Trefethen Family Vineyards takes the idea of sustainable farming beyond the grapevines. For Trefethen, sustainable means looking out for the long-term interests of workers, as well.

“Taking care of an employee is more than paying them well,” said Jon Ruel, Trefethen’s vice president of operations. “It’s all about empowering your employees.”

Last month, Trefethen hosted visitors from Legal Aid of Napa Valley, Clinic Olé, Wells Fargo Bank and Napa Waste and Recycling Services as they gave presentations to workers on topics ranging from healthy eating habits to credit problems, from citizenship to what to do if caught up in a financial scam.

“You can’t be a productive employee if dealing with problems such as these,” said Marlo Cohen, development director with Legal Aid of Napa Valley.

At Trefethen, a sun-baked wood-framed warehouse was turned over to Clinic Olé for health screenings. Blood tests, blood pressure checks and other health exams were the order of the day — free to the 60 workers who attended.

Outreach programs were also held outside in the abundant shade cast by the winery’s mature maple trees.

Farm workers, in groups of six, rotated among the tables of the various organizations. The program lasted about three hours and concluded with a barbecue lunch.

Said Ruel, “From a business standpoint, if (workers) are healthy and knowledgeable ... they are able to be focused and a more productive employee. Doing this makes a lot of business sense. This benefits the winery.”

Ruel said he believes the outreach translates into lower employee turnover. He said that the average worker has been with Trefethen Family Vineyards at least five years and said at least one employee has been with the winery for 30 years.

Reaching out

Sarahid Rivera, a legal advocate for Legal Aid of Napa Valley, was on hand to talk with workers about some of the outreach services, such as the immigration clinics held after the first noon Mass of the month at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

“We’re all about outreach — going to where the workers are,” said Marlo Cohen, development director with Legal Aid of Napa Valley.

Legal Aid holds outreach clinics throughout the year from Calistoga to Napa, and the agency may soon be expanding into American Canyon. Legal Aid also offers a senior citizens’ program at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.

J.J. McCarthy, at Cain Vineyard & Winery, praised the field work of groups such as Legal Aid and Clinic Olé. Cain, on Spring Mountain above St. Helena, last year worked with Clinic Olé and this season brought in Legal Aid to talk to workers.

“I think what it comes down to is we view this as an investment in our employees and their families,” said McCarthy.

“In my upbringing, I learned about healthy eating. I know that bingeing on fast food is not healthy. But new arrivals into this country don’t have that benefit of knowledge ... so as a result you see more diabetes and blood pressure problems,” McCarthy said.

The on-site education, he said, is “an opportunity to let our employees know these resources are out there and are important.”

 He said the workers gain a lot from the outreach. “Several guys enjoyed a good interactive discussion on what to do if they get pulled over by the police ... or what if someone in a generic uniform knocks on their door at home. We know what to do and know the Miranda rights ... but that’s like Pig Latin to them,” McCarthy said.

He said because of corruption in Mexico, many vineyard workers come here wary of law enforcement.

At Beckstoffer Vineyards, about 75 vineyard workers voluntarily attended a similar outreach program earlier this year, according to vineyard president David Beckstoffer.

“We think this is important for our workers who were not born and raised (here),” Beckstoffer  said. “This helps (employees) get more familiar with their rights and recourse under the law. I feel it is important for our workforce to get exposed to this and be able to ask questions.”

This year, outreach clinics have been held at Vista Vineyard Management, Cain Vineyard & Winery, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Silverado Farming Company and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

Legal Aid of Napa Valley can be reached at 259-0579.