Two farmworkers share 2026 Farmworker of the Year honor

Equitable Food Initiative and The Packer named María Bárbara Reséndiz Martínez of GoodFarms and Jesús Gutiérrez Manuel of Stemilt Growers as the 2026 Farmworker of the Year winners in a first-ever tie. The award highlights farmworker leadership, and EFI said interest in the program surged this year as nominations came from across the Americas. Why it matters: - The 2026 Farmworker of the Year Award puts a spotlight on workers whose skill and leadership shape the fresh produce supply chain. - The first-ever tie underscores broader recognition of farmworker impact across agriculture. - EFI said interest in the program is rising, with webpage traffic up more than 97% year over year and active user engagement up nearly 140%. What happened: - Equitable Food Initiative and The Packer named two winners of the 2026 Farmworker of the Year Award: María Bárbara Reséndiz Martínez of GoodFarms and Jesús Gutiérrez Manuel of Stemilt Growers. - The announcement was made June 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C. - The award is in its third year and honors people whose work supports the fresh produce industry. - More information about the award and finalists is available at the award webpage . The details: - An independent review panel representing retail, sourcing, advocacy and produce industry leadership chose the finalists. - The panel included Emily Fragoso of MIXTEC Group, Jane Kuhn of Once Upon a Farm, Lori Taylor of The Produce Moms and Jeff Cady of Tops Friendly Markets. - Panel members submitted their top 10 nominations ranked in order of preference. - EFI used the Borda Count method to determine the final winner, which resulted in a tie. - María Bárbara Reséndiz Martínez started as a strawberry picker and rose to crew foreman at GoodFarms over 20 years in agriculture. - Reséndiz Martínez is known for working alongside her crew, pushing collaboration and handling challenges with fairness and determination. - Colleagues described her as a bridge between the field and the consumer. - Jesús Gutiérrez Manuel advanced from harvester to crew leader over 15 years in agriculture. - Gutiérrez Manuel is a licensed nurse with multiple safety certifications. - Gutiérrez Manuel received 12 separate nominations from people across multiple organizations. - The 2026 finalists also included Magaly Alfaro Ávalos of NatureSweet, Isaías Lepes Arredondo of Zirkle Fruit Company for Rainier Fruit and Rogelio Nabor Martínez of Blue House Farm. Between the lines: - EFI framed the award as a way to elevate farmworker voices and recognize work that often goes unseen. - The nominations emphasized innovation, adaptability, mentorship and service across the workforce. - Jane Kuhn said the nominations reflected a systems-level perspective, from weeding rows to managing complex technology. - Lori Taylor said the stories show the expertise required to bring fresh, high-quality food to consumers. What’s next: - EFI said the program will continue expanding as recognition of farmworker leadership grows. - The organization wants the award to serve as both recognition and a reminder of the expertise and humanity in the produce industry. - The award will continue to highlight farmworkers whose leadership strengthens agricultural communities.