India Increases Tariffs on Almonds, Walnuts, and Apples

June 18th, 2019

On June 16, 2019, India officially imposed tariff increases on dozens of U.S. products, including almonds, walnuts and apples.

New tariff amounts:

  • Almonds, shelled – 20% increase; new effective rate is INR120/kg
  • Almonds, in-shell – 20% increase; new effective rate is INR42/kg
  • Walnuts, shelled – 20% increase; new effective rate is 50.9%
  • Walnuts, in-shell – 20% increase; new effective rate is 120%
  • Apples, fresh – 25% increase; new effective rate is 75%

For these impacted commodities, India represents a significant market. In the case of almonds, India is the largest importer of U.S. almonds, with 2018 exports exceeding $500 million. India was also the number two market for apples and a top ten market for walnuts within the 2017-2018 year.

Such increases were first announced on June 20, 2018, as a retaliatory response to the Trump Administration’s imposition of increased tariffs on worldwide steel and aluminum imports. However, the actual implementation had been postponed several times as the Indian government continued talks with the U.S. to address the latter’s concerns about the respective trade deficit and certain unfair trading practices. Ultimately, the U.S. revoked India’s favorable trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences, a program designed to help developing countries export into American markets. This action likely pushed India to officially impose the long-threatened tariff increases.

In light of these new trade damages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated it will adjust assistance for these affected commodities within the second forthcoming trade mitigation package; details on what such adjustments will look like are expected in the coming weeks. Western Growers is engaging with USDA on this matter, as well as with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office on this new trade pressure, its impact on our growers, and the need for a quick resolution to all existing trade conflicts.

For questions or concerns regarding this latest tariff update or other international trade matters, please contact Tracey Chow at (202) 296-019.

Determining liability through the optics of PACA

June 5th, 2019

As much as we’d wish it were true, not every disputed situation is black and white coupled with a clear cut remedied path to make us whole again. While we have the ability to review PACA precedent decisions to review outcomes of historic rulings and determine our likelihood of prevailing in certain situations, there still leaves some inevitable grey area when accessing liability. Below is a recently received member inquiry with provided details to determine which party would be held liable:

A LTL truck making multiple stops pulls into our dock to load an order. Since driver’s are not allowed on the dock, our dock staff unloaded the partial pallets and put them to the side while the completed pallets were loaded in, failing to reload the partial pallets at the tail of the trailer. The driver pulls away from the dock, closes his doors and continues to contract destination. Who becomes liable for the partial pallets left behind?

Although it could be seen that there was joint liability in this particular case between the shipper and trucker, there is a fine line of sight to the shipper who’s employee unloaded the partial pallets and effectively owes the supplier in full for the forgotten partial pallets. PACA precedent decisions clearly favor the fact that the Employer takes responsibility for the employee’s actions (i.e. unloaded the partial pallets and failed to reload them). If the truck driver had been able to witness and been asked to acknowledge the loading/unloading process, the liability outcome may have been shifted. To limit this type of liability in the future, it is suggested that the shipper:

  1. Allow driver’s safe access to the loading dock and/or a designated area to observe loading and unloading
  2. Require the driver’s initials or signature on a preload checklist and/or bill of lading acknowledging the contents of the load AFTER loading is complete and BEFORE doors are closed
  3. Limit the claim value by moving the product and reselling the partial pallets to maximize the return and limit damages

Of course it should go without saying that no two disputes are ever the same and there are different outcomes that can be achieved based on the facts that are presented. If you ever come across a similar scenario or have any questions, comments or concerns that you would like guidance on, please don’t hesitate to contact Western Growers Trade Practices Department’s Bryan Nickerson at 949-885-2392 or by [email protected]. The timing is NOW as I stand ready and poised to assist our regular member companies in recouping monies that are owed.

WG Educates 50 Students on Careers in Ag

June 27th, 2019

This month, Western Growers brought 50 students from Cal Poly Pomona, UC Davis, Cal State L.A., Fresno State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to agricultural operations throughout Monterey County and Central Valley to educate them on the different career possibilities available in the industry.

The tours were part of WG’s Careers in Ag Program, which aims to encourage college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry. The program also facilitates career and internship placement between students and ag organizations through WG’s recently launched job board at https://www.agjobboard.com/.

