The Annual Training Program from Veggies From Mexico Kicks Off Successfully
Our annual training program began in mid-August, intended for the staff of farm companies that belong to the Veggies From Mexico farm community: technicians, food safety advisors, certification, safety, hygiene, and environmental managers, HR, administrative staff, etc. Having every employee receiving proper training for his/her duties is important, as proper training allows for the achievement of company purposes, protection of employee integrity and health, as well as food quality and safety.
During the farming season, we assess training needs in accordance with the changing industry environment: new domestic and foreign regulations, changes in certification schemes and customer demands, cultivation techniques, environmental and staff protection, and also based on the opportunities for improvement identified during weekly internal audits.
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Continuous training not only promotes the professionalization of the sector, but also elevates the quality of Mexican products, fosters innovation, and ensures that our companies are ready for the challenges of the present and future.
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Aug 14 -15 | SMETA Ethical Trade Audit VERSION 7.0 4 Cornerstones
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Los Mochis, Sinaloa. – Taught by Jose Manuel Garcia from Advisory Firm Are Sustentables. This course explains the Social Responsibility audit compliance criteria based on SMETA guidelines, version 7.0, with a scope of four cornerstones, focused on the farm sector.
During this course, attendees shared their concerns and observations regarding audits under this framework, including specific situations they had not been able to address until now. Also, since this is a standard update, questions arose about how to address the new criteria. The trainer addressed each case in particular, guided them towards possible solutions, and explained what the new criteria will be and how to implement actions to comply with the new criteria.
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Aug 19 | Crop Nutrition
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Culiacán, Sinaloa – Taught by Engineer Francisco Uribe Garcia from Agroanalitica company. This training shared the importance of farming analytics in vegetable production and nutrition in saline waters, providing diagnostic tools for decision-making with regards crop agronomic management. The subjects covered included: interpretation of soil, water, and plant analysis; irrigation and nutrition recommendations based on analytics; factors affecting crop production; achieving greater efficiency with the fertilizers used; how salinity and compaction affect crops; factors promoting soil salinity; and alternatives to mitigate the effects on soils and crops.
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The course was attended by technical staff from farming companies, as well as nutrition advisors, university and master’s degree students in nutrition and agronomic management. They participated jointly, providing feedback on practices they apply and methodologies they plan to use in the field.
One of the most highlighted subjects was the management of saline water and soil pH, and the importance of being able to read analysis results to improve yields and reduce production costs.
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August 20 | Crop Nutrition
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Los Mochis, Sinaloa.- Taught by Engineer Francisco Uribe Garcia from Agroanalitica company. This training shared the importance of farming analytics in vegetable production and nutrition in saline waters, providing diagnostic tools for decision-making with regards crop agronomic management.
The course was attended by technical staff from farming companies, as well as nutrition advisors, university and master’s degree students in nutrition and agronomic management. They participated jointly, providing feedback on practices they apply and methodologies they plan to use in the field.
One of the most highlighted subjects was the management of saline water and soil pH, and the importance of being able to read analysis results to improve yields and reduce production costs.
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Aug 21 | Good Responsible Hiring Practices for the Farming Sector in Mexico
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Los Mochis, Sinaloa.- Taught by Angelica Isabel Barrera Nava and Emanuel Alvarez Brunel of the Stronger Together organization. They explained to attendees the importance of promoting responsible hiring and fair working conditions in the farming sector of Mexico, through due diligence on matters of human rights, raising awareness about the risks of forced labor, child labor, and labor exploitation at the corporate and supply chain levels, in alignment with international principles and standards.
Currently, the farming sector of Sinaloa serves as an example for many production areas in the country, as over the years they have improved their hiring processes and worker protection.
During the course, attendees discussed their main challenges and also discussed the changes in the legal framework and updates of trade standards focused on the social sphere.
Participants worked together on exercises based on hypothetical cases of forced labor in an farming company.
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Aug 22 | Good Responsible Hiring Practices for the Farming Sector in Mexico
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Culiacan, Sinaloa.- Taught by Angelica Isabel Barrera Nava of the Stronger Together organization. She explained to attendees the importance of promoting responsible hiring and fair working conditions in the farming sector of Mexico, through due diligence on matters of human rights, raising awareness about the risks of forced labor, child labor, and labor exploitation at the corporate and supply chain levels, in alignment with international principles and standards.
Currently, the farming sector of Sinaloa serves as an example for many hiring areas and for protecting workers.
During the course, attendees discussed their main challenges and also discussed the changes in the legal framework and updates of trade standards focused on the social sphere.
Participants worked together on exercises based on hypothetical cases of forced labor in an farming company.
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Aug 26 | Official Mexican STANDARD NOM-003-STPS-2023, for Farming Activities-Occupational Safety and Health Conditions
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Culiacan, Sinaloa.- Taught by Jesus Jovany Obeso Lopez from JOB Seguridad e Higiene. The speaker shared with attendees how to establish health and safety measures in workplaces across the country where farming activities are carried out, ranging from land preparation to harvesting, storage, transportation, and packaging of farm products, including, where applicable, the handling of agrochemicals, as well as the use and maintenance of machinery, vehicles, tractors, tools, and farming equipment. The purpose is to protect the safety and health of farm workers by implementing preventive measures and monitoring working conditions.
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Aug 27 – 28 | Environmental Management Workshop aligned with GLOBALG.A.P. and SMETA
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Culiacan, Sinaloa.- Taught by Engineer Gladys Maria Garcia Reyes and Engineer Alan Andre Acosta Cambranis from Control Union Mexico. This workshop was based on sharing with participants the knowledge and tools necessary to implement effective environmental management in the agri-food sector companies, aligned with GLOBALG.A.P. and SMETA. This workshop combined theory and practice, reviewing principles, requirements, and best practices for regulatory compliance and continuous improvement of environmental performance.
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Aug 29 | Labor Mental Health: Strategies for Well-being and productivity
Culiacan, Sinaloa.- Lectured by MSc. Cristina del Carmen Velazquez Servin from “Creando con Amor,” this training program provided tools and strategies to promote mental health and well-being in the workplace. It covers subjects such as identifying warning signs, stress management, wellness strategies, effective communication, and mental health resources.
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