This week, our sponsor spotlight is Sarah’s Step Stools. Read on for more about the Selah-based startup and the solutions the company offers to improve worker safety in the orchard. Founder Sarah Smith spoke with Good Fruit Grower’s Shannon Dininny.
GFG: Welcome Sarah! Tell me about Sarah’s Step Stools — what needs inspired your business and what are you offering to orchardists?
Sarah: Great question. I started my company last year, after spending 20 years with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries managing workers’ compensation claims. So many of the claims seemed to be from ladder injuries in orchards, and it’s understandable — workers are moving around, carrying heavy bags of fruit, and traditional tripod orchard ladders require experience to use safely.
I wanted to create a safer solution for modern orchards that aren’t as tall: Enter the step stool. Our stools are balanced, lightweight and stable however you set them up.
GFG: Step stools would present a big change for many orchard workers. Do you offer trainings or support to help your customers make the switch?
Sarah: Yes, we offer training and support, but most of our customers have found it to be a pretty easy transition, since everyone already knows how to unfold a step stool based on the common household models. Our orchard models are designed to be easier to carry from tree to tree, but they are still just as straightforward to use.
GFG: What have you heard from growers who have tested your product?
Sarah: So far, so good. We understand many farmworkers are skeptical of new technologies, but once they try our step stools, they feel the advantage of stability. We haven’t yet had a single workplace injury using one of our step stools, and we’ve been in the market for six months.
GFG: Lastly, what trends do you see in orchard technology?
Sarah: When you say technology, most people think of automated tractors or drones carrying fancy cameras, but simple technology such as a better step stool can really make a meaningful impact in making orchard work safer and more efficient. With today’s labor pressures, being more efficient and safety-conscientious is a no-brainer.
