Western Growers Establishes Strategic Alliance with JLT to Provide Global Insurance Solutions

September 6th, 2016

Western Growers Insurance Services, Inc. is expanding its global reach through a new strategic alliance with JLT Specialty USA, one of the world’s leading insurance brokerages.

The alliance provides Western Growers (WG) the ability to offer agribusiness and food clients direct access to global insurance carriers. Additionally, this relationship provides the opportunity to tap into offices around the world and the ability to meet specific company needs with the help of subject matter experts. “Now with access to nearly 140 offices around the world, the food and agribusiness industry can utilize JLT’s broad spectrum of international insurance resources,” said Jeff Gullickson, Senior Vice President of WG Insurance Services.

The alliance affords all of WG members direct access to virtually any global insurance company, providing a massive advantage to businesses who are already operating or looking to open operations in other countries. Members can now leverage the expertise of local professionals in foreign countries to ensure full compliance with other countries’ insurance laws and regulations.

Additionally, WG and JLT collaborated to create an industry-leading cargo insurance coverage solution and administration platform exclusively available to WG members. This combined solution and platform enables members to effectively manage their cargo programs at the lowest possible premium costs.

The alliance will also offer a combined coverage solution called WESTERN GROWERS SHIELD™, where members will receive an insurance program, as well as continuous and unbroken transit coverage for all product shipments to and from all points on the globe. This solution includes Cargo, Contamination, Recall and Non-Physical Damage loss of income. The Cargo solution and WESTERN GROWERS SHIELD™ solutions can include iCargo®, a world class, leading cargo software application that helps members administer, monitor and provides analytical support for future cargo shipments and strategies.

For more information on the alliance and new global insurance offerings, read the official press release. Contact David Duvall at (949) 379-3853 for additional questions. 

Harassment Policy Not Enough to Minimize Employer Liability

September 13th, 2016

The Society for Human Resource Management recently reported a case setting the precedent that a detailed policy is not always enough to shield an employer against liability for sexual harassment.

An employee of the Caddo Parish School Board in Louisiana felt that she was being verbally and physically harassed by her supervisor, but failed to make an official complaint to the school board at the time of the occurrence. When the employee did decide to file a lawsuit alleging unlawful harassment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 years later, the lower court decided that the school board had exercised “reasonable care.” The court concluded that the school board had maintained a detailed sexual harassment policy, posted it on bulletin boards and provided sexual harassment training to its employees on a regular basis.

The ruling was appealed and the appeals court reversed and sent the case back to the lower court. The appeals court noted that an alleged victim’s awareness of a sexual harassment policy is relevant to whether an employer exercised “reasonable care” to prevent harassment. The plaintiff produced witnesses willing to testify that, among the clerical staff, employees had not received harassment training, were neither informed of the policy nor shown where to find it, and were not told who to contact regarding complaints of sexual harassment.

Starting in October, Western Growers (WG) will host a series of trainings throughout California to help businesses effectively implement policies that help minimize employer liability for sexual harassment. WG’s Harassment, Discrimination & Abusive Conduct Prevention trainings will illustrate the importance of employer policies being well-communicated and explained to employees in order to be legally and operationally effective. Policies that exist only in a binder are not enough.

Western Growers’ trainings will assist managers in learning what steps need to be taken to ensure that all employees understand the organization’s policy on harassment and discrimination. The training will provide managers and supervisors with a comprehensive understanding of what behavior constitutes harassment and discrimination, how to be sensitive to their own behavior and the behavior of the employees around them, and how to understand what conditions might lead to a claim of harassment or discrimination by an employee.

WG’s Harassment, Discrimination & Abusive Conduct Prevention courses are being offered in both English and Spanish. All sessions are available to all WG members and their employees for $60.00. The first workshop will be held on October 13, 2016, in Imperial, Calif.

Register for the October 13 session or keep up to date on the future trainings by visiting the WG Upcoming Events page. For more information, contact Adriana Robles at (949) 885-2297. 

Governor Signs Short-Live Climate Pollutants Bill

September 20th, 2016

Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 1383 (Lara) on Monday, which establishes the nation’s toughest restrictions on short-lived climate pollutants including black carbon, fluorinated gases and methane. Specifically, the law will require the California Air Resources Board to approve and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a reduction in methane emissions by 40%, hydrofluorocarbon gas emissions by 40% and black carbon emissions by 50% below 2013 levels by 2030.

