In addition to our hardworking full-timers, at Pine Island Cranberry we also have several dedicated team members who return every year to help us out through the summer into the harvest. We love to see them here, and these guys in particular come back early because they are exemplary workers who are reliable, flexible, and willing to do whatever it takes.

Israel Colon-Burgos is one of our top veterans and a true asset to the Pine Island team. He leads crews wherever he is needed and is Joel DeJesus-Rivera’s second-in-command on the Blue Team picking crew, staking out picking patterns. Each bog is picked in a specific pattern according to terrain, and the picking crew has to carefully move their harvesters around stakes which have been arranged by the team leader for maximum operational efficiency. Following this pattern allows for minimal damage to the vines.

Emmanuel Colon-Burgos, Israel’s brother, has been coming to us for six years, and came back early this season to assist Facilities Supervisor Mike Guest. He helped build the new well at Caley, and has excellent technical skills. During the harvest, he’s on the forklift crew at the packing house, which requires a lost of hustle. Emmanuel and his wife are expecting their third child in November.

Albert Torres is another long-term seasonal crew member. He was on the Blue Team gathering crew last year as well as heading up last year’s highly efficient fairy-ring team, which finished eight days ahead of schedule. Because of his crew’s dedication, energy, and effort, we were able to treat every ring at Pine Island for the first time ever: a total of 23 acres. Earlier in the spring he helped remove swan string; he is currently working on the frost team, and in addition, is an excellent cook for the seasonal crew.

Frankie Torres returned last year after a long absence, and we were glad to see him! He worked with his brother Albert on the Blue Team gathering crew and is a brand-new member of our frost team who’s doing a fantastic job. GM Fred Torres says taking him back wasn’t even a question: “He’s not afraid of hard work and he asks for help if he needs it.”

Eric Gonzalez-Perez has been coming to us for five years, and is currently working with the fairy ring team to try and help save some infected vines. During the harvest, he worked for the Blue Team picking crew, and this spring ably assisted foreman Kelvin Colon with quality control and mechanical issues at the Oswego planting. We’re pleased to see him back with us again!

Alejandro Colon is a weed control and bog maintenance crew leader due to his careful, methodical work, and is greatly trusted by his supervisors. And come fall, he is Caesar Colon’s number one assistant on the Orange Team picking crew.

Last, but definitely not least: Jose Cruz-Rodriguez, better known as Tito, is another fairy-ring crew veteran and driver on the Orange Team gathering crew. If you drive around the farm during the spring and summer months, you will see him planting, working on the sprinklers, installing new irrigation line, drainage, and anything else we have going.

Pride in their work and the willingness to do what has to be done when it’s time to do it does not only belong to our full-time team: our seasonal team shows us every day that they are proud to do whatever it takes to make Pine Island Cranberry nothing but the best.