“This experience was so informative—from the personal connections made to the knowledge about agriculture gained. This program brought the classroom and job opportunities I was interested in to life,” said Charlotte Allen, a mathematics major at Fresno State. Allen was among the 15 students who participated in the first-ever career trek with WG, Fresno State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Central Valley trek was held June 24 – 26, and students met with WG members including HMC Farms, Booth Ranches, Anthony Vineyards, Dan Andrews Farms, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Woolf Farming & Processing, Terranova Ranch and Simplot. The scholars also had the opportunity to meet with professional from the Kern County Farm Bureau and Kern Delta Water District.

Last week, 35 college students from Cal Poly Pomona, UC Davis and Cal State L.A. participated in the Monterey County trek where they learned about everything from the labor challenges farmers face to the importance of technology to the future of ag. They visited the WG Center for Innovation & Technology and met with members such as Bayer (Seminis), Ocean Mist Farms, D’Arrigo California, Ramsay Highlander, Taylor Farms, Inteligistics, GeoVisual Analytics, Croptracker, Bear Flag Robotics, Driscoll’s and Monterey Mushrooms. The students also networked with professionals during dinner from organizations including Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, Rincon Farms, Monterey County Farm Bureau and USA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

To date, nearly 215 students have participated in the Careers in Ag program. The program has already resulted in numerous students receiving an internship with WG members, graduating to pursue a career in ag and changing their STEM major to be under the college of ag within their respective universities.

WG’s Dennis Nuxoll Appointed to ATAC for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables

June 11th, 2019

Today, USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced the names of appointees to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee and six agricultural technical advisory committees (ATACs) for trade. Western Growers Vice President of Federal Government Affairs Dennis Nuxoll has been appointed to the ATAC for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.

According to the committee charter, in this role, Nuxoll will “advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative on matters that are of concern to the United States and to its consumers, producers, processors, and traders of fruits and vegetables in connection with the trade policy activities undertaken by the United States.” Additionally, Nuxoll will “provide advice and information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production and trade concerning fruits and vegetables.”

Nuxoll will serve on the ATAC until June 15, 2023.

CA Good Ag Neighbors Workshop Brings Together Fresh Produce and Livestock Sectors to Promote Food Safety

June 11th, 2019

In an effort to promote dialogue between different sectors of California agriculture regarding ways to prevent future foodborne illness outbreaks, the California Department of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with the University of California and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are bringing both the livestock and produce communities together in a series of workshops called Good Ag Neighbors. The first workshop kicked off today at the Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville. The second workshop is scheduled for June 13, 2019, at the Robert J Cabral Ag Center in Stockton.

These workshops are intended to connect fruit and vegetable growers, livestock owners and others interested in learning about how produce safety and livestock management practices can work jointly to promote food safety. The day-long agenda will focus in the morning on reviewing regulations, laws, and practices already in place to protect food and environmental safety, while the afternoon will be spent in various breakout groups examining how these practices can be leveraged. Hank Giclas, Western Growers Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology, is among the presenters speaking during the workshop.   

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE JUNE 13 SESSION

Training Now Available to Help Businesses Comply with New CA Harassment Prevention Training Law

June 11th, 2019

Under SB 1343, California employers with at least five employees must provide sexual harassment prevention training and education to all supervisory employees and non-supervisory employees in California by January 1, 2020.

With the deadline quickly approaching, Western Growers is continuing its dedication and passion to helping organizations meet the needs and requirements of this new directive. As part of that commitment, we are offering Public Sessions across multiple locations to help ensure you are compliant.

SB 1343 Training Requirements

SB 1343, which was enacted last year, requires covered employers of five or more employees (this includes seasonal and temporary employees) to provide sexual harassment training every two years:

  • by January 1, 2020 (meaning training must happen in 2019)
  • within six months of new employees assuming their position (and once every two years thereafter)
  • for at least two hours for all supervisors
  • for at least one hour for all non-supervisory employees

How to be SB 1343 Compliant?

Western Growers has made it easy for you to get the compliance you need. Covering a wide source of harassment prevention material, our Public Sessions are open to all managers. These public sessions target employees with supervisory responsibilities and/or help maintain a compliant workplace. Each session is two hours and meet all of the standards outlined in SB 1343.