Western Growers opposed SB 1383, as this law will have negative impacts upon agricultural field and processing operations. For more information, read Western Growers’ veto letter to the governor or the “Pollution Reduction Proposal Is All Stick and No Carrot” story featured in the June edition of WG&S Magazine.

For questions, please contact Matthew Allen at (916) 446-1435. 

WG to Offer FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Course

September 22nd, 2016

The new FDA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule is intended to ensure safe manufacturing/processing, packing and holding of food products for human consumption in the United States. The regulation requires that certain activities must be completed or overseen by a “preventive controls qualified individual.”

One way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual” is to complete the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventive Controls for Human Food Course. This course, developed by the FSPCA, is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA. It will feature examples relevant to produce packinghouses covered by this rule; however, fresh-cut produce operations and other food facilities will benefit from this course, as well.

To successfully complete the course, a participant must be present for the entire delivery and actively participate in the exercises. Individuals who complete this training successfully will receive a “Preventive Controls Training Certificate” issued by the Institute for Food Safety and Health, the International Food Protection Training Institute and the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

This training is hosted by Western Growers (WG) in collaboration with UC Davis and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). Dr. Trevor Suslow with UC Davis, the main FSPCA lead instructor of this class, will be joined by lead FSPC instructors Dr. Jim Gorny with PMA and Sonia Salas with WG.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: October 19 – 21, 2016

Location: Monterey County Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott Street, Suite C (upstairs)
Salinas, CA 93901 (between Merrill St and Growers St)

Registration Details:

Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Members of the Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers will get a discounted price and have registration priority.

Register by October 17th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:

PMA & WG members: $700.00

Others: $1,050.00

A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 10th. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

Registration: REGISTER HERE
 

UPCOMING TRAININGS

  • Yuma, Arizona on January 4 – 6, 2017
  • Brighton, Colorado on February 1 – 3, 2017

Agralogics, BAM and AgriData Join WG Center for Innovation & Technology

September 27th, 2016

Over the past month, the WG Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, Calif. has added three more agtech innovators to its roster. The Center is now home to a total of 24 agtech start-up companies who are working individually and collaboratively to develop innovative solutions to the most pressing issues facing the ag industry. The three startups who have joined the Center this month are:

Agralogics: Agralogics offers a collaboration management platform that allows growers to easily access and share information about the food they grow. Through SaaS-based applications and services, Agralogics provides farmers with detailed analytics about their crops – information about everything from weather, thermal energy, soil quality, pollination and more.

BAM Agricultural Solutions:  BAM Agricultural Solutions produces a liquid micronutrient product, BAM-FX™, which enables the efficient uptake of minerals and other micronutrients directly into the cells of plants. Using BAM-FX™ in a grower’s mineral nutrition program can enhance yields, lower costs per acre, mitigate stress and increase the efficiency of NPK fertilizer.

AgriData: AgriData is a Digital Yield Forecasting technology for Permanent Crop Farmers. AgriData mounts cameras on the ground vehicles farmers operate and run the imagery through our patent-pending Computer Vision and Machine Learning technology to produce accurate yield maps. The data allows farmers to accurately forecast their yield several weeks prior to harvest which enables variable rate farming and significant business optimizations.

The Center’s 24 startups specialize in everything from ultraviolet light technology and aerial imagery for ag management to cogeneration and sustainable water/irrigation management. To learn about the achievements of our startups since joining the Center, read “Startups in Center for Innovation Already Cultivating AgTech Solutions” recently featured in WG&S Magazine. 

Congratulatory Ads, Tables for Award of Honor Dinner Deadline Now Extended

September 27th, 2016

To celebrate their successes, Western Growers (WG) is honoring Miles and Garland Reiter during the Award of Honor Dinner at Western Growers 91st Annual Meeting in Hawaii. This is the first time in WG’s history that the Board of Directors has chosen two individuals to receive the award together, and there is no pair more worthy of this honor than the extraordinary brother duo who have established themselves as pioneers in the berry industry.

Together, the Reiter brothers have expanded the market for berries and developed new berry commodities for consumers. They have not only preserved the legacy that preceded them, but grown their companies to be among the leaders in the agricultural industry. Learn more about their achievements in the “A Family Tradition: Reiter Brothers Build a Berry Legacy” story recently featured in WG&S magazine.  

Join us in congratulating this year’s recipients of the Award of Honor!

