Pocono Organics is Growing More than Produce

Written by Julie Kauffman-Strong

This is the third installment of stories from our New Kitchen Culture Campaign. We’re talking with Chefs, Business Owners & Food Industry Insiders who are working to change the kitchen culture in their establishments. By sharing the stories of people who are creating safe, healthy, inclusive workplaces and breaking the longstanding norms of how our industry treats its workers, we want to show that change is possible (even when it isn’t easy and doesn’t happen quickly.) We want to inspire our peers to make change and to celebrate those who are leading by example. Today, meet Chef Lindsay McClain from Pocono Organics.

“I try and lead by example by treating everyone with respect and having a zero tolerance for harassment on every level. When you see something, say something and don't let it linger in the air, making everyone uncomfortable until the issues have been resolved … I've always tried to promote a very inclusive kitchen. I've learned a lot over the years from all the POC, LGBTQ and other women I have worked with. I speak out against discrimination when I see it happen and learn from each of these interactions.?

Times are tough with staffing right now. Our company is open Thursday-Sunday through the winter months and we were hoping to open 7 days Memorial Day weekend, and through the summer. We didn't have the staff and so it didn't happen. In the past I have worked for places that would have just made the stuff work 6-7 days. My staff and I work together to manage our workloads so everyone can have a well deserved weekend and be home at a reasonable time to be with their friends and family.” - Lindsay McClain, Executive Chef at Pocono Organics -? one of the largest Regenerative Organic Certified Farms in North America, located in Long Pond, PA in the Pocono Mountains.

Lindsay, seen here with her husband (who also works for Pocono Organics doing national wholesale for their CBD line) and their young daughter, is building a New Kitchen Culture by creating a safe, harassment-free workplace; focusing on inclusive hiring practices; addressing and removing biases; and by promoting work-life harmony - practices that come from the top down to influence staff. “Pocono Organics has given me the chance to have the family life I didn’t think was possible in our industry,” she said. Now she is helping others to have that same quality of life and to make it a new norm in her kitchen. You can learn more about Lindsay & Pocono Organics at their website www.poconoorganics.com.

Do you have a story to share? Are you working to change the Food Industry by creating healthy, safe, inclusive workplaces? If you are motivated to create a New Kitchen Culture in your establishment, we want to connect. Head to our new website www.cookswhocare.org to learn more.

3 Ways to Connect With Cooks Who Care :

1. Want to share your story of changing kitchen culture in your establishment? Take this short survey (10-15 min. max) and tell us what you do differently than the rest or what you’re working on: https://bit.ly/Submit_Your_NewKitchenCulture?
2. Learn more about our New Kitchen Culture Campaign: https://bit.ly/CWC_NewKitchenCulture_PDF
3. Stay in the loop with Cooks Who Care by subscribing to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/CooksWhoCare_Newsletter