Costa Farms

We're proud to announce that our internship program has been nominated for the Top 100 of 2024! Please take a moment to check out our highlight reel and cast your vote for this exceptional program 🎉 The Costa Farms internship program is a key initiative in our Love Where You Work culture and operates on 4 pillars: Guidance & Mentorship: Our intern managers are senior leaders with deep experience and expertise in their field; we also pair each intern with a mentor buddy who can broaden their functional scope and offer valuable perspectives about the company. Real-World Experience: Interns complete an individual project related to their field of study; they also team up to tackle a large-scale challenge that the company is facing, and present their ideas to our executives. Opportunities for Development: From live professional workshops to robust digital courses, executive hangouts, and more, Costa Farms interns enjoy access to several professional learning resources. Volunteer & Service: Our interns have helped us to equip our team members in need with school supply packs; some even chose to participate in our HQ Blood Drive, where we provided the top donations for the region that day! Thank you to WayUp and Yello.co for sponsoring National Intern Day (July 25) and the Top 100 List! We look forward to celebrating our interns and the reveal of the top 100 programs for 2024. Until then, we hope you'll keep visiting the provided link to vote for the Costa Farms internship program ✅

Here at Costa Farms, we’re dedicated to the happiness, health, and safety of our team. And one of our secret weapons on our safety team is Neyvi Medina. She’s our full-time Nurse Practitioner, based on site here in Miami with her own on-site clinic. Neyvi helps educate the team on health and wellness topics (as we go into summer, for example, she’s ensuring everyone on the team knows the signs of heat stress so they can rest breaks as they need to prevent heat illness). She provides treatment for any on-the-job injuries that may occur and offers free services like blood pressure checks. She’s also involved with community outreach, such as helping to organize a health fair, blood donation drives, and more.

We're continuing to celebrate Women In Horticulture Week and profiling some of our leaders here at Costa Farms. Jana Uy is a Section Grower for our Research and Development team. That means Jana's responsible for growing and maintaining all of our perennial plant trials in South Carolina, from organizing them to doing the final reporting. This work is invaluable in helping us decide which new varieties we're going to grow in the future. Jana has this advice for other women in the industry: "Don't be afraid to ask questions. Everything -- including a mistake -- can be a learning experience that you can use to fuel your growth. Seek new experiences and opportunities to drive your vision of who you want to be. Tackle every challenge with a smile on your face. Also, be sure to stay hydrated!" Thanks, Jana, for helping Costa Farms bring hot new perennials to home gardeners!

We're celebrating Women In Horticulture Week by highlighting some of the fabulous leaders here at Costa Farms. Michelle Opela, Senior IPM Manager, has been a force within the company for the last 10 years. Michelle leads a team that works with our growers to grow our use of biological pest controls, reducing pesticide use while increasing plant quality. Michelle has this advice for other women in the industry: "Don't undervalue yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. I think we worry about damaging our relationships by asking for what we see as “too much” but a good manager is going to be happy to know what you want. You also need to be ready to fail. It will not kill you and the more rejection you experience the better you get at asking. Try out different styles and methods of negotiating to find what feels best for you. So work hard -- really hard -- be ready to fail, get back to it, and don’t be afraid to ask." Thanks, Michelle, for making Costa Farms a better -- and greener! -- place to grow and work!

For Women In Horticulture Week so we're highlighting some of the leaders here at Costa Farms. And Tannia Rodriguez, Learning & Organizational Development Manager, is perfect for a shout out because she contributes in so many ways! Among Tannia's responsibilities is implementing the ALFALIT program at our farms. Our partnership with ALFALIT International allows us to teach more than 200 of our team members back math and literacy skills, as well as conversational English to our developing leaders. Tannia is truly helping to change people's lives. She has this advice for other women in the industry: "Know your worth: Understand your value and don't be afraid to assert it. Seek mentorship and networking: Building partnerships will provide you with guidance and opportunities crucial for personal growth. Share your power: There is so much value in being of service to others. It is a way to inspire change in the workplace. Do what you love: Follow your heart and it's desire to fulfill it's vocation in all that you do." Thanks, Tannia, for everything you do for the Costa Farms team!

It's day two of Women In Horticulture Week so we're highlighting some of the leaders here at Costa Farms. Today it's Raquel Mahomar, Senior Director of Indoor Production Planning & Live Goods Sourcing. Raquel is instrumental in bringing our plants to market as she and her team manage the sourcing (both internally from our own stock plants and externally) AND the planning so that the right plants are ready at the right time. Raquel has this advice for other women in the industry: "Find a healthy work-life balance and make time for activities that recharge you. Personally, I find playing tennis a great way to restore my energy. I recommend trying it or pickleball! Also, don't be afraid to speak up and share your ideas; you can challenge conventional practices and bring new perspectives to the table." Thanks, Raquel, for everything you do for the Costa Farms team!

It's Women In Horticulture Week so we're highlighting some of the leaders here at Costa Farms. Today it's Maria Negrete, People Business Partner. Maria helps create and promote a safe, dynamic, and respectful workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow and excel. Maria has this advice for other women in the industry: "Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Draw strength from your unique journey and experiences, knowing they shape your resilience and determination. Seek out mentorship and supportive networks to amplify your professional development. Remember, continuous learning and adaptability are key." Thanks, Maria, for all your contributions to the Costa Farms team!

We are honored to announce that our team is the recipient of the 2024 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award by the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson! 🏆🌱 Since 1994, this prestigious award has celebrated the efforts of growers and ranchers who demonstrate a commitment to preserving Florida's natural resources and contributing to the state's agricultural excellence. This year, we are humbled to be recognized for our dedication to environmental innovation and sustainability practices. As proud members of More Profitable Sustainability (MPS), we adhere to industry-leading standards aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of our operations. For example, our conservation efforts include over 34 acres of conservation easements, 16 acres of water storage and retention areas, and more than 60 acres of wetlands on the National Wetland Inventory. Moreover, our moisture-management program conserves water and reduces fertilizer runoff, while initiatives such as reusing plant trays and repurposing discarded materials demonstrate our commitment to waste reduction and recycling. We are excited to receive this honor and will continue our mission of environmental stewardship and innovation in the years to come. Costa Farms will be formally recognized at the Fresh From Florida Breakfast in October during the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, an event we eagerly anticipate. Thank you to Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture for this recognition. Together, we will continue to cultivate a sustainable future for our community. #AgriculturalLeadership #EnvironmentalStewardship #Sustainability #FloridaAgriculture https://hubs.ly/Q02w8M6s0

Costa Farms grows people and plants! Happy Earth Day! Thank you, Janet Rodriguez and Michelle Rodriguez for being amazing representatives of women at Costa Farms! https://lnkd.in/e5Fsywp8

This morning, as part of our Women in Business Leadership Series, we welcomed Arianna Cabrera de Oña ‘91, who spoke to our Honors Leadership students about servant leadership, the importance of effective communication with performers and non-performers, and leading with a growth mindset. Thank you, Arianna, for helping us inspire our Bobcats and empower the leaders of tomorrow. #OLLAgram #WithMaryInAllThings #BobcatPride #HearUsRoar See insights and ads Boost post All reactions: 1 1