To reserve a custom ad honoring the Reiters, contact Ryan Zilker. The deadline for final ads has been extended and are now due by September 30, 2016. You can create your own congratulatory ad or work with Western Growers’ Marketing team to design a one-of-a-kind message in honor of Miles and Garland. Ads will be displayed in the 2016 Annual Meeting Conference Guide and all proceeds benefit the WG Foundation.

You can also reserve a table for 10 to receive preferred seating at the front of the room for the best view of our stage, entertainment and the Award of Honor recipients. Each table reservation includes two complimentary bottles of wine. To purchase your table, or for questions, please contact Ryan Zilker at (949) 885-2249. Proceeds of table purchases will also go towards the WG Foundation.

Also, don’t forget to register for the annual meeting! You can register and book your hotel on the Annual Meeting website. For questions about the Award of Honor or the Annual Meeting, contact Randy Hause at (949) 885-2265. 

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Course – October 19 – 21

September 29th, 2016

The new FDA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule is intended to ensure safe manufacturing/processing, packing and holding of food products for human consumption in the United States. The regulation requires that certain activities must be completed or overseen by a “preventive controls qualified individual.”

One way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual” is to complete the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventive Controls for Human Food Course. This course, developed by the FSPCA, is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA. This course is geared to the produce industry. It will feature examples relevant to produce packinghouses covered by this rule; however, fresh-cut produce operations and other food facilities will benefit from this course, as well.

To successfully complete the course, a participant must be present for the entire delivery and actively participate in the exercises. Individuals who complete this training successfully will receive a “Preventive Controls Training Certificate” issued by the Institute for Food Safety and Health, the International Food Protection Training Institute and the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

This training is hosted by Western Growers (WG) in collaboration with UC Davis and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). Dr. Trevor Suslow with UC Davis, the main FSPCA lead instructor of this class, will be joined by lead FSPC instructors Dr. Jim Gorny with PMA and Sonia Salas with WG.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: October 19 – 21, 2016

Location: Monterey County Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott Street, Suite C (upstairs)
Salinas, CA 93901 (between Merrill St and Growers St)

Registration Details:

Registration includes training materials and certificate, light breakfast, snacks and lunch. Members of the Produce Marketing Association and Western Growers will get a discounted price and have registration priority.

Register by October 17th to secure a spot, as the class size is limited.

Registration Fees & Cancellation Policy:

PMA & WG members: $700.00

Others: $1,050.00

A fee of $35 will be charged if a cancellation request is received before October 10th. Refunds will not be issued after this date.

Registration: REGISTER HERE
 

UPCOMING TRAININGS

  • Yuma, Arizona on January 4 – 6, 2017
  • Brighton, Colorado on February 1 – 3, 2017

For registration questions contact Ivan Martinez at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 885-4789 for additional information about the class content, contact Sonia Salas by email at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 885-2251.

WG to Offer ACA Compliance and Reporting Webinar on October 6

September 29th, 2016

Western Growers is hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 6, to help you avoid tax penalties and remain in compliance with the latest Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements.

Under ACA, employers with 50 or more full-time employees and equivalents must offer qualifying health benefits coverage to full-time employees and dependents at least once per year.

But did you know there are Employer Mandate penalties? Do you understand the appeal process if you receive an Employer Mandate Penalty notice? Did you know that if any of your full-time employees obtain subsidized health insurance exchange coverage, you will receive an exchange notice and may be subject to a tax penalty? Do you understand the pros and cons of filing an appeal? This webinar will help you address all those questions!

Being apprised of new ACA rules is one thing; making sure you’ve made requisite changes and can avoid tax penalties is another. In this webinar, you will learn:

  • Why employees might still seek a subsidy and what to do if a federal or state exchange notifies you
  • When to appeal and other options if you receive an exchange notice
  • What to look for in a plan to make sure you are compliant with ACA guidelines
  • What exposure to risk of penalties you may have and what changes you can make to avoid them
  • New updates about ACA reporting for reporting year 2016

WEBINAR DETAILS

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PST

Speakers: Richard Hines, Large Group Regional Sales Manager, WG Insurance Services. Bio.

Jonathan Alexander, General Counsel, WG Assurance Trust. Bio.

REGISTER HERE

For more information, contact Natalie Krosel at (949) 885-2203.

