Early Bird Pricing for Annual Meeting Ends TONIGHT

September 7th, 2017

Early bird pricing for Western Growers 92nd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, ends tonight. Register now to save!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the brightest minds in agriculture during the WG Annual Meeting on October 29 – November 1, 2017, for a discounted rate. This year’s event includes dynamic and engaging sessions across a wide range of topics impacting agriculture.

Breakout session will highlight timely topics such as:

  • Healthcare: guidance on providing effective and compliant healthcare benefits during the ever-changing landscape of healthcare
  • Cannabis: the growing popularity of legalized marijuana and what this means for ag
  • Immigration: discussions on how members’ goals will be met with the new administration to ensure a legal and stable workforce
  • AgTech: innovations and specialized services designed to manage resources, overcome marketplace pressures and deliver high-quality produce. Click here for more on the AgSharks competition.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

[VIDEO::https://youtu.be/A5Uzmaq-Dcw::aVideoStyle]

Click here for the full event schedule. Register today at http://www.wgannualmeeting.com.

For questions about the Annual Meeting, contact Cheryl Hall at (949) 885-2268.

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Early Bird Pricing for Annual Meeting Ends TONIGHT

September 7th, 2017

Early bird pricing for Western Growers 92nd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, ends tonight. Register now to save!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the brightest minds in agriculture during the WG Annual Meeting on October 29 – November 1, 2017, for a discounted rate. This year’s event includes dynamic and engaging sessions across a wide range of topics impacting agriculture.

Breakout session will highlight timely topics such as:

  • Healthcare: guidance on providing effective and compliant healthcare benefits during the ever-changing landscape of healthcare
  • Cannabis: the growing popularity of legalized marijuana and what this means for ag
  • Immigration: discussions on how members’ goals will be met with the new administration to ensure a legal and stable workforce
  • AgTech: innovations and specialized services designed to manage resources, overcome marketplace pressures and deliver high-quality produce. Click here for more on the AgSharks competition.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

[VIDEO::https://youtu.be/A5Uzmaq-Dcw::aVideoStyle]

Click here for the full event schedule. Register today at http://www.wgannualmeeting.com.

For questions about the Annual Meeting, contact Cheryl Hall at (949) 885-2268.

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WGCIT Advisory Board Meets to Discuss Top AgTech Issues

September 5th, 2017

Last week, the Advisory Board of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology met in Salinas, Calif., to discuss strategies and tactics to advance agtech, as well as hear “speed pitches” from 15 of the 45 startups working out of the Center. The Advisory Board, comprised of WGCIT sponsors and leaders from the most innovative growers and shippers in ag, engaged in discussion about top issues concerning growers, including advancing mechanized harvest and creating technologies to ease the cost and burden of regulatory compliance.

Hank Giclas, Western Growers’ senior vice president, strategic planning, science & technology, and Dennis Donohue, head of the WGCIT, led a brainstorm on how WG and the WGCIT Advisory Board can help further facilitate industry adoption of the technologies. Additionally, the board discussed ways to promote and support the startups in the Center; foster startups’ access to the ag industry; showcase performance and capability of agtech startups; ensure financial viability and growth of budding technologies; and establish the WGCIT as a hub for agtech advancement.

A highlight of the board meeting was the “speed pitch,” where the startups in the Center presented a 90-second introduction to their company, their technology and their solution to an agriculture issue. There, the startups were able to make a more personal connection with board members and many of the advisors noted individuals and companies they wanted to follow-up with after the speed pitch. Participating startups included the following: Aggrigator, AgTech Industries, AgVoice, Alta Energy, Ayrstone, California Safe Soil, Concentric Power, FarmWise, Food Origins, Harvesting Inc, HeavyConnect, IWN, LotPath, RootsTalk and TracMap.   

The meeting concluded with a networking mixer at the WGCIT where advisory board members mingled with the startup residents over refreshments. Pictures from the meeting can be found on the WG Center for Innovation & Technology’s Facebook Page.

