Western Growers will be hosting its 93rd Annual Meeting on October 28 – 31, 2018, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California. Registration will open shortly. More information can be found at http://www.wgannualmeeting.com/.
To become a sponsor for this year’s annual meeting, contact Kim Sherman at (949) 885-2265.
It is with heavy heart to report that Rick Antle, president and CEO of Tanimura & Antle, passed away on Saturday, April 14, following a brief battle with cancer. Antle was 61 years old.
“Rick was the driving force of much of the success at T&A and his leadership is credited with countless innovations and initiatives that have also benefited the entire produce industry. He generously gave his time, talent and resources to improve the company, community and more broadly, the produce industry he loved,” said Matt McInerney, senior executive vice president of Western Growers. “The lesson that can be learned from Rick is to always be looking at the continuous improvement and never be afraid to fail. Rick was never a person who was satisfied with the status quo and was willing to take risks that looked at new technologies and improvements with business processes. We have lost a true leader and he will be sorely missed.”
According to his obituary, Rick was born on December 15, 1956, in Salinas, California to Robert (Bob) and Sue Antle. Through hard work, perseverance, and leadership, Rick became the epitome of a true industry icon. He followed in the Antle family tradition of leadership and innovation, and helped propel the produce industry forward for decades. He was a fearless captain, a true visionary, a selfless leader and a revolutionary risk-taker. In 1982, Rick and his father formed Tanimura & Antle with the Tanimura family. Together, it became a perfect partnership of the Antles’ strong packing and shipping expertise with the Tanimuras’ farming expertise. Rick served as president and principal of Tanimura & Antle since its inception in 1982 and CEO since 2003.
Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Tonya Antle, his mom, Sue Antle, his sons, Brian Antle, Jeff Antle, Anthony Pavich, daughter, Natalie Drobny, and grandchildren, Cameron and Spencer Antle. He is also survived by his siblings and many nieces and nephews.
On Friday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed into law legislation that allows the Arizona Department of Agriculture—rather than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—to oversee the FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety in Arizona. The bill, SB 1063, was sponsored by Senator Gail Griffin.
The new law provides the Arizona Department of Agriculture the ability to enter into agreements with FDA, allowing audits done under the current Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement to be considered in compliance with the federal law. This would result in a reduction of duplicate inspections.
Help establish priorities for iceberg lettuce research by participating in the Arizona Iceberg Lettuce Research Council’s (AILRC) 2018 iceberg lettuce research survey.
The AILRC requests your participation in the following survey: https://tinyurl.com/AILRC-2018
The results of the survey will help determine the needs of the iceberg lettuce producers when prioritizing research projects that are funded by the AILRC. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete, and all surveys must be completed by April 15, 2018.
If you have any questions or have technical difficulties with the survey, please contact the AILRC Administrator, Lisa James at 602-542-3262 or [email protected].
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently modified the contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) covering families. The 2018 contribution limit for HSAs linked to family coverage will be $6,850—not $6,900, as the IRS had previously announced.
In its Internal Revenue Bulletin No. 2018–10, released March 5, the IRS clarified that for HSAs, the annual tax-deductible contribution limit for tax year 2018 will stay at $3,450 for HSA account holders with self-only coverage through a high-deductible health plan. However, the limit must be lowered to $6,850 for account holders with family coverage through a high-deductible plan.
For employer adoption assistance programs, the maximum amount that can be excluded from an employee’s gross income for qualified adoption expenses is reduced to $13,810 from $13,840. Also, the adjusted gross income threshold after which the adoption exclusion begins to phase out is reduced to $207,140 from $207,580.
Please note that individual contribution limits are unchanged. Additionally, health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), transit and other benefit limits now linked to the chained CPI were not affected for 2018.
Because these changes apply to tax year 2018, employees contributing to an HSA should be informed of the reduced maximum limit, and adjustments in contributions for the remainder of 2018 may be needed. Employees who have already contributed the maximum amount for 2018, such as a one-time HSA contribution at the beginning of the year, will need to receive a refund of the excess contribution. Generally, employees who over-contribute to an HSA and don’t correct it will get hit with a 6 percent excise tax.