 

Bayer Accepts EAB Decision to Cancel Belt

September 29th, 2016

Yesterday, Bayer announced they will accept the decision of EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) and not dispute the cancellation of flubendiamide, or Belt, in the United States.

In August, the EAB issued its final ruling on Bayer’s appeal of EPA’s notice to cancel Belt, upholding an earlier EPA Administrative Law Judge decision to cancel Belt without a hearing to challenge EPA’s decision. Though the EAB supported EPA’s decision prohibiting further distribution of Belt by Bayer CropScience, LP and Nichino America, Inc., the EAB decided that products held by dealers and distributors could be further sold and distributed. 

Bayer and Western Growers had hoped that the process to contest EPA’s decision would focus on science. Unfortunately, it did not and the final ruling instead was based on process and procedural arguments. Although the registration is cancelled, growers can continue to use and purchase existing stocks of Belt while they last. However, growers will lose future access to this valuable product that even EPA had concluded posed no risk of concern to humans (either through diet or worker exposure), fish, mammals, crustaceans, mollusks, beneficial insects, pollinators, or plants.

This is another example of EPA avoiding the procedural requirements of the cancellation process, and of stakeholder concerns with EPA’s implementation of the law. Western Growers is engaged in ongoing industry discussions regarding how we might help bring balance to EPA processes.

To learn more about Bayer’s decision, read Bayer Announces Decision on Next Steps for Flubendiamide Cancellation. For more information, please contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205 or Ben Sacher at (202) 296-0191.

Study Finds Fear-based Marketing Negatively Impacts Produce Consumption

September 29th, 2016

A new peer-reviewed study published in Nutrition Today shows that safety fears related to pesticide residues may be a barrier to fruit and vegetable consumption among low income consumers.

Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Center for Nutrition Research found that scientifically inaccurate messages characterizing certain non-organic produce items as having higher pesticide residues actually deter low income consumers from purchasing any fruits or vegetables, whether organic or non-organic, in clear contrast with the nutrition recommendations of the health community.

“The impact of the fear-based messaging [used by groups like the Environmental Working Group] on low income consumers is especially troubling since many don’t have access or can’t afford non-organic produce,” said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D, R.D. and President, Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Read the Alliance for Food and Farming Release

Employees Can Now Report Labor Law Violations Online

September 1st, 2016

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Labor Commissioner’s Office recently launched an online system for reporting labor law violations. The new system simplifies the process for reporting wage theft and other labor law violations, and enables the Labor Commissioner’s Office to receive real-time leads on businesses that are breaking labor laws.

DIR is encouraging employees to use the new online application to report wage theft or any other labor law violations. Examples of violations include non-payment of overtime or minimum wages, failure to maintain workers’ compensation insurance or hiring minors for high-risk jobs. More information on wage theft and other labor law violations can be found on the Wage Theft is a Crime website.

Prosecution of wage theft is a top priority for the Labor Commissioner. Western Growers’ members are encouraged to take this time to self-audit their payroll practices to ensure compliance with all applicable wage and hour laws.

For more information, contact Jason Resnick at (949) 885-2253. 

Strawberry Grower Fined $2.4 Million for H-2A Program Abuses

September 1st, 2016

An administrative law judge has ordered Gonzalo Fernandez, who operates Fernandez Farms Inc. in Watsonville, to repay kickbacks and rent he collected from more than 400 H-2A workers.

According to the decision, Fernandez requested payments of more than $1,600 apiece from several hundred foreign workers over the 2010 and 2011 seasons as reimbursement for transportation and other costs of bringing the laborers from Mexico.

Fernandez must pay back $1.29 million to the workers and pay a fine of $1.1 million for violating the federally-supervised H-2A work visa program. He will also be barred from participating in the H-2A program for three years. The H-2A program requires employers to provide free housing and pay all of the costs associated with transportation of foreign workers.

To learn more about the case and the similar judgments of Fernandez’s sister and nephew, who were also implicated in the wage theft case, read the Los Angeles Times’ “Strawberry grower fined $2.4 million, demanded kickbacks from Mexican workers” story.

Abuse of H-2A workers, including allegations of wage theft and failure to pay overtime, have drawn increased scrutiny from the Labor Department. Western Growers will continue to support, encourage and advance efforts that ensure a safe work environment and fair treatment of workers. Western Growers has been helping members safely utilize the H-2A program for over a decade.

For more information, please contact Jason Resnick at (949) 885-2253.