The trainings will be available in both English and Spanish and offered at multiple locations, including the following:

  • Salinas – August 15, 2019
  • Irvine – September 11, 2019
  • Imperial – October 17, 2019
  • Fresno – November 6 and 7, 2019
  • Modesto – November 12, 2019
  • Santa Maria – November 18, 2019
  • Bakersfield – November 25, 2019
  • Tulare – November 26, 2019

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE TRAINING

Western Growers members receive a special discount, already reflected in the reduced ticket price of $65; non-members will have to pay the full price of $80. (Click here to join Western Growers and receive the reduced ticket price.)

If employers are interested in providing their employees with the required one-hour training session, they can reach out to Anna Bilderbach at (949) 379-3889. For questions or additional information, visit www.wga.com/training or contact Bilderbach.

FDA Settles Lawsuit with the Center for Food Safety

June 11th, 2019

In October 2018, the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Environmental Health sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to meet statutory deadlines found in 2011’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Center for Food Safety and the Center for Environmental Health said that under FSMA, the FDA must designate “high risk” food that requires additional record-keeping to protect public health. The original FSMA deadline for FDA to designate the “high risk” foods was 2012.

As of Monday, it was announced that the parties have settled the matter and will not require any further litigation.

In a Consent Degree that goes beyond recalls, the settlement between the Center for Food Safety and the FDA is built around a series of deadlines, including:

  • Sept. 8, 2020 – Deadline for FDA to designate the list of “high risk” foods as required by the FSMA Section 204(d)(2)(A).
  • Sept. 8, 2020 – Deadline for FDA to publish a proposed rule, including record-keeping requirements for high-risk foods, also as required by FSMA Section 204(d)(2)(A).
  • Nov.7, 2022 – Deadline for FDA to issue a final rule, including record-keeping requirements for high-risk foods, also as required by FSMA Section 204(d)(2)(A).

This is the second time that the Center for Food Safety has sued to put FDA back on track on FSMA deadlines. The first action was in 2012-14, and brought a newly imposed deadline for FDA’s adoption of its seven basic rules for FSMA.

Fresh Express Releases Blue-Ribbon Panel Interim Report on Prevention of Foodborne Cyclospora Outbreaks

June 11th, 2019

On June 5, Fresh Express released an Interim Report by its Blue-Ribbon Panel on the Prevention of Foodborne Cyclospora Outbreaks.

Multiple Cyclospora outbreaks were reported in the United States in the spring and summer of 2018, linking the outbreaks to fresh produce items and their suppliers. To address these outbreaks, Fresh Express formed a Blue-Ribbon Panel comprised of agricultural leaders—including Western Growers Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science & Technology Hank Giclas—as well as scientists with deep expertise in the biology of the Cyclospora cayetanensis organism, food safety, outbreak response and public health.

The Blue-Ribbon Panel created four working groups focused on root cause assessment, preventive controls, collaboration and testing validation. The Interim Report contains the preliminary findings, recommendations and ongoing priorities of the four working groups to more effectively curtail Cyclospora outbreaks moving forward. The report also contains an easy-to-understand fact sheet about Cyclospora cayetanensis that outlines the illness and symptoms, testing methods, ways for growers, harvesters and handlers to reduce potential risk of contamination, and useful resources.

Click here to read the full Blue-Ribbon Panel Interim Report

Video Highlighting Nassif’s Testimony on Ag Immigration Reform Now Available

June 13th, 2019

Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif continues to push immigration reform for agriculture forward. In April, Nassif detailed the critical labor shortages facing American agriculture and laid out the case for agricultural immigration reform before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

“We have come very close to passing immigration reform in agriculture several times… We have been unsuccessful because we have been divided in our goals and our needs. Only by pledging allegiance to the collective needs of agriculture can we dissuade others from seizing upon these internal divisions and proffering legislation that does not meet the needs of the whole,” he said during his testimony.

Highlights of his testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee are now available in the video below.

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FDA Says Yuma, Imperial Cooler Sampling Found No E. coli, Salmonella Strains in Romaine

June 13th, 2019

IEG Policy/Food Chemical News recently reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found no strains of E. coli or Salmonella in a recent commercial cooler sampling assignment that targeted romaine lettuce in the Yuma, Arizona and Imperial Valley region in California.

The findings were revealed in a letter that FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas sent to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Though the full sampling study has yet to be released, Yiannas said that the FDA is working “expeditiously” to finalize and make public the other findings of the sampling assignment.

