Changemaker of the Month: Robin Van Houten

Robin joined the Vertical Harvest team in August 2018.⁠ He started as an integrated pest management associate on the tomato floor and has worked his way up to tomato crop manager and assistant production manager.

Robin embodies compassion, fun and curiosity and is a core part of Vertical Harvest’s inclusive culture, says Caroline Croft Estay, Co-founder and Director of Diversity and Inclusion. “He is the first one to show us his dance moves at our monthly team ‘Dance Off’ and has created an environment of empowerment through professionalism with his team on the tomato floor.”

Says coworker Ava Reynolds — “Robin is my role model for inclusivity. He makes everyone he interacts with feel genuinely valued and heard, and constantly brightens the spirit of the greenhouse with his kindness and occasional dad jokes!” ⁠

Robin loves his role at Vertical Harvest and appreciates the growth opportunities ingrained in the farm’s staff culture. “The Grow Well Model is an amazing program that often shows people they’re capable of much more than they expected. In my everyday life, the Grow Well Model inspires me to celebrate my own abilities and to push myself to strive for goals with the support of my community here at VH,”⁠ he says.