HowMac Farms Ltd named Agriculture Employer of Year

The P.E.I. Agriculture Sector Council has presented the second annual Agriculture Employer of the Year Award to owners Blaine & Doreen MacPherson and manager Craig McCloskey of HowMac Farms Ltd. in Darlington.

This award that recognizes an agricultural employer that utilizes good human resource practices to ensure their employees have a positive and friendly workplace environment. It was presented during the Excellence in Agriculture banquet held by the federation.

HowMac Farms grows over 700 acres of seed and processing potatoes, employing between six and sixteen full time and seasonal farm workers. Craig was nominated for this award by one of his employees, Paul Beamish, who describes him as an easy-going manager who leads by example.

HowMac Farms stresses safety, provides work schedule flexibility, and has staff appreciation events.  The farm also recognizes the need to seek new farm workers from non-traditional areas such as employing people with urban backgrounds and new immigrants to Prince Edward Island.

HowMac Farms also supports on-going training and skills development for farm workers as two of their employees have recently enrolled in the PEI Farm Technician Program. This award is sponsored by T&K Fire Equipment Ltd. in Charlottetown.