For questions or more information, please contact Jon Alexander at (949) 885-2330.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released their annual “Dirty Dozen” list yesterday, and once again, the group targeted strawberries and spinach as having the most pesticide residues. The EWG has a reputation of misleading consumers about pesticide residues and produce, and year over year, their list has been repeatedly discredited by scientists and peer reviewed studies.
According to sampling data collected by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 99 percent of residues on fruits and vegetables, when present at all, are well below safety levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. FDA sampling shows that 50 percent of the foods sampled had no detectable residues at all.
“For over two decades the authors of this list have inaccurately disparaged healthy and safe fruits and veggies to the detriment of consumers,” said the Alliance for Food and Farming in a press release. “Since a farmer’s first consumer is his or her own family, providing safe and wholesome food is always their priority. Consumers should be reassured by the farmers’ commitment to food safety and government reports that verify that safety year after year.”
As part of an ongoing commitment to disseminate correct facts about fresh produce safety, the Alliance for Food and Farming encourages consumers to visit safefruitsandveggies.com to obtain science-based information about the safety of organic and conventional produce.
The answer is yes and no. Yes, you retain Trust rights providing that your invoice reflects payment terms as PACA Prompt or Net 10 Days. This protection allowing for printed language on the invoice is extended to licensees of the PACA. All other non-licensees are required to submit a written statement to preserve Trust rights.
No, if your invoice provides any terms beyond the 10 days, and you do not have a signed agreement for those extended payment terms.
If, for example you have reached an agreement with your buyer to extend payment terms beyond 10 days, which we strongly advise against, you must have a separate agreement in writing and, those terms must also be clearly stated on your invoice. In no case, however, will you be eligible for the PACA Trust if you extend payment terms beyond 30 days, regardless whether or not you have a separate written agreement.
To retain the Trust protection when you have extended payment terms (example 21 days net) both parties must have a written agreement before entering into the transaction and must maintain a copy of the agreement in their records, and the terms for payment (i.e. 21 days) must be disclosed on invoices, accountings, and other documents relating to the transaction.
The maximum time for payment for a shipment to which the seller, supplier, or agent can agree and still qualify for coverage under the trust is 30 days after receipt and acceptance of the commodities.
While we encourage you not to entertain extended payment terms, should you against our better advice, decide to extend terms, we have provided you with an example agreement letter HERE.
While on the subject of payment terms and the qualifying Trust language, we encourage you to compare the following to the language you have on your invoice.
The perishable agricultural commodities listed on this invoice are sold subject to the statutory trust authorized by section 5(c) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499e(c)). The seller of these commodities retains a trust claim over these commodities, all inventories of food or other products derived from these commodities, and any receivables or proceeds from the sale of these commodities until full payment is received.
Editor’s Note: Since this article was published there have been further updates to report. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued regulatory guidance on June 7, 2018 to clarify the applicability of the “Agricultural Commodity” exception with the “Hours of Service of Drivers.” To read more on the updated guidance language, please click here.
Western Growers has analyzed how the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will affect members.
Below is our analysis of the FMCSA temporary exemptions and waivers and the permanent exemptions when transporting agricultural commodities in interstate commerce:
There is currently a federal waiver to the requirement to use electronic logging devices while transporting agricultural commodities in interstate commerce within 150 air-miles from the source of the commodity. (FMCSA Exemptions Fact Sheet)
What this means: A limited 90 day waiver (Effective March 18, 2018, expiring June 18, 2018) granted by FMCSA from the Federal hours-of-service regulations pertaining to electronic logging devices (ELDs) for the transportation of agricultural commodities moving in interstate commerce.
Permanent 150-air mile radius exemption – not subject to Hours of Service
What this means: When transporting agricultural commodities within a 150-air mile radius from the source, the interstate transportation is not subject to hours-of-service regulations under the FMCSA. Since hours-of-service regulations to not apply, the carrier is not required to maintain a record of on-duty status. “Source” is currently understood to mean first point of processing or preparing for market.