WG Member Gets California Water Shortage Op-ed Published in Capitol Hill Newspaper

September 8th, 2016

An astute op-ed on the California water supply crisis authored by WG member Cannon Michael, president of Bowles Farming (Los Banos), was published today in the congressional newspaper, The Hill. Michael took the federal government to task for its inability to manage water resources in the state saying that despite visits by President Obama, several members of his administration, and congressional leaders, absolutely nothing has been done to address the needs of farmers and communities who work and live in the world’s most productive agriculture region.

The op-ed detailed how the state’s brilliantly-designed water delivery system “has been completely  overrun and strangled by a regulatory process run amok,” preventing the state from capturing and distributing billions of gallons of water to communities and threatening a key-part of our nation’s food supply.

In case you missed it, read Cannon Michael’s full op-ed.  

For more information, contact Cory Lunde at (949) 885-2264.  

Save the Date – Locations and Dates Set for AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Halls

September 8th, 2016

Please plan on joining Western Growers for one of our AB 1513 Safe Harbor town hall discussions on complying with the technical and logistical details of the new piece-rate law. Learn from legal practitioners and fellow employers in this interactive discussion. We will make registration information and other details available once finalized.

Coastal Dates

Wednesday September 28th @ 1:30pm

Grower-Shipper Association

512 Pajaro St., Salinas, CA 93901

 

Thursday September 29th @ 9:00am

Radisson Hotel Santa Maria

3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA, 93455

 

Thursday September 29th @ 1:30pm

Marriott Courtyard Oxnard

600 E Esplanade Dr., Oxnard, CA 93036

 

Central Valley Dates

Wednesday October 5th @ 9:00am

The Spike & Rail

2910 Pea Soup Andersen Blvd, Selma, CA 93662

 

Wednesday October 5th @ 1:30pm

The Petroleum Club

5060 California Ave, 12th floor, Bakersfield, CA 93309

 

For more information on AB 1513, contact Jason Resnick at (949) 885-2253. 

For more information on the Town Halls, contact Bryan Nickerson at (949) 885-2392. 

 

‘Veto Website’ Designed to Provide Governor with Data on Potential Impacts of AB 1066

September 8th, 2016

Last week, AB 1066 passed the California Assembly. The bill is now awaiting action by Governor Jerry Brown. Western Growers and other industry and business community partners have been urging Gov. Brown to veto the legislation and have created a website that allows farmers to easily share data on the potential impacts of the bill on their farmworkers.

Although the governor has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill, he can take action at any time. We are asking our members to visit this website now and submit your data to Governor Brown for his consideration. This is our last opportunity to stop AB 1066 from becoming law.

Use this website to submit your data.

For more information, please contact Cory Lunde at (949) 885-2264.   

Yuma Ag Center Receives Iceburg Lettuce Grant

September 13th, 2016

Last week, the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) announced it received a grant from the Arizona Iceburg Lettuce Research Council (AILRC) for the collection, production, and dissemination of lettuce disease research results. Disease control and management was cited as the highest priority area of research focus by the industry according to a recent AILRC Survey.     

Read the press release issued by the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture

For further information on the grant, please contact Paul Brierley, Executive Director, YCEDA at 928-920-4983 or [email protected].  

For more information on this story, contact AnnaMarie Knorr at (602) 451-0658. 

Barbic Discusses Labor Issues at Farm Foundation Forum Event

September 13th, 2016

The Farm Foundation Forum held a panel discussion today to address food and agriculture issues likely to be faced by the next administration. Ken Barbic, senior director of federal government affairs, participated in the event and focused on labor issues.

In his remarks, Barbic outlined the need for immigration reform and the industry’s policy priorities, including legal status for existing workers and a new market-orientated visa program to replace the bureaucratic, costly and challenged H-2A program. 

Barbic also laid out the consequences for the industry and the country if nothing is done. He cited our current and expanding fresh produce trade deficit, as well as additional food and national security concerns we will face if more growers move operations to other countries and/or if more produce is imported into the U.S.

Barbic said that inaction on immigration reform may cost Americans jobs because growers may leave the United States for less expensive and less burdensome regulatory conditions elsewhere. He also noted that while immigration reform is one of the most contentious topics of this election cycle, there is less disagreement on the issues as one might think based on what we read in the media.

In reference to the current national labor shortages, Barbic said growers will use more technology once it becomes available to mechanize, modernize and make their operations more environmentally and fiscally efficient.          