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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New AgSharks Event at WG Annual Meeting to Identify & Advance Key Ag Innovations

September 5th, 2017

Western Growers will premiere its AgSharks showcase event at Western Growers 92nd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas on October 31, 2017. AgSharks is a new initiative launched by Western Growers and S2G Ventures (Seed 2 Growth) to identify key innovations in the fresh produce industry.

“Western Growers has been leading the charge in accelerating the development of innovative solutions to help solve the ag industry’s most critical issues,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “Our new partnership with S2G Ventures and the launch of AgSharks will ensure ag industry innovators are bringing solutions to our members faster.”

Successful entrants will compete for equity investments totaling up to $250,000 to support the development and growth of their businesses. Selected entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to a panel of experts, including the AgSharks, who will decide on the spot whether and how much to invest. The entrepreneurs must then accept the offer, negotiate or decline.

For the past two years, WG has hosted the Innovation Arena where startups compete for exclusive opportunities to connect with growers throughout California, Arizona and Colorado. AgSharks takes that concept to the next level with real-time investment opportunities and decision-making in front of a live audience.

If you are a grower currently working with a startup or know of an entrepreneur who is developing ag technologies, help them scale by encouraging them to apply for AgSharks. Companies interested in participating in AgSharks at Western Growers Annual Meeting can apply here. 

To learn more about AgSharks or the Western Growers and S2G partnership, read the full press release here. Click here to register for the WG Annual Meeting and be part of the “live” AgSharks event.  

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Concerned about FSMA Ag Water Testing Rule? FDA Expands Testing Methods, Extends Deadlines

September 12th, 2017

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has re-evaluated some key provisions of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule’s ag water requirements in an effort to make implementation of the requirements easier and less costly for produce growers.

In a “constituent update” released this morning, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., outlined a number of immediate next steps in a comprehensive approach to ensuring successful implementation of the Produce Safety Rule. This includes expanding the list of validated methods, which was directly recommended by industry supporters, including Western Growers, the Center for Produce Safety and the UC Postharvest Technology Center.

The key steps are outlined as follows:

Ag Water Compliance Dates: The FDA issued a proposed rule to extend the compliance dates for water by two to four years. For the largest farms the new deadline will be 2022. For small farms the new deadline is 2023 and for very small farms the new deadline is 2024.

Stakeholder Engagement on Ag Water Standards: FDA plans to actively engage with all stakeholders to ensure the standards will be as practical and effective as possible for all farming operations. This will include a summit on ag water early next year.

Water Testing Methods: FDA listed eight additional testing methods that it has determined are equivalent to the method incorporated by reference (Method 1603) in the Produce Rule. The agency will add other methods as they are identified.

Produce Farm Inspections: While large farms are still expected to meet all requirements set forth in the rule except those related to ag water by January 26, 2018 – inspections to assess compliance will not begin until 2019.

Training Opportunities for Producers and Regulators: FDA is committed to ensuring produce farmers and state regulators have the training necessary to implement the Produce Safety Rule. Training of state regulators is a top priority for FDA. (NOTE: Training for growers and handlers remains the top priority for Western Growers.)

CLICK HERE TO READ WESTERN GROWERS LETTER TO MEMBERS WITH ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON RECENT FDA ACTIVITY RELATING TO AG WATER TESTING.  

For questions, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Tech Talk: Removing the Complexity in Renewable Energy Deployment

September 12th, 2017

Deploying a renewable energy project can have a lot of moving parts, and on Tuesday, September 26, Alta Energy will help you navigate through the complexity. Join us for our monthly Tech Talk, where Aaron Enz, CEO of Alta Energy, will help growers, processors and shippers better understand how to implement cost-effective sustainable solutions throughout their operations. Alta Energy is one of 46 agtech startups housed in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology.

Alta Energy analyzes and assesses companies’ renewable energy and sustainability needs based on their unique goals, especially those with multiple locations and differing types of operational requirements and facilities.

With the startup’s comprehensive analytics, clients can easily see where, when and how to deploy renewable energy at various locations across their organization. Then, to efficiently deploy projects, Alta Energy delivers competitive proposals from pre-qualified vendors – allowing clients to choose the best solution.

