Business Email Compromise Schemes on the Rise Don’t let your company be a victim

July 8th, 2019

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Wire Transfer

Hey Jane,

I’m traveling today. We are expanding operations in Mexico and things are moving rapidly. I need you to send a wire transfer ASAP. Wire instructions are below.

Thanks for jumping on this!

Rob

Jane reviews the rest of the email from the company’s CEO and dutifully wires $365,000 in company funds to the account listed in the email. When he returns to the office the next day, Jane is pleased to report that the wire transfer was successful. Rob immediately looks puzzled and concerned.

“What are you talking about, Jane?”

“The email you sent yesterday? You asked me to transfer $365,000 to our vendor so we can expand our Mexico operations. Look, here’s the email.” Jane hands Rob a printed copy of the email. He reads it and turns pale.

“Jane, I don’t understand. I didn’t send that email.”

“Well if you didn’t send it, who did?”

“I don’t know,” says Rob, “but there are two ‘n’s in Hannigan – and I think we’ve been taken for $365,000.”

 

CEO Fraud

The anecdote above is an example of “spear phishing,” a type of business email compromise (BEC) scheme in which criminals impersonate a high-level executive and attempt to trick employees into sending money to an overseas account they control. In the fictional example of CEO fraud above, attackers have spoofed Robert Hannigan’s email address (note the spelling of his name in the email is off by one letter) and assumed his identity. From Jane’s point of view, the email appears as real as the countless others she has received from her boss over the years, although the urgent request to wire such a large amount of money from Rob, she would later admit, was unusual. However, actual cases like this one happen every single day.

The FBI has been tracking BEC crime since 2013, and has found that international crime groups have targeted companies of all sizes in every state in the United States and more than 100 countries, resulting in losses of more than $3 billion to U.S.-based victims alone. Sophisticated criminal enterprises employ hackers, social engineers, linguists and lawyers. They have become increasingly adept at the art of deceiving and exploiting unsuspecting victims to perpetrate these schemes. The attacks are often targeted and planned far in advance before sending the attack email. Oftentimes, they use malware to spy on the organization’s employees—learning the internal facets of the organization including the email and communication styles of executives, vendor payment processes, and billing systems. Using this information, they are able to credibly impersonate the executive and send a money-transfer request to the carefully targeted employee with access to company finances. They then attempt to deceive them into wiring funds to bank accounts thought to be trusted, but are actually offshore accounts controlled by the criminals.

 

Phony Invoices

The phony invoice scheme is not new. Criminals have long sent bogus invoices to companies knowing that some percentage of them will be paid without question. A more sophisticated BEC version of the fraud involves criminals posing as a vendor with whom the targeted business has a longstanding business relationship. The attacker will send the company what appears to be a genuine invoice with a message that the vendor has changed banks, including instructions to wire payment to the new account. Processing what appears to be a genuine invoice, the accounts payable person has no reason to suspect that he is an unwitting victim of a BEC crime. It is not until the vendor contacts the company inquiring about the lack of any payment that the fraud is discovered.

A member of Western Growers was recently duped by this scheme. A partner in Mexico would typically invoice the company for growing costs. When the company received an $80,000 invoice from this partner, no alarm bells went off. Neither did the message on the invoice asking that payment be made via wire instead of the company’s historic practice of paying by check. The accounts payable person wired the funds as requested, only to learn later that the funds were actually wired to a bank in Slovakia, and the funds swept out soon after. While the member reported the crime to their local FBI office, the funds have not been located or recovered after several months of investigation.

 

What Companies Should Do Now

In light of the growing BEC threat, management has to be more vigilant than ever to safeguard the company’s finances and privacy. Cyber security experts recommend a number of steps companies should have in place to protect themselves from BEC attacks.

•   Don’t trust. Verify. The best way to avoid being exploited is to verify the authenticity of requests to send money. Walk into the executive’s office, speak to him or her on the phone. Don’t rely on email communication or the contact information included in the email. Limit telephone conversations to company directory phone numbers.

•   It’s a scam until proven otherwise. Train the accounting staff that if they receive a wire-transfer request, especially from the CEO or other senior executive, to assume the email has been compromised. Scrutinize the email requesting a transfer of funds carefully, especially if the request is out of the ordinary. Pick up the phone, or better yet, walk down the hall, and ask the requestor to confirm the request.

