Growing health care on hop farms
Every year as the season turns to fall, Yakima Valley hop fields are overflowing with ripe, healthy vines, ready to be harvested.
Now, thanks to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital — which is supported by our partner in philanthropy, Memorial Foundation — access to health care is growing right alongside them.
A blossoming partnership
This spring and summer, Loftus Ranches — one of the region’s oldest and largest hop farms — partnered with Yakima Memorial Hospital to host two health fairs for its employees, including domestic workers and temporary agricultural workers on H-2A visas. 
“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 portable point-of-care testing devices that measure cholesterol, blood glucose and related lipid levels. Participants could request follow-up consultations, and they received information about recommended local providers, nutrition and Yakima Memorial’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 Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington.
Cultivating access
Although 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 is helping bridge that gap. 
Luis Vega, 32, 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,” Vega 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.”
A healthy, flourishing Yakima Valley
Memorial Foundation has been meeting Yakima Valley’s emerging health needs for over three decades.
With a commitment to expanding access to care and championing health equity, the foundation ensures more patients and families receive the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay.
In a community that stretches across multiple counties, donors help Yakima Memorial Hospital programs and services reach further, creating a healthier home for all.