Yiannas’ letter also provided updates on produce safety and FSMA implementation, which includes routine inspections under the Produce Safety Rule and continually working to clarify requirements of FSMA. He said that FDA most recently issued a rule to extend compliance dates for the Produce Safety Rule’s agricultural water provisions and announced it plans to exercise enforcement discretion for the Produce Safety Rule requirements for entities growing, harvesting, packing and holding wine grapes, pulse crops and almonds.

The letter also highlighted FDA’s latest action in response to the E. coli outbreaks in romaine lettuce last year. In addition to encouraging the leafy greens industry to adopt real-time traceability, Yiannas said that FDA has been working closely with the produce industry’s Romaine Task Force – a collaboration of growers, industry, trade associations (including Western Growers), advocacy groups, academia and regulatory officials – to identify steps to minimize the risks of pathogen contamination.

The agency’s cooler sampling assignment, which started at the beginning of the year, was also part of the effort to find solutions.

“We collected romaine lettuce samples at commercial coolers in the Yuma, Arizona, and Imperial Valley, California, growing regions through April 2019,” said Yiannas. “A total of 120 samples were collected, with each sample containing 10 subsets for a total of 1,200 assays.”

FDA chose to collect samples at coolers because “we can efficiently collect samples from multiple farms at one location while maintaining the identity of the farms that corresponds to each sample,” said then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in February before he left the agency.

Upcoming Lunch & Learn Webinar Discusses Foreign Supplier Verification Rule

June 13th, 2019

In an effort to help the produce industry stay in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) newly implemented rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers, Western Growers will be hosting a webinar on July 10 to discuss the rule and answer any questions produce importers may have.

The webinar will go into detail on how FDA’s rule on FSVP for Importers of Human and Animal Food and applies to the produce industry. During this online event, Kathy Gombas–the former senior advisor for Food Safety Modernization Act Implementation at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition–will summarize key FSVP requirements and discuss frequently asked questions from the produce industry.

To learn more about the FDA’s rule on FSVP for Importers, read the “FSMA’s Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Focuses on Produce” story recently published in WG&S Magazine and tune into the webinar. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions and learn more about this topic. Register today!

WEBINAR DETAILS

How Does the Foreign Supplier Verification Rule Apply to the Produce Industry?

Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT

SPEAKER: Kathy Gombas, Former Senior Advisor at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Bio.

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Participation is complimentary for WG members.

California Legislature Passes Budget

June 13th, 2019

Today, the California Legislature passed a $214.8 billion budget, which is $1.3 billion more than was proposed in Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision.

The budget provides $130 million for safe drinking water, of which $100 million will come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and $30 million will come from the General Fund. Approximately $13 million from the General Fund will go to fund drinking water emergencies in disadvantaged communities and households as well as for operation and maintenance activities that are cost prohibitive for many households.

GGRF adjustments include a $25 million cut to the Diesel Engine Replacement and Upgrades account, reduced to $65 million from the governor’s original proposal of $90 million. Western Growers and other industry groups will work to restore these funds.

Regarding other GGRF funding categories:

  • Methane Reduction funding went from $35 to $34 million
  • Healthy Soils funding remains at $28 million
  • Clean Trucks, Buses & Off-Road Freight Equipment remains at $182 million
  • Strategic Growth Council was cut by $72 million

The budget also includes $70 million for various projects pertaining to pending Voluntary Settlement Agreements related to the San Joaquin and Sacramento River systems.

In the days ahead, we expect to see “budget trailer bills” that implement the funding amounts contained in the budget.

For questions, contact Gail Delihant or Matthew Allen at (916) 446-1435.

2019 CPS Research Symposium Key Learnings Webinar

June 20th, 2019

Did you miss the recent Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium? No problem. On July 17, 2019, Western Growers members are invited to attend a webinar that will discuss the latest food safety research findings and trends highlighted at the Symposium.

This webinar will present a summary of the food safety highlights from the event and feature speakers who will translate key scientific projects into practical and applicable information for fresh produce growers and handlers. Webinar speakers include experts in the food safety, research and specialty crop sectors including Hank Giclas, the senior vice president of strategic planning, science & technology at Western Growers, as well as other leaders from allied associations.