The recording of on-duty status will apply whenever the driver exceeds the 150-air mile radius. At this point the carrier may record his or her hours of service using paper logs while the 90 day waiver, as described above, is in force. Upon entering the original 150 air-mile radius on a return trip (unladen) back to the “source” the driver is no longer subject to Hours of Service regulations.
Contract negotiations can many times become a daily routine that can lend to complacency. As a reminder, unless you use precise and clear language on any special terms that you want to be a fundamental requirement at time of contract negotiations, you are vulnerable to those terms having not been agreed upon. Therefore, selling and shipping fresh produce commodities with a standard sales contract includes an implied warranty, as required under an FOB contract. This warranty means that you are obligated to load produce in suitable shipping condition, it must be the kind and quality of the particular fruit or vegetable that, under normal transportation conditions will arrive at contract destination meeting the good delivery standards as specified by the PACA.
If you deviate from a standard sale different from an FOB, no grade contract, you need to verbalize and document that exclusion, otherwise you may find yourself dealing with a customer who may be claiming a breach of contract. Disclaimers of implied warranties need to be in writing and well documented. This includes any exceptions, whether it be due to some quality issue, or condition situation attributable to weather or other growing conditions, where you would trigger a specific exclusion. There can also be an expressed warranty, where your buyer may have specified certain expectations at contract destination that may be different from those of good delivery standards. Whenever there is a deviation from the standard FOB or Delivered Sale calling for additional or limited contract terms you need to have full disclosure, meaning not only verbally agreed to, but also reduced to writing in advance, or simultaneously at time of shipping. This notification can be first documented on the usual passing document that all shippers are encouraged to utilize. Although there may be some industry slang terms often used, we find that on some occasions the terms are technically not defined by the USDA, and therefore, need to be clear, precise and in writing with your customer to avoid any misunderstanding.
In addition to have the special terms and/or the exclusions on your passing, those special terms MUST be shown on your invoice. Remember, the invoice is the official document that memorializes the agreement between you as the seller, and your buyer. The simple rule to go by is, if it is not documented in writing, it does not exist.
If you are uncertain about what is, or is not excluded from your contract in order to comply with requirements at contract destination, please email or contact Ken Gilliland or Matt McInerney for a further review and assistance. Finally, the Trade Practice Department of Western Growers is available by phone or email starting at 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Please let us know how we can serve you, your colleagues and company.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill 25 positions on its Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). FVIAC was established in 2001 to examine issues facing the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on ways to improve programs to better meet the changing needs of the produce industry.
The Committee’s charter expired in July 2017. However, on Monday, the USDA announced that it will reestablish the FVIAC charter and is in need of committee members to fill all 25 positions.
FVIAC membership consists of 25 members who represent the fruit and vegetable industry. This includes individuals representing fruit and vegetable growers/ shippers, fruit and vegetable wholesalers/distributors, brokers, retailers/restaurant representatives, fresh-cut and other fruit and vegetable processors and foodservice suppliers. This also includes professionals representing farmers markets and food hubs, organic and non-organic fruit and vegetable representatives, and representatives from state departments of agriculture, farmer organizations and produce trade associations.
Written nominations must be received by May 24, 2018, and should be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected] or sent to c/o Marlene Betts, Acting Designated Federal Officer, Specialty Crops Program, USDA Room 2077-S, Stop 0235, Washington, D.C. 20250.
See the official notice from USDA or visit the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee website for more information. For questions, contact Matt McInerney at (949) 885-2263.
Western Growers members should be aware that the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) has recently expelled Karl Logistics Inc. (Karl Logistiques Inc.) from its membership for failing to provide information as requested and not paying its debts. If any Western Growers members are considering selling Karl Logistics or have questions about potential implications of business with Karl Logistics, please contact either Matt McInerney at (949) 885-2263 or Ken Gilliland at (949) 885-2267.
With spring in full swing and summer only a few months away, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to take the necessary steps to ensure their employees are protected during heat waves. Extreme heat is the number one weather-related killer in the country, so preventing heat-related illnesses is crucial.
