Dole to celebrate longtime employees

At a time when Yuma is celebrating agriculture, it's also celebrating the people who bring those fruits and veggies from field to market, and eventually, your plate.

Close to 200 Dole employees in the Yuma area will be feted by their employer for at least 25 years of service to the produce giant. The party is planned for March 6 at Julieanna's Patio Cafe.

It's a new thing this year for Dole's Yuma operations, explained Vera Martinez, Dole's Human Resources manager out of Salinas, Calif. The Salinas area, which like Yuma has a large Dole presence, has been celebrating its most loyal workers for many years. Seeing how many in Yuma also fit the bill encouraged the company to hold a ceremony here, too.

The workers come from a variety of specialties, including maintenance, the cooler, and the harvest crew. Of the 190 local employees being honored this year, eight have been with Dole for at least 40 years, Martinez said.

“We actually have one employee celebrating 48 years of service,” she added. Another employee has been working for Dole for 45 years, and still works in the field.

The party will become an annual event.