Community Health Screenings at Loftus Ranches

This spring and summer, Loftus Ranches — one of the region’s oldest and largest hop farms — partnered with MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital to host two health fairs for its employees, including domestic workers and temporary agricultural workers on an H-2A visa.

“Our team members are our most valuable asset,” shares Alex Munoz, Director of Human Resources at Loftus Ranches. “We couldn’t do what we do without them, and we care deeply about their health and access to health care.”

MultiCare staff and contractors provided bilingual health screenings using 10 portable point-of-care testing devices that measure cholesterol, blood glucose and related lipid levels. Participants could request follow-up consultations and received information about recommended local providers, nutrition and Yakima Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes Prevention Program.

The testing devices were made possible through a Washington State Department of Health grant, administered by Yakima Valley Community Foundation and OIC of Washington.

While Loftus Ranches provides health insurance coverage, many of their employees had been struggling to find a primary care provider — especially a bilingual one — and very few had ever been seen by a physician. Partnering with Yakima Memorial Hospital is helping bridge that gap.

Luis conducts pest control for the hop fields. He doesn’t have a primary care physician, so attending a fair was an appealing opportunity to learn more about his health.

“I have four children at home, and I want to be healthy and strong for them,” Luis explains. “If I needed to get something checked out or taken care of, this was an easy way to find out.”

Loftus Ranches is working to incorporate health fairs into their wellness program, making them an annual event.

“It’s exciting to see that health care opportunities in Yakima are being brought directly to our workers at their workplaces,” says Patrick Smith, Loftus Ranches CEO. “We’re proud to be part of this milestone and hope it becomes commonplace in the agricultural industry.”