In the scenic coastal valley of Salinas, California, known affectionately as the “salad bowl of the United States,” a groundbreaking healthcare model is taking root. Taylor Farms, a global leader in packaged salads and cut vegetables, has embraced an innovative approach to medical care for its predominantly Mexican immigrant workforce. This forward-thinking method, poised to thrive in the smartphone era, involves an application that facilitates cross-border medical consultations.
Taylor Farms is a key client of a startup called MiSalud, which connects Spanish-speaking employees with doctors and mental health therapists in Mexico. While these professionals lack U.S. licenses and cannot prescribe medications, they serve as health advisors, collaborating with American physicians when necessary. Since its inception in 2014, spearheaded by Amy Taylor, who heads the company’s health promotion initiative and is the daughter-in-law of founder Bruce Taylor, MiSalud has garnered over 5,600 registrations from Taylor Farms’ 6,400 employees, with 2,300 utilizing the app at least once.
The service, which is free for employees and up to three family members, is a key component of a broader wellness program aimed at helping employees stay healthy while managing healthcare and labor costs effectively. Taylor Farms plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program after two years of operation.
### Addressing Agricultural Workers’ Health Concerns
The health of agricultural workers is a primary concern in California’s agricultural economy. A 2022 study led by researchers at the University of California-Merced assessed the health of over 1,200 farmworkers, revealing that 37% of men and 47% of women reported at least one chronic illness, including prevalent conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety. Employees at Taylor Farms, spanning field workers, drivers, packers, and office staff, face similar health challenges, with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health topping the list of worker health concerns.
MiSalud emerged from the vision of Bismarck Lepe, a serial entrepreneur and Stanford University alum with a migrant farmworker background. Lepe, who spent his early years traveling between Mexico, California, and Washington for fruit harvesting before settling in Oxnard, California at age six, observed his family and friends often delaying medical care until they could return to Mexico. The complexity and cost of the U.S. healthcare system presented significant barriers to access.
### Bridging Healthcare Gaps with Telemedicine
Launched in 2021 with $5 million from a venture capital fund backed by Pivotal Ventures, MiSalud initially offered consultations with Mexican doctors for individual app users. Recognizing the potential to reach those most in need, the company pivoted in 2023 to extend its services as an employee benefit through businesses like Taylor Farms and the city of Lynwood, California, among other clients. Approximately 40% of employees served on the platform acknowledge that, without MiSalud, they would have ignored health issues or waited to seek care in Mexico.
While telemedicine consultations may not fully replace in-person primary care or specialist visits, experts like UC-Merced health economics professor Paul Brown recognize their value in connecting individuals with standard care. Brown suggests that modifying policies to facilitate Mexican doctors’ ability to treat patients in the U.S. could enhance the effectiveness of MiSalud’s approach.
### Personal Stories of Transformation
For employees like Rosa “Rosita” Flores, a retail operations line supervisor at Taylor Farms, MiSalud has proven invaluable. Encouraged by coworkers’ positive experiences, Flores decided to explore the app’s offerings. At a recent company wellness fair, sponsored in part by MiSalud, Flores learned about the importance of monitoring her blood sugar and blood pressure, prompting her to schedule a consultation through the app. Flores commended the app’s user-friendly interface and appreciated the follow-up via text message when she had to reschedule a video call due to her daughter’s illness.
Sam Chaidez, now the operations director at a Taylor Farms facility in Gonzales, California, credits MiSalud for aiding his weight loss journey. A child of farmworkers who returned to the Salinas Valley to work for the company, Chaidez recognized the health risks he faced in 2019, prompting him to engage with Taylor Farms’ wellness program and, later, MiSalud. Through lifestyle changes and guidance from the app, Chaidez shed 150 pounds, emphasizing the supportive role MiSalud played in his ongoing health maintenance.
By combining innovative technology with personalized care, MiSalud is bridging gaps in healthcare access for California’s agricultural workforce, fostering holistic well-being and empowering individuals to take charge of their health journey.
