A native of Culiacán, Sinaloa, María Beatriz Báez Mercado has over 13 years of expertise as a Social Worker at De La Costa, S.A. de C.V. Interviewed by Veggies From Mexico, she tells us about how much she enjoys working in the social responsibility area, which gives her the opportunity to help many families of farm workers finding solutions to their needs.

De La Costa, S.A de C.V., is a family-owned farming business in the market for over 90 years, a leader in green bean production and exports.

1. Could you tell us how many years have you been working in the company, and what are your duties?

I have been working at De la Costa S.A de C.V. for 13 years.

My duties are:

Training all workers in job insertion matters, including the rights and obligations of workers, as well as disseminating subjects on social responsibility, code of behavior, values, mission, vision of the company, etc.

Implementing work programs in health and social security, education, leisure and culture, infrastructure, feeding and supply, environment, training, childcare and protection areas.

Being involved in all the activities and events on social responsibility matters.

2.  What moves you to work with people?

This is something I have always liked doing: serving people. Working with people requires having a good service attitude above all, I like listening to them, learning from them, serving them, dedicating time to them, guide them to find an answer to their concern, and see that satisfaction in their face when finding one possible solution to their request. This is something I enjoy.

3. Where do company workers mostly come from and what are the challenges implied on moving people from their place of origin?

The workers at the company are natives from the state of Guerrero.

The challenge is to find workers who like the activity of cutting green beans, as we are a company which started a bit later than the rest, and the others are mostly producing other vegetables. Fortunately, about 80% of the workers return to work for us.

We are always keeping an eye in having them traveling comfortably and safely: We conduct a survey to see how they did on the trip, how they felt in the housing facilities, to see if their requests were met. Until today, we have had a favorable response in terms of dealing with personnel and resolution of maintenance details that appear.

4. What are the main actions in terms of social responsibility the company is implementing and what benefits do you consider they have?

Training all workers in job insertion matters, including the rights and obligations of workers, as well as disseminating subjects on social responsibility, code of behavior, values, mission, vision of the company, etc.

The main actions are, without a doubt, those to promote health, education, leisure and culture, feeding and supply.

Out of these, a series of activities are performed during the working season.

5. How would you consider these benefits make an impact on the lives of farming workers and their families?

These are workers who are growing both personally and professionally, knowing their rights, looking after their children, having a different vision about improving the living standard, always thinking about the family. As for the opportunities that are presented to them in the State of Sinaloa, they make the most of them, making an analysis of priorities when it comes to their needs.

6. Would you mind sharing with us a success story of your collaborators that you are proud being a part of?

 Obtaining the DEALTI (Child-Labor Free Farming Company) certification, as we all know the extensive program it has.

I would like to tell you about a conversation I had with a lady at the field:

• Lady: Beatriz, I want you to tell me if it is true that every child in the daycare facility has its own plate and spoon.
• Beatriz: Yes, we have a plate, a spoon and a cup for each child.
• Lady: Yes, because my son tells me he wants a plate and a spoon for him.

I think it was a beautiful experience and I always remember it very fondly, as it was a learning example for the children and for us, which remains in our lives forever.

7. How important is continuous training for the personnel working in the company?

We know that all matters are important. We also know that continuous training serves both personally and professionally to personnel on a daily basis. It helps them make better choices; they become experts in the activities they perform, as they develop a new perspective, understanding changes for their own benefit.

 8. Would you say Social Responsibility is in any way related to food safety of produce grown in farming companies?

 There is an obvious relation, as it is all a set of rules, regulations, procedures, which must be respected and carried out to achieve an efficient work. Therefore, as we comply with all quality and environmental standards, we are also complying with social responsibility. All of this is so that our products remain in the market.

 9. What are the prevention measures you have implemented to face the COVID-19 health problem?

At the main entrance of facilities, we are checking temperature and hands are disinfected. Later, in various working areas of the company, the temperature is checked and hands are disinfected again, and we are also giving face masks. In the packaging area, we are also giving their personal protection equipment (PPE) such as gloves, liner and apron. Posters were displayed on the use of face masks, social distancing and hand wash. Also, talks were lectured in order to raise awareness about going out to different places to make essential shopping, being respectful of all the indications we provided about only one person per family goes shopping, to take a shower, if possible, when they return, and keeping clothes in a safe and closed place. Similarly, sanitation is carried out in working areas, as well as in vehicles where workers who go to work are moved.

Some houses were left uninhabited so there was room to keep people suffering from COVID-19.

We have concentrated oxygen at the doctor’s office.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank you for the opportunity you are giving me to express what we do at De la Costa, and also, I would like to thank all of my coworkers, as we are all, directly or indirectly, involved in the various Social Responsibility activities, with the purpose of improving ourselves mutually and the families who are joining us in the housing facilities.