•   Leverage technology. Intrusion detection system rules can be put in place to flag emails that have extensions that try to replicate the appearance of the company’s email. Also, email rules can be created that flag emails where the “reply” email address is different from the “from” email shown to the recipient. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a tool that can be used to protect email and can be used for payment verification. With 2FA, in addition to entering a password when logging in, the user is given a one-time code from a software or hardware token.

•   Cyber Insurance. Consider purchasing a cyber insurance policy that can reimburse the company in the event of a cyber attack, including a BEC scam. The cyber insurance market is evolving rapidly, and policies vary greatly, so work with your insurance broker to understand the terms of a prospective policy and the policy triggers that will result in the policy paying in the event of a BEC claim.

 

Cyber Weapons

Spear-phishing. Fake e-mails believed to be from a trusted sender prompt victims to reveal confidential information to the BEC attackers.

 

Spoofing. Slight variations on legitimate addresses ([email protected] vs. [email protected]) are used to fool victims into thinking fake accounts are authentic. The criminals then use a spoofing tool to direct e-mail responses to a different account that they control. The victim thinks he is corresponding with the company’s executive, but that is not the case.

 

Malware. Software code used to infiltrate company networks and gain access to legitimate e-mail threads about billing and invoices. The criminals use this information to ensure that fraudulent wire transfer request don’t look suspicious to accounting staff. Malware also allows criminals to gain access to a victim’s data undetected, including passwords and financial account information.]

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM

•  If funds are transferred to a fraudulent account, it is important to act quickly:

•  Contact your financial institution immediately upon discovering the fraudulent transfer

•  Request that your financial institution contact the corresponding financial institution where the fraudulent transfer was sent

•  Contact your local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office if the wire is recent. The FBI, working with the United States Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, might be able to help return or freeze the funds

•           File a complaint, regardless of dollar loss, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.IC3.gov

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Data Storytelling and the Path to Success

July 8th, 2019

By Marlene Hanken

What’s your favorite story? At Western Growers, we are interested in the most compelling story of all—the story of your success. But how do we gauge success? What do those metrics looks like and how do we calculate them?

Much like how the pirate Billy Bones used a treasure map to find buried treasure in Treasure Island, we use data to follow the path to the destination of success, checking our progress and redirecting efforts along the way. Data tells a story—where we’ve been, where we are, and, more importantly for our members, where we are going. As anyone knows, success is not a clear, unobstructed path—the journey is full of perils. As the agricultural industry evolves, so do the obstacles that go with it. The good news is, so is our approach on how to tackle those problems. This is where data comes into play.

To accomplish this we’ll need to harness our internal data sources as well as publicly available data sources, allowing us to carefully assess the produce industry’s climate and trends. To increase the accuracy and versatility of our internal data, we are reevaluating our data standards and auditing our records and procedures. To this effect we will be reaching out to our members through numerous efforts including phone calls, email communications, and surveys. (So don’t miss your opportunity to make sure our data most accurately reflects your products and services…be on the lookout for our phone calls and surveys!)

Simultaneously, we’ll be gathering data from external sources—from seed to harvest, grower to retailer, data can be utilized to improve efforts in ever-growing concerns such as Food Safety and Sustainability. Our goal is to compile and manage agricultural data from every corner of the industry to help us in our assessment efforts and to make those data available to you. We further intend to utilize data to improve communications along the supply chain, promote environmental stewardship, aid in the advocacy efforts, and assess the economic climate of the agricultural industry as a whole.

Our current data efforts are focused primarily on the present state of Western Growers membership with our eyes on the future. Short-term goals include member demographics analysis with the intent to make sure our services are focused where they should be.

In the near future, we’ll be taking a look at the effects of irrigation and weather on nutrient loading—with a further look at ranges and occurrences of nutrients in the environment and how they are impacting member crops. Our more ambitious projects will be fresh produce tracking from grower to retailer, food safety recall fallout mitigation, and food safety source tracking and prevention.

In reality, the possibilities and directions we can take with data are endless…so we need your input to help us guide our efforts.