The webinar is presented by Western Growers, Center for Produce Safety, Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh. Tune in to learn more and share your own thoughts about food safety issues, solutions and trends you see. Don’t miss out, register now!

WEBINAR DETAILS

2019 CPS Research Symposium Key Learnings Webinar

Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Time: 10:30 a.m. PDT

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Participation is complimentary for WG members.

CA State Board of Food and Ag to Have Water Listening Session in SLO

June 27th, 2019

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture announced this week that they will host a public listening session on California’s Water Future on July 2, 2019, in San Luis Obispo.

The session is for state agencies to gather input from Californians on creating a roadmap for meeting future water needs and ensuring environmental and economic resilience through the 21st century. These listening sessions seek to broaden California’s approach on water in the face of a range of existing challenges, including unsafe drinking water, major flood risks that threaten public safety, depleted groundwater aquifers and agricultural communities coping with uncertain water supplies.

We encourage all WG members in the San Luis Obispo region to participate in the listening session. The meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, 4875 Morabito Place, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

The Board intends to hold similar listening sessions in the coming months in agricultural regions throughout the state.

Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illnesses

June 6th, 2019

As temperatures continue to rise throughout California, Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat related illnesses. Heat advisories have been issued for Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties with weather forecasts of high heat over the next week.

Additionally, Cal/OSHA investigators will conduct high heat inspections at outdoor work facilities to ensure employers’ compliance with California’s heat illness prevention regulation and other workplace safety and health requirements.

Employers with outdoor workers must take the following steps to prevent heat illness:

  • Plan – Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
  • Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
  • Water – Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour, and encourage workers to do so.
  • Shade – Provide shade when workers request it and when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.

In the event a worker is experiencing overheating, Cal/OSHA advises them to take a preventative cool-down rest in the shade until all symptoms have passed.

Details on heat illness preventions requirements and training materials are available online on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page.

Western Growers Statement on U.S. and Mexico Trade Deal

June 10th, 2019

IRVINE, Calif., (June 10, 2019) — In response to the deal reached by the U.S. and Mexico to avert the addition of five percent tariffs on all Mexican goods, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

“We are pleased that this potential impediment to trade between our two countries has been avoided. Mexico represents one of the largest export markets for U.S. agricultural goods, and any tit-for-tat escalation of tariffs would be devastating for American farmers, in particular given the current barriers to access to Chinese markets.

“As significant as this deal is in maintaining our regular flow of trade with Mexico, it is equally critical in clearing the pathway for passage and implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Like NAFTA before it, the USMCA maintains zero-tariff treatment for all produce, a provision that led to the tripling of U.S. exports to Mexico over the past 25 years. Additionally, the USMCA contains favorable terms that will advance science-based sanitary and phytosanitary measures and strengthen Mexico’s labor standards.

“With the threat of tariffs no longer standing in the way, as well as other early obstacles that have now been removed, the onus is on Congress to pass the USMCA, which we urge with the greatest expediency.”

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 Statement on the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act

June 21st, 2019

IRVINE, Calif., (June 21, 2019) — In response to the introduction of the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

“We thank Senators Dianne Feinstein, Cory Gardner, Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema for their bipartisan leadership in addressing water supply and drought resiliency needs throughout the country, in particular in the West.

“There is little argument that our existing water infrastructure in the West is aging and in need of rehabilitation and improvement. In order to meet the current and future demands on our water resources, we must continue to invest a diverse portfolio of water management tools, including conservation, recycling, desalination, conveyance, and surface and groundwater storage. This bill tackles these issues in a manner that is both environmentally sensitive and fiscally responsible, and will provide substantial benefits for all of the Western states.

“We encourage the Senate to move quickly on this commonsense and proactive piece of legislation.” 

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 Launches New Technology-Driven Food Safety Risk Management Program

June 27th, 2019

WG’s Supply Chain Risk Management Solution answers FDA’s call to apply technologies to advance and improve food safety to protect public health

IRVINE, Calif. (June 27, 2019) – During a Forbes AgTech Summit session today moderated by Frank Yiannas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, Western Growers (WG) launched its new Supply Chain Risk Management Solution, a unique and comprehensive program that aims to reduce the number of food contamination outbreaks, substantially improve food safety and keep consumers safe.

“This industry-driven solution is a momentous step in taking control of supply chain food safety and traceability issues as identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. “We have faced several high-profile food contamination events within the past few years, and this program will allow us to go beyond the traditional paper-based food tracking system and improve industry information while addressing concerns identified by public health authorities and consumers.”

