CHI in the News
Heron Foundation: Dare to Change
heron foundation | June 2021
“Our thesis is that you can bring workers into the industry and solve the problem around the labor shortage if you’re able to create a quality job, which requires fair wages, benefits, training, career ladders and other opportunities, and respect and dignity in the workplace. And that’s what California Harvesters seeks to achieve.”
How a small worker-owned trust could transform agricultural labor for decades
Rick wartzman | fast company | june 2018
“California Harvesters, which has recruited 450 workers in farm country, has grown ‘at an incredible pace’ and could be a model for other industries.”
A Seat at the Table with Erica Centeno from California Harvesters
GLOBAL WOMEN FRESH | OCTOBER 2020
Erica Centeno epitomizes what it means to have a growth mindset: she started her career as a harvester in the California grape fields and today is advancing a more just farm labor system as the interim CEO of California Harvesters. [Farm labor is] a system that Erica is well positioned to help change, since it’s the one that she grew up in. Erica was born and raised by farm laborers in the ag community of Delano, Calif. and from the time she was a teenager, spent her summer “vacations” picking grapes in 100-degree heat while other kids were off at camp or hanging out with friends. As a young wife and mother, her college experience was cut short, but when she decided to return to work and the ag industry her sheer dedication and demonstration of talent would catapult her career.
COVID-19 Crisis: Perspectives from Departments of State and Labor and Employers
STRONGER TOGETHER US | MAY 2020
“Stronger Together US is pleased to announce the launch of its responsible recruitment webinar series dedicated to exploring topical issues impacting the produce industry. We will initially focus on experiences of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7, our panelists included the Department of Labor, Department of State, Titan Farms (grower) and California Harvesters, Inc. (farm labor contractor) sharing how they have been adapting to the public health crisis and carrying out their missions.”
Growing with the Board
Leading harvest | february 2021
Rupal Patel, Board Chair and Founder of California Harvesters, sits down with Leading Harvest to discuss her work with CHI, insights on the pressing problems in ag, and her outlook on the future of the industry. Leading Harvest is the industry leader in sustainability, created by and for all stakeholders across the agricultural value chain—from farmland owners to companies to communities, and Rupal serves on the organization’s Social Chamber of the Board.
Connecting to the Farm
Pure strategies | august 2018
“This report describes the efforts of five companies—Danone North America, Dr. Bronner’s, Sun World, The North Face, and Wrangler—to engage in their supply chains and help shape the future of sustainable agriculture to a more regenerative and thriving system. […] California Harvesters is a powerful approach because it brings stability to farm workers while also respecting their role in the supply chain by empowering them and providing valuable benefits.”
Culture Shift
emily n. lenhard | oregon tilth | may 2019
“Sexual harassment can occur in any workplace, but it is especially problematic in the agriculture industry, where low-wage workers are often isolated and powerless. […] One of [CHI’s] biggest strengths is its robust sexual harassment policy. It meets guidelines set by the State of California, but it is more than just standards and protocol. It is a part of the company that is promoted and reinforced regularly to employees.”
The Better Future Project
SUN WORLD’S 2018 CSR REPORT | december 2018
“Sun World knows that it takes the very best people to grow the very best grapes. To ensure that we have access to knowledgeable and dedicated workers for our field and processing operations, our parent company, Renewable Resources Group, LLC, helped launch California Harvesters, Inc (CHI) in 2018. CHI is an independent farm labor company that benefits workers, connects growers with high quality farm labor and also offers a solution to the labor shortage that has afflicted the agricultural industry in recent years.”
How Will Organic Maintain a Strong Labor Force?
SHAWNA ROGERS | ccof | february 19, 2019
“…The California Harvesters Initiative ‘recognizes that there are problems in California’s farm labor system. Growers suffer from an industry-wide labor shortage and low retention of workers knowledgeable in their crops, while farmworkers are limited to existing low-wage jobs with little opportunity for upward mobility. CHI addresses these issues by providing higher wages, access to year-round work, valuable training, and leadership opportunities.’”