Tech Talks, which are offered at no cost, was launched in March 2016 to introduce WG members, potential stakeholders and the community to the latest innovations. Now, the Center has revamped the Tech Talk format to be a more collaborative forum between innovators, growers, investors and stakeholders.

EVENT INFORMATION

Alta Energy Tech Talk®

Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Location: Online or in-person.

Online: You will be emailed a link when you register.

In-person: Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (150 Main Street, Suite 130, Salinas, CA 93901)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

RSVP: To attend, please register here.

Aaron Enz gives a sneak preview of Alta Energy’s solutions:

[VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnMYJNhzKnw::aVideoStyle]

For more information about the Tech Talk Series or the Center, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Applications Now Open for School Garden Grants

September 12th, 2017

California and Arizona schools, grades K-12, can now apply for a grant up to $1,500 to support a new or existing school garden. In order to be eligible for the Western Growers Foundation School Garden Grant, the school or entity must be classified as one of the following:

  • Public School
  • Private Charter School
  • Private school with 501(c)3 non-profit status
  • Private charter school with 501(c)3 non-profit status
  • 501(c)3 or charity non-profit organization supporting a garden at a public or non-profit private school
  • School districts supporting a garden at a public or non-profit private school

Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. CST. CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A SCHOOL GARDEN GRANT.

Since its inception in 1995, Western Growers Foundation has funded more than 1,000 school gardens in California and Arizona. Today, the Foundation’s School Garden program has evolved to support science, technology, engineering and math curriculum to nurture the natural curiosity of children in areas related to farming and agriculture.

Through sponsored gardens, selected curriculum and hands-on learning in the gardens, students will learn about the science of how seeds become salads, the technology available to enhance plant growth, the engineering behind farm equipment, and the math to calculate how much water is needed for optimal yield.

[VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqWXPtipA_0::aVideoStyle]

Applicants will be notified of selection on October 13, 2017. If Western Growers members know of any K-12 schools that would be good candidates, please encourage them to apply.

 For questions, contact Ryan Zilker at (949) 885-2249. 

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WG Center for Technology Reaches 47 AgTech Startups

September 14th, 2017

Western Growers welcomes five new start-up companies to its Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, Calif. The Center now houses 47 total startups working on developing solutions to solve agriculture’s most pressing issues.

The newest innovators in the Center include the following:

AgTools LLC: AgTools provides game-changing intelligence to the agriculture market through up-to-the-moment statistics that affect time, cost, supply, demand and alternatives throughout the produce chain of food. This includes from farm to table, on all levels. The company’s predictive technology will assist clients in solving and simplifying decision making in the food industry.

Clean Concept Energy: Clean Concept Energy is a full-service renewable energy firm that brings together cutting-edge technologies to help clients create solutions that deliver excellent financial and environmental results. Current projects include large-scale solar, demand management, co-generation and energy storage.

FarmWise Lab Inc.: FarmWise builds smart and autonomous robots to solve the problem of weeds in agriculture, saving farmers time, labor and money. Their autonomous vegetable weeder provides consumers with healthier products and greater yields.

Ripe Technology Inc. (ripe.io): ripe.io offers tech solutions that help answer what’s in your food, where it’s been and what’s happened to it. ripe.io creates product histories to tell the complete story of food—from farm to the receiving dock. Additionally, it exposes the journey of food to create new analytics, automation and business models through blockchain technology and the Internet of Things.

TMD Technology Solutions: TMD Technology Solutions develops custom web and app-based software solutions for food and agriculture companies. TMD Technology Solutions’ in-house group of strategists, designers, front-end and back-end web programmers work side-by-side with clients to produce tailored software tools that solve customers’ complex challenges and meet their growing needs.

