mental health," Sewell told The Packer's Amy Sowder on a recent "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode. "While not all of us may be impacted by mental illness, each and every one of us can participate and be doing things and making choices to proactively address our mental well-being."
Over the course of his career, Sewell has spoken about how to encourage mental health, cultivate healthy habits and get support in agriculture. He’s also developed a hub of mental health resources for agriculture professionals at mindyourmelon.org.
For many, coping with the ups and downs of fresh produce and cultivating resiliency comes down to striking a balance.
“It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Life is a mix of high energy and low energy, giving and taking, leading and being led, extroverted moments matched with introspection," Edlin said. "Countering a high-energy week at a trade show with a week spent at my desk and time outside or an after-hours hike has been the balance that not only helps me cope with stress but gives me zest for my job and personal life."
Other organizations advocating for the health and well-being of agricultural workers and produce professionals include:
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Agrisafe Network — founded by rural nurses to improve the health and safety of farmers and ranchers.
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Healing Voices Project — an initiative supporting mental health and farmworker communities.
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Puente — an organization focused on farm worker mental health.
