OVIEDO, FL - Duda Farm Fresh Foods connects industry members through its weekly newsletter, keeping those subscribed up to date on pertinent weather and crop updates. One segment, titled Hands Behind the Harvest, spotlights one individual essential to making it run efficiently.

Oscar Rodriguez, Harvest Manager, shares how he got his start at Duda Farm Fresh Foods and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.

“My father began working for Duda Farm Fresh Foods in 1995 as the Transplanting Supervisor. He would work in either Salinas or Oxnard, California depending on the season,” he shared. "When I was a child during my summer breaks, I would go with him to work. In doing this, I met Dr. Larry Pierce, former Vice President of Research and Development, now retired, who introduced me to higher education in the field of agriculture.”

After that, Rodriguez finished his education before officially starting at the company in 2017. He primarily manages celery and is also in charge of all the components of the (PTI) Produce Traceability Initiative System.

“The biggest lesson I have learned in this job is that teamwork is the way to go, all departments need to work together and be in constant communication so we all can be in a win-win situation,” he added.

We love seeing companies spotlight individuals within their networks. ANUK hopes to see more of these!