For a full list of all the startups or to learn about the latest Center happenings, visit the WG Center for Innovation & Technology website. For questions, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Applications Now Open for Up to $250,000 Total Investment for AgTech Startups

September 14th, 2017

Start-up companies who are inventing ag technologies now have the opportunity to compete for investments totaling up to $250,000 to support the development and growth of their businesses. Western Growers has officially opened the application period for AgSharks™, a new initiative where selected entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to a panel of experts who will decide on the spot whether and how much to invest. The entrepreneurs must then accept the offer, negotiate or decline.

If any WG member is currently working with a startup or know of an entrepreneur who is developing ag technologies, help them scale by encouraging them to apply for AgSharks.

Companies interested in participating in AgSharks at Western Growers Annual Meeting can apply here. 

AgSharks, which was recently launched by Western Growers and S2G Ventures (Seed 2 Growth), will take place at Western Growers 92nd Annual Meeting in Las Vegas on October 31, 2017. The event expands on WG’s previously implemented Innovation Showcase, where startups competed for exclusive opportunities to connect with growers throughout California, Arizona and Colorado. AgSharks takes the Innovation Showcase to the next level with real-time investment opportunities and decision-making in front of a live audience.

“We had the privilege to participate in the Innovation Arena with a panel of extremely innovative startups. It was an honor to win the Audience Choice award and also tie for the Judge’s Choice award with Agralogics,” said Diane Wu, co-founder of Trace Genomics and winner in the 2016 Innovation Showcase. “We used the opportunity to launch a new program exclusive to Western Growers members. Since the audience is uniquely a group of growers, the experience really helped us validate the need for our product and receive valuable feedback that is hard to find elsewhere.”

The deadline to apply is Friday, September 29 at 12:00pm PST. 

For questions on AgSharks, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

 

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Clean Energy Tech Talk: A Shifting Energy Future for Agriculture

September 19th, 2017

Deploying a renewable energy project can have a lot of moving parts, and on Tuesday, September 26, Alta Energy will help you navigate through the complexity. Join us for our monthly Tech Talk, where Aaron Enz, CEO of Alta Energy, will discuss current and future clean energy opportunities for the fresh produce industry. The webinar will also cover the benefits, challenges and considerations for effective deployment and utilization of clean energy solutions.

While labor and water inputs remain the most challenging issues for most grower, shippers and processors, energy represents an area where fresh produce industry companies can positively impact their operations. The growing adoption rate of renewable energy is being driven by the improved cost viability and performance of clean energy solutions, sustainability requirements of produce customers and regulatory support and incentives.

Alta Energy, one of 47 agtech startups housed in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, analyzes and assesses companies’ renewable energy and sustainability needs based on their unique goals. With the startup’s comprehensive analytics, clients can easily see where, when and how to deploy renewable energy at various locations across their organization. Then, to efficiently deploy projects, Alta Energy delivers competitive proposals from pre-qualified vendors – allowing clients to choose the best solution.

Tech Talks, which are offered at no cost, was launched in March 2016 to introduce WG members, potential stakeholders and the community to the latest innovations. Now, the Center has revamped the Tech Talk format to be a more collaborative forum between innovators, growers, investors and stakeholders.

EVENT INFORMATION

Alta Energy Tech Talk®

Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Location: Online or in-person.

Online: You will be emailed a link when you register.

In-person: Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (150 Main Street, Suite 130, Salinas, CA 93901)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

RSVP: To attend, please register here.

Aaron Enz gives a sneak preview of Alta Energy’s solutions:

[VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnMYJNhzKnw::aVideoStyle]

For more information about the Tech Talk Series or the Center, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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WG Teams with United Fresh to Provide Recall Insurance to Fresh Produce Industry

September 19th, 2017

Western Growers and the United Fresh Produce Association have entered into a formal marketing agreement to jointly promote the Western Growers Shield™, a first-of-its-kind insurance program specifically designed to protect food companies from recall liability.

Under the terms of the agreement, United Fresh will exclusively endorse and promote this proprietary program encompassing property, contamination, recall, liability and non-physical damage loss of income. United Fresh and WG will also work together to provide several other proprietary WG solutions to the fresh produce industry.