Here are some recommendations for employers:
To stay up-to-date on the standard, you can refer to the Cal/OSHA guidance on the new requirements and the Heat Illness Prevention Enforcement Q&A. For more information, you can also visit Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention page.
On April 25 and 26, the U.S. Department of Labor will be processing Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) and Farm Labor Contractor Employee (FLCE) Certificates at its satellite office in Clovis, California. The satellite office—the Western Regional Farm Labor Certificate Processing Office at Clovis—will be processing certificates for all FLC/FLCE’s by appointment only.
Appointments are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and can be made by calling (415) 241-3505. Drop off applications are welcome. To drop off Farm Labor Contractor Applications, pick up forms or speak to a Specialist and the FLC Program Manager regarding questions, visit the Clovis office on April 25 or 26.
The office is located at 395 W. Spruce Ave, Ste. 102, Clovis, CA 93611.
Insurance veterans lead employee benefits expansion throughout California
IRVINE, Calif. (April 12, 2018) – Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS) is pleased to announce two senior appointments—Paul Barry and Kris Hansen—to further strengthen and expand tailored insurance offerings throughout California.
“As we continue to expand our insurance offerings in regions across California, Paul and Kris will play an essential role in directly delivering exclusive and second-to-none health benefit offerings to those in need of quality care and coverage,” said Jeff Gullickson, Senior Vice President of WGIS. “They are accomplished sales executives who understand how to provide the kind of client service and insurance counsel on which Western Growers has built its reputation.”
PAUL BARRY
Paul Barry joins the insurance services team as a Sales Executive, bringing more than 10 years of sales experience. Barry, who has been in the employee benefits space since 2015, will focus on expanding Western Growers’ client base in Northern California and providing further risk management solutions to new and existing customers.
“When Western Growers made the call I knew I had to answer. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a niche company that has been thriving for nine decades and in which their focus and mission is to protect and sustain the California agricultural industry?” said Barry. “Farmers, growers, shippers and packers all create such a tangibly invaluable and precious commodity through their unwavering dedication and passion of agriculture and I am proud to support them.”
He most recently worked for a top brokerage firm headquartered in San Jose where he was responsible for sourcing sales opportunities and marketing specifically to the unique needs of the client. Barry, who was born and raised in Sacramento, currently resides in El Dorado Hills, Calif., with his wife and two children.
High-resolution image of Paul Barry is available here.
KRIS HANSEN
Kris Hansen will serve as the insurance services team’s new Sales Executive. In his role, he will be responsible for brokering employee benefit insurance products to new and existing Western Growers’ customers in the Ventura, Paso Robles and Bakersfield areas.
“Being raised on a ranch in Bakersfield and a former business owner, I consider it an honor to use the knowledge that I have acquired to strategically bolster our insurance practice to help further meet the needs of our clients,” said Hansen. “I’m very passionate about the future of the agricultural community and how the grower of tomorrow can operate a profitable operation that can be passed down to the many generations to come.”
Hansen was previously a business owner for 27 years, owning a concrete construction company and an insurance agency. He grew up raising cattle on his family farm in Bakersfield. Hansen attended Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield, and he is currently working on a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Certification.
High-resolution image of Kris Hansen is available here.
About Western Growers Insurance Services:
Western Growers Insurance Services, Inc. is the wholly-owned insurance brokerage of Western Growers and offers full-service risk management solutions to agricultural and related industry members in California, Arizona and Colorado. Since first offering health insurance and employee benefits back in 1986, WGIS has expanded to include property and casualty insurance, safety and loss control services and health care reform consulting. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers and WGIS on Twitter and Facebook.
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IRVINE, Calif. (April 23, 2018) – Western Growers has endorsed a water bond initiative likely to appear on the November 2018 California ballot. The measure would invest $8.877 billion in water infrastructure and programs throughout the state. Following a board discussion and vote on the matter, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:
“The Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 would provide funds to address a host of California’s critical water priorities, including safe drinking water, wastewater recycling, watershed restoration and fish and wildlife habitat conservation.”
