In the Diverse Leafy Greens Industry, LGMA Compliance Reigns Supreme
The food industry across the Americas is incredibly diverse, in both the range of commodities grown, harvested, and distributed as well as the nationalities and cultures of the workers who make it all possible. One subsection of the American food landscape, however, is of particular interest when it comes to multicultural influences: up to 80% of workers in the "salad bowl" of Southern California and Arizona are Hispanic or Latino.
While a priceless addition to the workforce in the leafy greens industry, the ESL status of workers hailing from Mexico, Central, and South America can add complexity to maintaining LGMA compliance.
The Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, or "LGMA" of both California and Arizona has set the bar for excellence in fresh produce safety. 90% of leafy greens grown in the US come from LGMA members - but these certifications don't come easy.
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Rigorous DocumentationLGMA compliance requires real-time record-keeping, time-bound supervisor reviews, pre-harvest testing, and intensive root cause analysis; this forces a delicate balance for documentation to be intuitive for operators, yet robust for managers.
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Recurring AuditsFacing both announced and unannounced audits, LGMA members must be audit-ready with up to two years of documentation at all times.
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High Compliance DemandsEvery LGMA audit must see 100% compliance to maintain certification; management must ensure all data is timely, complete, and compliant to avoid findings and failures.
To save time and bridge the communication gap that can arise from workforce diversity, many leafy greens operations are reconsidering their digital solutions for LGMA compliance.
It seems there are as many food safety solutions as there are farms. But why do so many of them fail to meet the needs of leafy greens operations that rely upon Spanish-speaking or ESL workforces to achieve LGMA compliance?
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Unclear InstructionsPushing English-language work instructions or SOPs to Spanish-speaking staff sets the stage for deviations down the road.
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English-Centric Data EntryLeaning primarily on English record-keeping can cause miscommunications or entry errors; yet mixing in Spanish paperwork can lead to duplication.
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Implementation & Support ChallengesSoftware configured and trained completely in English leaves room for questions and confusion, leading to uncertainty and low usage rates.
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On-Demand Translation
- Food safety records—and the data they contain—can live-toggle between 109 supported languages. It's common to see Spanish data entry followed by English audits.
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Continuous GuidanceOperators benefit from real-time work instructions, with translatable tips and SOPs of any language available inside related records.
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Unified Team ManagementWith live translation, managers can avoid duplication; calendars, record versions, and comments harmonize between English and Spanish staff.
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Native-Language ServicesWith partners Grupo Delcen and DNV, Provision provides implementation and support spanning 100 countries and all the languages necessary.
Building a Strong Foundation for the Industry's Future
Workforces throughout the produce industry are unlikely to lose their multicultural nature anytime soon, especially in the leafy greens sector. To reduce time-to-compliance for LGMA, it's crucial to work smarter—minimizing guesswork and mistakes for operators while cutting tedious review and administration for management. From translating forms to built-in guidance and best-in-class implementation and training, Provision seeks to fill this gap and keep the leafy greens industry strong.