“United Fresh and Western Growers have a long history of working together to promote the competitiveness and profitability of the fresh produce industry,” said Tom Nassif, Western Growers President and CEO. “With United’s reach into states not currently served by WG, and relationships with food companies from farm to fork, this partnership is the next logical step in protecting the long-term viability of our collective memberships.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE.

For more information on the partnership or the Western Growers Shield™ program, contact Jeff Gullickson at (949) 885-2351. 

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Validation of Processes Covered in Third Installment of Food Safety Webinar Series

September 28th, 2017

Tune in to the third installment of the “Food Safety Findings” four-part webinar series, where Western Growers experts condense research presentations from the Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium into actionable insights for members. Today’s newly released webinar highlights pertinent research and data surrounding validation of scientific processes as they relate to food safety.

More than 30 research projects were presented to attendees during the Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium in June – all containing information significant to enhancing food safety throughout the industry. Hank Giclas (Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology at Western Growers) and Susan Leaman (Vice President at iDecisionSciences) have summarized the conference sessions and food safety findings into four recap webinars.

Previously, Giclas and Leaman discussed the key findings from the Symposium relating to water – both ag water and post-harvest water – and food safety in the packinghouse and throughout the supply chain.

All webinars are being made available to Western Growers members. To access the webinar presentation, register by clicking here. By registering, members will also receive access to the previous two webinars, as well as the remaining webinar on hot topics regarding produce safety. The last webinar will be available in the coming weeks.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FOOD SAFETY FINDINGS WEBINARS

For more information, contact Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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Tax Proposal Summary Document Released

September 28th, 2017

Yesterday, Republican leaders working on tax reform proposals released a nine-page document highlighting the various components of what may be included in tax reform legislation moving through Congress later this year. The proposal mentions several key components of a new tax package, but also leaves several key matters completely or partially unaddressed.

The Republican proposal would:

  • collapse current individual rates into three brackets
  • lower the top corporate rate to 20 percent
  • limit the rate applied to pass through entities to 25 percent
  • eliminate the death tax (but is silent on whether stepped up basis would be entirely maintained) 
  • include expanded expensing for capital investments (but may eliminate other important deductions like state/local taxes)

There are a number of issues that are not specifically addressed in the proposal including cash accounting and treatment of 1031 exchanges. As further details are released, Western Growers will continue evaluating the full package and its impact on our members.

Click here to read the full proposal.

For more information, read Forbes’ “What’s In And What’s Out: The GOP Tax Reform Proposal” story or contact Dennis Nuxoll or Ken Barbic at (202) 296-0191. 

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Court Strikes Down Obama-Era Overtime Rule

September 5th, 2017

A Texas federal judge has issued a final ruling striking down the Obama administration’s overtime rule, invalidating the rule on the grounds that it went too far, essentially making all employees who perform exempt duties, but who make less than the high salary threshold “non-exempt.” The judge did note that the Department of Labor (DOL) is not prevented from using a particular salary level, though the DOL lacked authority under the Fair Labor Standards Act to use a salary threshold alone to determine whether an employee qualified for the “white collar” exemptions. The DOL, however, does have the authority to make adjustments to the “duties” test. In this case, the regulations only raised the salary and compensation thresholds but made no changes to the duties tests.

The regulations, which would have more than doubled the salary threshold for administrative, executive, and professional exemptions from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA, were due to take effect on December 1, 2016, before being enjoined nationwide by the same federal court in Texas. The salary level under the invalidated rule would have been significantly higher than California’s minimum annual salary threshold of $43,680, or $3,640 per month.

For more information, contact Jason Resnick at (949) 885.2253. 

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2017 WG Comp and HR Survey Results Now Available to All Members

September 12th, 2017

During a webinar held last week, Western Growers’ human resources experts provided members with a sneak peek into exclusive data from WGs’ 2017 Professional Compensation & HR Practices Survey. The newly-released report is the most comprehensive analysis available on compensation and HR practices for the California and Arizona fresh produce industry, designed to help members attract and retain the best employees. Loaded with valuable insight, the report provides companies with crucial data they need to keep compensation levels competitive and to stay on top of their recruitment and retention strategies.