Among other provisions, the bond would help restore the capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal, a vital component of the state’s infrastructure that conveys water to 1.3 million acres between Bakersfield to Fresno. The initiative would also provide funds to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and speed the implementation of safe drinking water actions in areas affected by chronic well contamination problems.
“All Californians would benefit from this water bond as the health of our watersheds, wildlife habitats and rural and urban communities all depend on the smart management of our water resources and appropriate levels of funding for improvements to our infrastructure,” Nassif continued. “Furthermore, this water bond would provide tremendous benefits to farmers in every region of the state. These investments would go a long way in helping California protect its farm economy.”
Signatures are being submitted to qualify the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 for the November ballot.
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’ Ken Barbic to serve as USDA Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
IRVINE, Calif. (April 26, 2018) – The U.S. Senate today confirmed President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Ken Barbic to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. Barbic joined Western Growers in 2009, and in his role as senior director of federal governmental affairs, he has worked to advocate on a number of issues including immigration reform, tax reform and the need to open international markets for U.S. agriculture. Additionally, he has served as a leader in the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, developing recommendations and advocating for the 2014 Farm Bill.
“Ken has played a crucial role in moving the needle forward to advance the sustainability of the specialty crop industry, and his extensive legislative and industry experience will be a true asset to USDA,” said Tom Nassif, president & CEO at Western Growers. “His dedication to fighting and advocating for the farmers and farmworkers who are feeding our nation and world is unmatched, and he is going to be missed here at Western Growers.”
“Secretary Perdue is one step closer to a full team at the Agriculture Department. I’m pleased the Senate quickly confirmed Mr. Barbic in a bipartisan manner. Mr. Barbic has a strong understanding of agriculture, and we look forward to working with him,” said U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, in a press release.
Barbic, a Bakersfield native, also served as the Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs from 2007 to 2009. In that capacity, he advocated on behalf of USTR on issues related to agriculture, labor and environment policy, trade preferences, WTO disputes and negotiations, as well as promoting passage of Free Trade Agreements with Panama, Colombia, and Korea. Barbic started his career in Washington with the House Ways and Means Committee.
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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As part of Western Growers’ efforts to bring innovative technologies directly to growers, the WG Center for Innovation & Technology is hosting “Innovation in the Central Valley” on May 8, 2018.
Innovation in the Central Valley will feature educational forums and robust networking opportunities while showcasing cutting-edge innovations for the agricultural community. It will also include two engaging keynote addresses from Michael Harries of The Robotics Hub and Andra Keay of Silicon Valley Robotics.
Activities and highlights include:
The event will also include R&D tours in the morning [invite only] and an education portion for students in the early afternoon. The educational session will feature a “Student AgSharks Competition,” where students from local youth organizations will hear pitches from agtech startups and team with venture capitalists to provide feedback.
Innovation in the Central Valley is part of the WG Center for Innovation & Technology’s key focus to bring agtech to your backyard. In February, WGCIT hosted “Innovation in the Imperial Valley” that brought growers in the Imperial Valley, researchers, technologists and entrepreneurs together for riveting discussions about future farming technology. A recap of the event can be found here.
EVENT DETAILS
Innovation in the Central Valley
Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Time: 3:00pm – 8:00pm PST
Location: Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (9240 S Riverbend Ave, Parlier, CA 93648)
RSVP: REGISTER HERE
The event is sponsored by Reedley College, California Community Colleges, Netafim and University of California – Agriculture and Natural Resources. For questions, please contact Dennis Donohue at (831) 594-4883.
The Agriculture Personnel Management Association (APMA) is offering courses for human resource professionals working in the agricultural field. The program consists of eight courses, which can be taken individually or as part of a certificate program.
HR professionals are encouraged to go through this program to stay up to date on relevant topics ranging from legal compliance to employee relations.
The courses will take place in Salinas, California, beginning on April 19, 2017 and concluding at the end of August. WG’s Sr. Vice President of Human Resources, Karen Timmins, will be conducting the “Managing Employee Compensation” course on May 30, 2018.