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The Supply Chain Risk Management Solution utilizes new technology to advance food safety in several ways:

  • Daily Assessment: While industry currently assesses compliance and successful implementation of practices through third-party audits (a snapshot in time), this program’s unique software system allows companies daily and continuous input on their food safety performance.
  • Track Trends: This system allows companies to easily review and track food safety data to identify trends that facilitate ongoing improvements in food safety practices throughout the supply chain.
  • Traceability: The program provides instantaneous case and item level traceability across the entire supply chain using cloud and blockchain enabled technology.
  • Financial Protection: The solution offers indemnification to supply chain participants in the case of a contamination event.

WG has partnered with iFoodDecisionSciences to deliver the unique software system which allows companies the ability to assess and track all food safety systems and processes in real time and provides actionable information on needed improvements. Additionally, Trimble HarvestMark’s blockchain enabled technology provides a readily available traceback and traceforward capability that can quickly narrow and identify the specific products that are and are not involved in a food safety event. The insurance portion of the Supply Chain Risk Management Solution offers access to superior crisis management guidance from WG Insurance Services as well as legal counsel and claim adjudication.­­­

Several WG member companies that grow, ship and process leafy greens are currently testing this software. When these pilot projects are complete, the solution will be widely available. The Supply Chain Risk Management Solution is designed to be open source and to work with other existing systems already in place. WG will utilize anonymized data from the program to help inform, improve and protect the entire industry and advance supply chain reliability, transparency and responsiveness.

For more information about the Supply Chain Risk Management Solution, contact Hank Giclas at [email protected] or Jeff Gullickson at [email protected].

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.

About iFoodDecisionSciences:
iFoodDecisionSciences is a leading provider of food safety and process control data management software solutions for growers, shippers, packers, processors and distributors. iFoodDecisionSciences’ client-centered SaaS offerings provide easily accessible database and underlying analytics for regulatory compliance and process improvements. iFoodDecisionSciences is privately held. For more information, visit www.idsfoodsafety.com.

About Trimble HarvestMark:
HarvestMark® is a leading fresh food traceability, smart contract and quality insights platform. HarvestMark solutions deliver transparency and unparalleled efficiency and insight into the fresh food supply chain. HarvestMark’s platform and tools enable food producers, distributors and retailers to establish a transparent supply chain, optimize product quality and freshness, and build consumer loyalty, while increasing sales and driving down costs. HarvestMark is a Division of Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB). For more information, visit www.harvestmark.com.

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Natalie Berend Joins Western Growers Insurance Services as Senior Director of Commercial Lines

June 4th, 2019

IRVINE, Calif. (June 4, 2019) – Western Growers Insurance Services is pleased to announce the addition of Natalie Berend as Senior Director of Commercial Lines. In this role, Berend will lead the Account Management team and is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating operational needs. She will also lead carrier relationships and premium production goals while expanding the capabilities of the team.

“Natalie is the best of the best and brings a great deal of experience to our team,” said Jeff Gullickson, Senior Vice President of Western Growers Insurance Services. “We continue to add top industry talent to our team.”

Berend brings over 30 years of industry experience with her to Western Growers. As senior vice president of a national insurance brokerage, some of her responsibilities included delivering services to clients, maintaining client relations and overseeing the company’s risk management efforts.

“I am looking forward to applying my expertise in insurance to agribusiness as I expand my knowledge about the industry,” said Berend. “Western Growers has a reputation of leadership in agriculture which I am proud to now be a part of.”

Berend, who lives in Thousand Oaks, CA, holds her Associate of Risk Management designation.

Image of Natalie Berend 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, Colorado and New Mexico. 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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WG Government Affairs Director Matthew Allen Provides Updates on California Bills

June 4th, 2019

Last Friday marked the deadline for bills to pass out of the house of origin. Matthew Allen, director of California government affairs at Western Growers, provides members with updates on the following bills:

  • AB-555 – Paid sick leave
  • AB-628 – Employment: victims of sexual harassment: protections
  • SB-135 – Paid family leave
  • AB-1783 – H-2A worker housing: state funding: streamlined approval process for agricultural employee housing development

[VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-P57G3IBw&feature=youtu.be::aVideoStyle]