Covid-19 Industry Business Plan
SunWest Fruit Company, Inc. has continued to monitor the global impacts of Covid-19 while continuing to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers. SunWest Fruit Company, Inc has also implemented best practices to maintain the safety and livelihood of our employees.
This document is to provide a transparent overview of the activities of SunWest Fruit Company, Inc. during this pandemic, and to offer reassurance to our business partners, consumers and general public during this unprecedented time. Please reach out to us at admin@sunwestfruit.com with any questions or concerns.
SunWest Fruit Company, Inc. remains fully operational.
The Department of Homeland Security has deemed farming an "essential business" that may continue to operate under the "shelter-in-place" order that was issued in California on March 19, 2020. Our 755 Manning Avenue, Parlier CA, operation maintains a business continuity plan that adheres to guidelines set forth by federal, state and local agencies. We have direct lines of communication with the Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor, California Department of Food and Agriculture, as well as our trade associations and partner organizations to receive the latest information on Covid-19. We are prepared to adopt any new measures to maintain a safe work environment as this situation develops.
Education is the key to safety.
The health and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority. We have instructed employees and customers to stay home if they become sick. SunWest Fruit Company, Inc.'s management team and crew supervisors are working with local agencies to ensure our employees practice Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19, with specific attention to Cal/OSHA Guidance.
We are closely monitoring operations, incorporating new trainings, posting and distributing high-impact signage to support these efforts. SunWest Fruit Company, Inc. is continually emphasizing social distancing and good hygiene practices in and around communal areas such as restrooms, washing stations and break areas. Additionally, our partner organization, the California Farmworker Foundation (CFF) has launched a Farmworker Hotline for anyone with questions on Coronavirus, or needing help connecting to resources and services.
Our business continuity plan ensures our customers experience no change in service from SunWest Fruit Company, Inc.
To help ensure a safe and operational work environment across all departments and facilities - including customer service, sales, cold storage, billing, HR, shipping and fulfillment - we continually instruct employees to follow social distancing and hand-washing guidelines. We emphasize these practices, especially during group meetings, lunch breaks and at hand-washing stations.
We have contacted our service providers to ensure uninterrupted service for our staff.
Our IT equipment, phones and internet are fully functional, and we do not anticipate any disruptions in service.
In closing, we are working tirelessly around the clock to ensure these additional safety measures are met and exceeded. SunWest Fruit Company Inc. prides itself on our high food safety record, premium (commodities produced) enjoyed worldwide, and our exceptional service.