Based on input from nearly 100 employers on more than 3,000 jobs, the 2017 report covers 70 distinct positions and includes key data on:

  • Base pay
  • Incentives paid
  • Merit increases
  • Health plan coverage

The 2017 Professional Compensation & HR Practices Surveys bundle is available for $1,800, and the HR Practices Surveys alone is available for $500. The Compensation Survey is broken up by profession and is available for purchase by section, each for $500: Executive Positions, Hourly Field, Plant/Office/Field Positions, Sales and Marketing Positions. You can purchase all reports here.

Didn’t participate in the webinar? Members who missed the webinar can still access the recording and presentation to get the report’s highlights.

For questions about the survey, contact Karen Timmins at (949) 885-2295.

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California’s Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Legislation Tabled until January

September 19th, 2017

The final days of California’s legislative session ended last week with a flurry of activity. High on the list of priorities for leadership included housing, the gas tax, cap-and-trade and a park bond, all of which required a 2/3rds vote for passage. These bills left little room to move other legislation, including SB 623, a Western Growers-supported bill that would create the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to secure access to safe drinking water for all Californians.      

The bill, funded through a modest fee on agricultural, urban and industrial water users, helps ensure necessary upgrades to infrastructure and financial assistance for the operation and maintenance of drinking water systems in communities that are in need of safe, clean drinking water.

For farmers, SB 623 protects agricultural operations from being subjected to enforcement actions for exceeding nitrate levels in groundwater, provided farmers meet existing permit requirements. All water users – agricultural, urban and industrial – would contribute by paying modest fees into the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund which would provide accessible, clean drinking water where contamination has made water unsafe, and allow farmers to continue farming. 

Since the Legislature did not pass the bill, SB 623 has become a “two-year” bill and will be considered when the Legislature convenes in January. 

Western Growers will continue to work diligently over the fall and winter to garner support for the measure in an effort to move the bill early next year.

For more information, contact Gail Delihant at (916) 446-1435.

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Farmers in South Bay Counties Encouraged to Participate in Agricultural Workforce Development Survey

September 26th, 2017

Western Growers is collaborating with the California Community College’s Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies (AWET) Program to identify the current workforce training gaps in the agricultural sector. The information collected will be used to bring more training to the South Bay region through Workforce Development Offices in each county.

Farmers and ranchers in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties are encouraged to complete the twelve-question Agricultural Workforce Development Survey. Your participation will ensure the data collected is representative and inclusive and will help determine California’s agricultural workforce needs.  

Follow this link to take the survey of you are a farmer or rancher in Santa Cruz, San Mateo or Santa Clara: www.surveymonkey.com/r/agdevsurvey

For more information, contact Paula Balbontin at AWET Program at (530) 379-6406.

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PRESS RELEASE: Western Growers Now Accepting Applications for School Gardens Grants

September 15th, 2017

CA, AZ K-12 schools can now apply for up to $1,500 grant

IRVINE, Calif. (September 15, 2017) – The Western Growers Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2017 School Garden Program. Schools, grade K-12, in California and Arizona can now apply for a grant up to $1,500 to support a new or existing school garden. In order to be eligible for the Western Growers Foundation School Garden Grant, the school or entity must be classified as one of the following:

  • Public School
  • Private Charter School
  • Private school with 501(c)3 non-profit status
  • Private charter school with 501(c)3 non-profit status
  • 501(c)3 or charity non-profit organization supporting a garden at a public or non-profit private school
  • School districts supporting a garden at a public or non-profit private school

All applications can be submitted to the Western Growers Foundation School Garden Grant Application website. Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Candidates will be notified of selection on October 13, 2017.

Since its inception in 1995, Western Growers Foundation has funded more than 1,000 school gardens in California and Arizona. Today, the Foundation’s School Garden program has evolved to support science, technology, engineering and math curriculum to nurture the natural curiosity of children in areas related to farming and agriculture.

