Women Growers Make It Happen at Costa Farms
October 30, 2021 Cultivating a diverse team of growers is top priority at Costa Farms, which follows the motto “we grow people.” Like producing healthy crops, it’s key for a grower to nurture a diverse team. Costa Farms strives for that across its farms in South and Central Florida, North and South Carolina, and the Dominican Republic. From the fresh talent just getting started in the industry to experts with decades of experience, the Costa Farms growing team is energetic, diverse, and focused on growth.
Part of facilitating a diverse team is including growers of different genders and backgrounds. In the horticulture industry, men still make up more than 50% of the industry. But that tide continues to change as more talented women join the industry.
“We feel women play a crucial role in the industry, not only as growers, researchers, and employees at all levels, but also as the largest consumers of home and garden products,” says Joche Smith, Costa Farms CEO. “As we continue to grow and expand our company culture, it’s crucial to hire and cultivate diverse women in our industry.”
Keep reading for a closer look at Costa Farms’ diverse team of women growers.
Aise Vahid: Young Plant Assistant Grower, Miami, FL
Vahid got her start in horticulture at a young age, learning from her master orchardist grandfather in Europe.
“Growing up, he always had a variety of different fruit trees, bushes, and vegetables,” she says. “From a young age, I learned from him how to plant and harvest, and that stuck with me through life.”
Carrying on that passion, Vahid began a career in the greenhouse industry as a propagator in New England. Looking for a change of scenery, she moved to Florida, joining the Costa Farms team in Miami as an assistant grower in plug production. After adapting to the challenges of the drastic climate change, like high humidity, no “winter,” and temperature swings, she has found them to be valuable learning opportunities in understanding plant needs.
Vahid appreciates that Costa Farms cultivates an environment where she can expand her knowledge of growing many different plants.
“From germinating and propagating annuals, perennials, cacti, foliage plants, and more, the culture and values make it a great environment to grow my career,” she says.
Through her own experiences, Vahid encourages women looking to or currently pursuing a career in the horticulture industry to be resilient.
“It benefits your team and yourself to be outspoken and enthusiastic about your career and goals,” she says. “Don’t doubt your potential to be a strong female leader within the industry.”
Colleen Skelton
Colleen Skelton: Managing Grower, Trenton, SC
Colleen Skelton is a Managing Grower on the Annuals team in South Carolina. Drawn to horticulture through a love of the outdoors, she joined Costa Farms four years ago and enjoys being part of such an enriching team.
“I started with Costa in 2017 as a grower working with perennials,” she says. “After Costa Layman expanded, I moved to the managing grower position for the annuals.”
Though there are daily challenges in finding ways to communicate and inspire such a diverse team, Skelton appreciates how a medley of backgrounds creates a rich learning environment.
“In my time here, I have been fortunate to learn from the team and leaders around me to increase my plant and operational knowledge,” she says.
At school, Skelton was looking for a career that would get her outdoors each day. After a few classes, she fell in love with horticulture.
“This field is limitless,” Skelton says. “Having a hand in helping plants grow from start to finish to provide our customers with a beautiful product is extremely rewarding.”
Emily Rakela
Emily Rakela: R&D Assistant Grower, Miami, FL
A newcomer to the industry, Emily Rakela joined Costa in August as an assistant grower on the Research and Development team. As a pre-vet student at the University of Florida, she never intended to pursue a career in horticulture, but after taking a class titled “Plants, Gardening, and You,” she found her calling.
“I realized that the only time I was ever excited about class was when I was learning about plants,” she says.
After a visit to Costa Farms in early 2020, she pursued an internship with the Research and Development team and eventually a full-time position.
“I feel like I am learning and growing daily, experiencing things I never did before,” she says.
Rakela appreciates working with a diverse team.
“It can be a challenge balancing morale, efficiency, and safety daily, and working with people from different places with varying levels of experience,” she says.
The team maintains a positive attitude and works through this by focusing on the big picture and communicating effectively. Rakela advises any young professional looking into horticulture to follow their passion and not be intimidated walking into an industry where you might be the only woman in the room.
“Only you truly know what you are capable of; do not let anyone else tell you differently. Keep working hard toward your goals,” Rakela says.
Jacqueline Balmaceda
Jacqueline Balmaceda: Trending Tropicals Area Grower, Miami
Working her way up at Costa Farms, Jacqueline studied biology and agronomy and joined the team two years ago. She originally began as an assistant grower but transitioned into the role of grower for the Trending Tropicals Collection. With a science background, Balmaceda enjoys the challenge of working with new plant varieties.
“Since many of the plants are so new, there is little information on growing conditions. We have to try different practices and communicate with the team to make sure we are all on the same page,” Balmaceda says. “And since all plants grow very quickly, from 10 to 12 weeks, we have to always be on top of everything and be very flexible as a team.”
As someone who has created her career path, Balmaceda appreciates working with such a dynamic team and encourages them to grow within the company.
“Costa Farms is one of the biggest operations and industry members understand what a privilege it is to work here,” she says. “They are always on top of the latest technology, and they have experienced employees, making our tasks and processes easier. The team members are so humble and hard working, and there is a ton of opportunity for growth within the company.”
There is no denying that horticulture can still at times be a man’s world, but Balmaceda acknowledges that “[women’s] attention to detail and observation skills give them the advantage in the industry. Don’t be afraid to step into the field if it’s something you love. You must work hard and be disciplined, but anything that you love to do, you will be successful in.”
Jessica Ledezma
Jessica Ledezma: Managing Head Grower, Dominican Republic
Reluctant horticulturist Jessica Ledezma may not have originally planned to get into the plant sciences, but she found her passion here.
“I was inclined to study some kind of health science,” Ledezma says. “However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to spend my first semester studying agronomy. At first, it was a challenge for me, but in time I fell in love with the subject.”
Ledezma has been with Costa for more than eight years and is the head grower at the Dominican Republic stock farm. Her passion is evident through her dedication and the way she interacts with plants each day.
“Plants are fascinating,” she says. “I can’t explain how interesting it is to try to understand how they work and grow each day. Every day is different, so you must be prepared for anything!” she says.
Through the years at Costa Farms, Ledezma has seen her share of challenges but dedicates herself to improving on every level. As an advocate for her team and other women in the industry, she encourages both to dream big and not conform to antiquated ideas.
“I’m happy to say that some of the women I work with are so powerful, and though I have witnessed their challenges in the industry, I have also seen their growth,” she says.
As Costa Farms continues to grow, CEO Joche Smith says the company will continue to invest in its most important asset: its team. This means constantly bringing in new members of the Costa Farms family with different backgrounds and advancing the existing talent already within the company. Costa Farms is committed to creating a diverse culture, leading the industry, and increasing the quality of its products and services.
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