Business Continuity Plan Update – COVID-19
UPDATED June 1, 2020:
- Field staff have been trained on social distancing. Field rows are 12′ in length with 7′ length vines, which creates natural markers for social distancing.
- Safety masks have been ordered to supplement existing supplies. Staff have always worn facial coverings under food safety regulations and will have access to these supplies when needed.
- Plexiglass is being installed between stations in the packing facility.
- Plexiglass and signing pads are being installed in the front lobby.
- Chlorine and alcohol solutions are being used before and after portable toilet use.
- Weekly “Safety Procedure Updates and Best Practices” sessions are held to review and update procedures with staff, and to address any questions or concerns.
Jasmine Vineyards’ front lobby
Throughout the harvesting season, Jasmine Vineyards will continue to follow CDC, Cal OSHA and California Farmworker Foundation guidelines.
March 31, 2020:
As we monitor the global impact of COVID-19, Jasmine Vineyards is taking a number of steps to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers, while using best practices to maintain the safety and livelihood of our employees. These steps are summarized below.
We hope this document provides a transparent and succinct overview of our activities at Jasmine Vineyards in light of this pandemic, and that it offers some reassurance to our business partners, consumers, and the general public during this unprecedented time. Please reach out to us at jvine@jasminevineyards.com with any questions or concerns.
Jasmine Vineyards, Inc. remains fully operational. The federal Department of Homeland Security has deemed farming an “essential” job that may continue under the shelter-in-place orders issued in California in March 2020. Our Delano, California 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 (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Labor (DOL), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as well as our trade associations and partner organizations with the latest information on COVID-19. We are poised to adopt any new measures to maintain a safe work environment as this situation develops.
Education is the key to safety. The health and safety of our employees and our customers is our top priority. We have instructed employees and customers to stay home if they become sick. Jasmine Vineyards’ management team and crew supervisors are working with local agencies to ensure our employees practice CDC/WHO guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, with specific attention to Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus.
We are closely monitoring operations, supplementing new safety trainings, and posting and distributing high-impact signage to support these efforts. We continually emphasize social distancing and good hygiene practices in and around communal areas such as restrooms, washing stations and break areas. Additionally, the California Farmworker Foundation (CFF), our partner organization, has launched a Farmworker Hotline for anyone with questions on Coronavirus, or needing help connecting to resources and services.
Employee education signage for COVID-19 provided by California Farmworker Foundation (CFF)
Our business continuity plan ensures our customers experience no drop service from Jasmine Vineyards. 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 outsourced service providers to ensure uninterrupted service for our staff. Our IT equipment, phone and internet are fully functional and we do not anticipate any disruptions in service.
In closing, we are working judiciously around the clock to ensure these added safety measures are met or exceeded. We pride ourselves on our high food safety record, premium grapes enjoyed worldwide, and our exceptional service. Now more than ever, you can count on Jasmine Vineyards to deliver the highest quality grapes you have come to expect. We will continue to update and distribute our Business Continuity Plan with the latest information.