Through sponsored gardens, selected curriculum and hands-on learning in the gardens, students will learn about the science of how seeds become salads, the technology available to enhance plant growth, the engineering behind farm equipment and the math to calculate how much water is needed for optimal yield. For more information on the Western Growers Foundation, visit the website or watch this video.  

About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. Some members also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations, we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

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United Fresh and WG Team Up to Provide Recall Insurance to Fresh Produce Industry

September 18th, 2017

IRVINE, Calif. (September 18, 2017) – The United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) and Western Growers (WG) have entered into a formal marketing agreement to jointly promote the Western Growers Shield™, a first-of-its-kind insurance program specifically designed to protect food companies from recall liability.

“This program represents an innovative solution to a critical bottom line issue facing our members,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh President and CEO. “Our Finance & Business Administration Council was very impressed with this program, and we look forward to working with the WG team to bring recall insurance to every segment of the fresh produce supply chain.”

Under the terms of the agreement, United Fresh will exclusively endorse and promote this proprietary program encompassing property, contamination, recall, liability and non-physical damage loss of income.

“United Fresh and Western Growers have a long history of working together to promote the competitiveness and profitability of the fresh produce industry,” said Tom Nassif, Western Growers President and CEO. “With United’s reach into states not currently served by WG, and relationships with food companies from farm to fork, this partnership is the next logical step in protecting the long-term viability of our collective memberships.”

United Fresh and WG will also work together to provide several other proprietary WG solutions to the fresh produce industry.

Click here for more information on the Western Growers Shield™ program.

About United Fresh Produce Association:
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association brings together companies across every segment of the fresh produce supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. We empower industry leaders to shape sound government policy. We deliver the resources and expertise companies need to succeed in managing complex business and technical issues. We provide the training and development individuals need to advance their careers in produce. Through these endeavors, we unite our industry with a common purpose – to build long-term value for our members and grow produce consumption.

About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook. 

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Western Growers Releases 2017 Compensation, HR Practices Data for Ag

September 19th, 2017

Professional Compensation & HR Practices Surveys now available for purchase

IRVINE, Calif. (September 19, 2017) – Western Growers has released its 2017 Professional Compensation and HR Practices Surveys, exclusive data on base pay, incentive pay, merit increases and health plan coverages of the California and Arizona produce industry. Information from the surveys provide valuable insight to keeping agriculture-related businesses’ compensation competitive, and helping to attract and retain the best employees in the specialty crop industry.

“For seven years, we have provided Western Growers members with the crucial data they need to keep compensation levels competitive and to stay on top of their recruitment and retention strategies,” said Karen Timmins, senior vice president of human resources at Western Growers. “This year, we have taken it a step further to include data from more companies, and greater data points. To fill a void this year we also included field jobs.”

The newly-released Professional Compensation and H.R. Practices Report is the most comprehensive analysis available on compensation and H.R. practices for the California and Arizona specialty crop industry, as Western Growers is the only organization that compiles and provides this type of data. This year’s survey will include:

  • Exclusive HR data compiled from more than 3,000 employees from nearly 100 companies.
  • Details for 70 roles across companies, including executive, sales, marketing, plant, office, and field jobs.
  • New data for nearly 25 additional field worker positions, including labor sources, compensation, eligibility for incentives and piece-rate, and worker retention programs.
  • Compensation and HR practices for over 20 categories, including base pay, health plan coverage, incentive programs, and merit increases.

“This survey is my trusted, go-to source of pay data that I use year-round for setting compensation for new hires, ensuring internal pay equity within groups of jobs, planning annual merit increases and comparing HR practices with similar companies,” said Stephanie Thiessen, vice president of human resources of The Munger Companies. “We appreciate Western Growers for supporting the annual HR Compensation and Practices survey and for producing a professional, easy-to-use guideline of pay data for our industry.”

Western Growers members can now purchase the surveys on the Professional Compensation & HR Practices Surveys website. Those interested in purchasing the surveys, but are not yet Western Growers members, can easily sign up for membership by contacting Kim Sherman at [email protected] or (949) 885-2265.

About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. Some members also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations, we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

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