Other panelists included:

  • Daniella Taveau, Regulatory and Global Trade Strategist for King & Spalding
  • Craig Thorn, Partner, DTB Associates LLP.
  • Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance

Farm Foundation President Constance Cullman moderated the discussion.

We will post an audio link of the discussion once the Farm Foundation Forum makes it available to Western Growers. 

For more information, contact Ken Barbic at (202) 296-0191.

DWR Closes First SGMA Basin Boundary Modification Period

September 13th, 2016

Last week, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the first Basin Boundary Modification request period is now closed and that the final 2016 modifications will be published online in late September. The boundaries of California’s basins are identified in Bulletin 118, unless other basin boundaries are established through Basin Boundary Modification Requests.

Basin boundaries are an essential component to (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) SGMA implementation as it allows local agencies to provide qualified scientific information to better define basins, and where appropriate, jurisdictional information leading to an increased likelihood of groundwater sustainability. Western Growers continues to encourage members to be an active participant in all phases of the program in their local areas.

Key dates for Basin Boundary Modifications moving forward are:

  • Final Basin Boundary Modifications will be published online – September 2016
  • Interim Update of Bulletin 118 reflecting modifications published – Fall 2016
  • Next submission period for Basin Boundary Modifications Requests – 2018

For more information regarding California’s groundwater basins please visit the Basin Boundary Modifications webpage.

For more information about applying for Facilitation Support Services, please view the Information for Applicants and Supplemental Information for SGMA Implementation. To discuss applications for Facilitation Support Services, please contact your DWR Region Office Representative:

For more, information on SGMA please contact WGs’ Gail Delihant at (916) 446-1435.

http://lp.wga.com/FLC_092916_ppc.html

Establishing Safe Harbor for the New AB 1513 Piece-Rate Law

September 15th, 2016

AB 1513 introduced new wage and hour requirements for piece-rate workers, fundamentally changing labor costs for many agricultural employers, and leaving some vulnerable to liability for back pay and penalties.

During this transition, the new law offers a conditional “affirmative defense” to claims for damages or statutory penalties based on an employer’s alleged failure to pay compensation for rest periods and other nonproductive time. In other words, you have options — but it’s critical that you thoroughly understand these compliance requirements in order to lower your risk of liability.

Learn How to Protect Yourself from Potential Liability

If you’re a farm employer or labor contractor, and are planning to make payments to current or former employees pursuant to Labor Code Section 226.2(b), please join us for an upcoming AB 1513 safe harbor town hall discussion. You’ll learn important insights from legal experts and fellow employers to help you reduce your risk of liability, and overcome the technical compliance challenges of AB 1513’s safe harbor provisions.

Topics include:

  • Timing of issuing back payments.
  • Required backup documentation.
  • Working with farm labor contractors to perfect safe harbor compliance.
  • Required due diligence for locating eligible workers.
  • Utilizing multiple methods of calculating back payments.
  • Submitting back payments to the labor commissioner’s Unpaid Wage Fund.
  • Dealing with stale checks.

AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Hall Dates and Locations (click link for location and to register)

Coastal Dates

Salinas – September 28, 2016 @ 1:30PM

Santa Maria – September 29, 2016 @ 9:00AM

Oxnard – September 29, 2016 @ 1:30PM

Central Valley Dates

Selma – October 5, 2016 @ 9:00AM

Bakersfield – October 5, 2016 @ 1:30PM

Complimentary juice, coffee, and fruit will be offered during break services at each event.

For more information about town hall events, contact Bryan Nickerson at (949) 885-2392. For questions about AB 1513, contact Jason Resnick at (949) 885-2253.

USDA Announces $5 Million Farm to Schools Grant

September 15th, 2016

In order to help schools create or strengthen farm to school programs, USDA announced that up to $5 million will be available this school year. The grants will help further USDA efforts to increase locally sourced foods in America’s school meals.  

The USDA’s release cites the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census, saying that schools with robust farm to school programs report reductions in food waste, higher school meal participation rates, and increased willingness of the students to try new foods, notably fruits and vegetables.

For more information on how to apply for FY 2017 funding, visit the grant opportunities page. For lists of previously funded projects and summary reports of awards made in FY 2013-2016, visit the grant awards page.  A full list of this year’s grantees will be posted online once the selection is announced in spring 2017.