In 2015, NatureFresh Farms finished building a 45-acre greenhouse in Delta, OH. That same year, we also planted our first crop of Ohio-grown Tomato plants and hired many local team members to help us kickstart our first growing season in Ohio.
We have experienced many great successes at our Ohio facilities – with one of the largest being how much so many of our team members have developed professionally while working as part of our team.
Our leaders believe that growing our team isn’t just about hiring exceptional talent – it’s also about providing our existing team members with opportunities to grow and elevating the emerging leaders within our organization.
Why We Believe in Growing Our People
At NatureFresh Farms, we’ve created a culture of internal mobility. This means that endless opportunities for advancement exist within our company – and if our team members are willing to take initiative, be persistent in their work, and be team players, those opportunities will always be within reach.
It’s important to our leadership that our team feels valued – like they are part of a family. After all, everyone wants to feel like they are more than just another body filling a seat. By creating a family atmosphere, our team is encouraged to work hard and contribute to the company’s overall success. And from within a hard-working, dedicated team, passionate individuals often emerge who seek even greater opportunities for growth and professional development.
An essential principle for our leaders is thatinternal mobility is not given – it is earned. It’s important to constantly present your team members with opportunities to prove themselves as capable leaders. Whether that’s giving them the freedom to make their own decisions and learn from the outcomes, or encouraging them to pursue a new idea that they’re passionate about, proving that they have the right stuff is what can lead to a team member’s mobility and growth within a company.
We can’t grow great plants without also growing great people – which is why our commitment to doing both is so strong!
Shining a Spotlight on our Team in Ohio
When we built our 45-acre greenhouse farm in Delta, OH, we were starting from scratch in an unfamiliar region with a brand-new team. It has been incredible to watch as those new team members – many of whom had never seen a greenhouse before starting at our Ohio location – embraced their roles and emerged as driven and passionate Grow-To People.
We have chosen to highlight three members of our Ohio-based team who have grown within our company. Although we chose to focus on only three members of our Ohio family, it’s important to acknowledge the dedication and passion of so many of our Ohio-based team members. Thank you to our team in Ohio for everything you have done to build up such a successful operation!
Vania V.
Where They Started
Vania V. started at our Delta, OH greenhouse in 2016. As a member of our Human Resources department, Vania started her career at NatureFresh Farms as a Human Resources Generalist. She excelled in this role, always going above and beyond and asking how else she could support our team. Whatever came her way, Vania took on every challenge with confidence.
Where They Are Now
Vania’s passion and drive were quickly noticed by our management team. In 2018, Vania was asked to take on greater responsibility as the Human Resources Manager in Delta, OH – a role she was thrilled to assume! As the Human Resources Manager, Vania is responsible for explaining new policies, hiring and training team members, and planning internal events for our team – in short, working to enhance the experience for all NatureFresh Farms employees working in Delta, OH.
Supporting Their Growth
In addition to attending a variety of seminars and enrolling in Human Resources-focused classes, Vania also attended the 2019 Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference as a NatureFresh Farms representative. Along with six other women throughout our organization, Vania came back to work after attending this unique event feeling empowered and motivated to continue growing within her role.
Read more about Vania’s growth within our company in her Grow-To People profile!
Jason M.
Where They Started
In 2015, Jason M. was the first local resident in the Delta, OH area to be hired onto our team. When Jason was first hired, he was doing general work with our Maintenance team. From the start of his career at NatureFresh Farms, Jason was eager to learn and do any and all tasks that were asked of him to the best of his abilities. If Jason was ever unsure in those early days, he was never afraid to ask questions and get his hands dirty while trying new things.
Where They Are Now
Our management team took note of Jason’s willingness to learn and take charge of situations – so, with confidence and excitement about a new opportunity for growth, Jason assumed the role of Maintenance Manager in2017. As the Maintenance Manager, Jason is responsible for making important building repairs, troubleshooting our growing systems, servicing essential equipment, and delegating maintenance tasks to his team.
Supporting Their Growth
Greenhouses are complex facilities, and it’s our Maintenance team’s responsibility to become familiar with all the ins and outs of our operations. To provide Jason with more opportunities to develop his understanding of our farm’s many moving parts, he has made several trips to our greenhouse facilities in Leamington, ON to learn from our Canadian team. Jason has also had many training sessions with our suppliers, providing him with the knowledge he needs to successfully operate, adjust, and repair machinery and systems throughout our facilities (and pass that knowledge on to the rest of his team).
Read more about Jason’s growth within our company in his Grow-To People profile!
Daniela T.
Where They Started
When Daniela first started at NatureFresh Farms, she was hired as a General Laborer to work in the crop. But after a short time, Daniela started to approach our management team with different ideas and improvements that she envisioned for our facility. This caught the attention of our leadership, and Daniela was quickly promoted into a Greenhouse Supervisor position. Within this role, Daniela exceled – she always went the extra mile, and it was evident that she wanted what was best for the company as a whole.
Where They Are Now
Our management team saw great leadership potential in Daniela, so in 2019, she moved into a new position as Labor Manager for the entire 45-acre greenhouse facility! In this role, Daniela is responsible for managing our labor force across our Ohio greenhouse facilities, training new employees, and creating a team-oriented work environment.
Supporting Their Growth
With every single new task or additional responsibility that Daniela has taken on, she has impressed our entire team. Whether it is through her problem-solving skills, her unwavering determination to succeed, or her ability to look at projects with a top-level perspective, Daniela has proven her capabilities as a leader whenever new opportunities have come her way (and we’re sure she will keep up the great work)!
Read more about Daniela’s growth within our company in her Grow-To People profile!
Growing from Within
We believe in developing a team that is driven to be successful – and we also believe that that development should start from within our company. By looking at our internal talent pool first, our entire team is encouraged to work hard and give 110% every day – because they know that there are always new opportunities for internal mobility and professional growth at NatureFresh Farms.
Dozens of our team members have given testimonials about what NatureFresh Farms means to them: opportunity, growth, and family are the recurring buzz words that speak volumes about our company culture. To find these testimonials, visit our Grow-To People page!