For more information, please visit http://agpersonnel.org/programs/
To register, please visit https://www.wga.com/events/2018-04-19/human-resource-professional-agriculture-hrpa-certificate-program-salinas-ca
Startups specializing in agriculture automation can now apply for a $250,000 minimum investment
IRVINE, Calif. (April 10, 2018) – Western Growers and Radicle Growth have partnered to create The Radicle Automation Challenge, a competition where AgTech automation entrepreneurs are eligible to compete for a minimum of $250,000 in investment capital and exclusive access to farm acreage to pilot their technologies. Four finalists will be chosen to showcase their technologies in front of a group of investors, corporate partners and agribusiness experts and the winner will be announced during the Western Growers Innovation Showcase Dinner at the Forbes AgTech Summit on June 26, 2018.
Western Growers and Radicle Growth have partnered to find and fund the best and brightest ideas from around the world to help automate agricultural functions. The macro- and microeconomic trends require a proactive approach to the increasing demands for food production and decreasing supply of labor. Western Growers and Radicle Growth believe that by making a significant seed-stage investment and providing access to growers to trial the technology that they can significantly accelerate the adoption of ag-automation technologies.
To qualify, companies should have received a minimum of $100,000 in investment capital, or in-kind capital, or have gone through an AgTech incubator or accelerator program. All applications will be reviewed by the investment committee, and a final shortlist of four companies will be invited to present live in front of a renowned panel of judges.
“Agriculture has been at a labor deficit for more than a decade, and if our food production is to survive with a declining workforce we need R&D and more innovative technology,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “Since the opening of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology in 2015, a key mission has been to accelerate the development of labor-saving technologies, and our new partnership with Radicle Growth to launch the Automation Challenge will be crucial in both our efforts to maintain a sustainable food supply.”
“There are two enemies of a start-up, time and money, and we are making a meaningful seed-stage commitment to ensure that we help entrepreneurs bring their technology to market more quickly,” said Kirk Haney, CEO & Managing Partner of Radicle Growth. “The $250k is tailored to the unique needs of automation entrepreneurs to ensure they have enough capital and, in partnership with Western Growers, a platform to trial their technology. If we believe in them, we move fast. We’re really excited to meet the start-ups who could be the future of the industry.”
All applications can be submitted to http://radicle.vc/the-radicle-challenge/. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2018. The finalists will be notified of selection on May 29, 2018.
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. In December 2015, WG opened an agtech incubator—the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology—in Salinas, California to provide startups with the resources and mentoring needed to get their companies and technologies up and running. The Center now houses 51 startups. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.
About Radicle Growth:
Radicle Growth is a San Diego-based acceleration fund that selects innovative ag and food tech startups for investment, ensuring that powerful, disruptive technologies reach their full potential. In additional to providing seed-stage capital, they provide a fertile environment for visionaries in the ag space, not just to grow but to flourish. Their proprietary platform is the only one of its kind in the agriculture industry, thus filling a huge void in the market by identifying the most innovative technologies and accelerating them with a range of value-creation initiatives. To connect and learn more about Radicle Growth follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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Join us on Wednesday, April 25, for a Lunch & Learn webinar that will focus on crisis preparation and response.
A well-developed crisis and communications plan is essential to deal with any crisis. During the webinar, Western Growers members will learn about the importance of protecting a company’s brand and minimizing damage to its sales and reputation. Our expert speakers will discuss strategies and tactics that can help your organization prepare for a crisis, as well as manage an event and rebuild if the unthinkable happens. This presentation will also provide valuable information on crisis planning and on improving an existing crisis plan.
Tune in to the webinar as real-world examples and experiences will be shared, as well as some do’s and don’ts with crisis response, messaging and strategies for the rebuilding phase. Don’t miss this opportunity, join us to learn about this topic and ask questions. Register now!
WEBINAR DETAILS
Crisis Preparation and Communications Strategies: What to Do When the Unthinkable Happens?
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
Speakers:
RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Participation is complimentary and available only to WG members.
