Preparing for the 2021 Harvest, By Christopher Valadez

COMMUNITY NEWS Preparing for the 2021 Harvest

By Christopher Valadez

As the 2021 harvest begins in our professionals from Salinas Valley Memorial region, many programs and systems Hospital. are in place to help limit the spread Prevention practices to limit the spread of of COVID-19 among farm workers and the the virus on farms and in ag facilities, including community. Specific to the Grower Shipper social distancing, face mask requirements and Association of Central California, mass vac- employee training, will continue. Further, cination clinics for farm workers will continue California has implemented COVID-specific through the summer, but additional programs regulations for employers mandating training, will provide necessary resources prevention practices and paid as we battle through this sick leave. pandemic. What more can be done?

As we reflect back, we Employee education about the remember the phrase, “we are importance of receiving vaccinaall in this together” as lockdowns tions will be an important effort began. And, that has proven true among ag employers, health – we have all faced and endured care workers and community this historic and tragic pandemic leaders. Further, we must stay as a community. And, we have vigilant about other worker seen health care professionals, safety protections, including heat elected officials, government prevention and wildfire smoke officials, community leaders, mitigation. labor groups and agriculture Finally, we must continually work jointly and diligently to assess and evolve programs as develop innovative worker pro- More than 24,000 farmworkers the virus evolves. What worked tection programs that have been in this region have gotten well, what could be improved modeled in other regions. This COVID vaccinations. and what practices should significant effort underscores that “we are all in become permanent to successfully prevent the this together” is more than just a phrase. spread of any virus among our workforce.

So where are we today? Over 24,000 As we move forward, the new partnervaccinations have been administered to farm ships and relationships built over the last year employees in our region through the Grower will be key as we tackle existing issues as well Shipper Association and Clinica de Salud del as face future challenges in our region.The panValle de Salinas mass vaccination clinics. By demic has shown us that we are better when June, we hope that 35,000 essential ag workers we work together to find solutions. We need will be fully vaccinated through these clinics. each other and we must lean on each other. If

Quarantined housing through Grower there is a silver lining to this tragic pandemic, Shipper Association is available to farm workers it is that we have learned the true meaning and who may have been exposed to the virus, have tangible results of “we are all in this together.” tested positive or have symptoms.This housing ••• includes daily deliveries of meals and other Christopher Valadez is the president of necessities as well as welfare checks by health the Grower-Shipper Assn. of Central California.

“Nisene Gateway” from page 16

Since the yearlong pandemic is keeping a hold on Santa Cruz County – we’re in the Orange Tier, and because the case rate hasn’t dropped low enough long enough, as of May 11, we haven’t been able to move to the less restrictive Yellow Tier.

This means respecting county guidance on outdoor gatherings, limiting the number of attendees and encouraging social distancing.

Or as Marco put it, “No hugs people, not yet.”

People who volunteer on May 30 will get a chance to do good, meet their