In an industry typically dominated by men, our Produce Team inspires with cross-departmental female leadership. Meet our experienced staff, and hear what they have to say about being a leader in our organization.

What do you see as the best way to uplift local farmers, especially female growers? 

“The best way we can support local farmers is pretty simple: buy from them. Co-op Partners Warehouse’s purchasing power is significant and has been transformative for many small farm businesses. Co-ops have first-hand knowledge of customer preferences and insight on where the market is headed. We can use this information to work collaboratively with farmers and provide feedback on their product to help promote market sales. Additionally, we can handle their product with care, knowing we’ve done everything in our power to assure the customer gets their product in great condition.” – Mackenzie Burke, Produce Buyer 

What inspires you as a woman in leadership? 

“I have the privilege of working with a team that is mostly women. We celebrate successes together, we acknowledge and learn from failures together, and I know that our perseverance paves the way for a world when women and non-binary folks can work hard and not have their accomplishments questioned or diminished.” – Joleen Baker, Co-op Partners Warehouse Interim Director

What advice would you give to women entering this industry?  

“That things rarely go according to plan! The word “pivot” is an important part of the {produce} sourcing lexicon. Working in produce is definitely an exercise in flexibility, and there are ample opportunities to demonstrate empathy, patience, and understanding. It seems natural to me for women to be drawn to this industry, as a lot of us are accustomed “making it work” in many areas of life.” -Kara Parr, Produce Buyer

What does success mean to you within this field? 

“A huge contribution to the current and future success of produce will be knowledge transfer along the entire supply chain. From farmers to warehouse operations, down to the retail level. Our retail departments have multiple legacy employees who have been working in the industry for decades. The more we can collaborate, learn from one another, and streamline our strategies, the more our local vendors, customers and food system can thrive.” -Madeleine Hagar, Produce Category Manager

What’s an important lesson you’ve learned in the produce industry?  

“I learned the importance of bringing others along for the decision-making process and to share in the successes and struggles.  I learned the importance of making decisions based on facts and metrics rather than feelings and hunches. Most importantly I learned that you can make a lot of positive change for yourself and others by having a good attitude and not being afraid to make mistakes.” -Jaime Lehman, Sales Manager