Are you as excited about our data efforts as we are? Here’s how you can get involved. Email us at [email protected] pertaining to any of the topics below:

1.  Send Us Questions Let us know the questions you always ask but can’t answer because you lacked the data. What do the products look like that would help you answer those questions? Is it a map, a chart, a graph, etc.? This will allow us to focus our data efforts more effectively.

2.  Share Your Sources What data source(s) do you frequently utilize both internally and external to your operations? We’d love to talk to them and put in the work so you don’t have to.

3.  Volunteer Your Data You can email us data your organization has compiled or produced. Because our products aim at serving our members foremost, we’ll need member data to help us develop the tools that help you. We have MOUs and data sharing protocols in place to protect you and your data so your data is safe and secure*

4.  Show Us the Goods We would love to see the data tools you already use so we can add further utility to your efforts, not redundancy.

 

We look forward to propelling you forward on your journey to success!

 

*Contact us at [email protected] for details on how your data will be anonymized as well as kept safe and confidential where needed.

 

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Arizona Legislature Has Very Busy Session

July 8th, 2019

Farming isn’t the only job that necessitates working on a holiday. The Arizona Legislature provided a Memorial Day to remember, working throughout the entire holiday to wrap up the state budget and adjourn Sine Die in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, May 28.

While they did not achieve their statutory deadline of a 100-day session, the last five months were full of major policy issues that required legislative action. For the agriculture industry, that included passage of the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), policies to reign in county assessors, a statute clarifying that fertilizers and crop production materials are exempt from state and municipal sales tax, and a budget appropriation to secure agricultural water infrastructure in central Arizona.

What already proved to be a fast-paced legislative calendar in Arizona was taken to a new level in January when the Department of Interior announced a deadline for the Lower Basin States to adopt the agreed-upon Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). Arizona’s portion of the agreement required legislative authority in order for it to be enacted. A lot of disagreement among the major water entities in the state resulted in hours and hours of hearings lasting well into the evenings. However, with compromise through amendments, the DCP was passed and signed by Governor Doug Ducey on January 31.

DCP is the biggest water policy change in Arizona in the last 40 years. It represents a major shift to conservation over productive use. It allows entities that hold Colorado River contracts to keep their allotment in the reservoir without that water being offered for use to others. Through this agreement, the state has also made significant investments into securing additional water to be left in Lake Mead to prevent further shortages and cutbacks. One component of this is the Colorado River allotment that central Arizona irrigation districts were set to receive through 2026. Under the DCP, they will lose their river allotment in 2023. To compensate for the loss, the state has agreed to help fund the well infrastructure necessary to allow these districts to transition back to groundwater.

On the tax front, Western Growers pursued major policy changes to support our members. Through the budget process, we were successful in clarifying that fertilizers, pesticides and other crop protection materials are exempt from state and municipal sales tax beginning December 1, 2019. Until now, Arizona was one of only two states in the nation charging a sales tax on fertilizer used in commercial ag operations. Since fertilizer is a commodity that fluctuates in price, this sales tax based on price rather than consumption was especially punitive to farmers when fertilizer prices would spike. For cities with a population less than 50,000, the municipal tax is eliminated in June of 2021 to allow a phase out period for most rural cities. Laws to protect the business personal property tax exemption at the county level and the ag property tax classification for farmland subject to fallowing due to drought were also signed by the governor.

Some successes came in the form of bills that did not reach the governor’s desk or were amended in such a way that they were no longer a concern. A bill to ban several pesticides from use in Arizona was never given a committee hearing. Another bill to provide additional representation by the residential pest industry on the Arizona Department of Ag Advisory Council was amended to keep the original council intact and provide an alternative forum for the residential pest industry to provide input to the department.

Our successes this session were the product of hard work among the ag lobbying coalition and a strong representation of farmers and ranchers serving in the Arizona Legislature. Due to another resignation of a state representative for ethical issues, we saw a fourth ag legislator added to the ranks this year. Senator Sine Kerr and Representatives David Cook, Tim Dunn and Steve Pierce are an agricultural force to be reckoned with in Phoenix. All of their livelihoods depend on ag and we are fortunate for their service as state lawmakers.

While legislators, staff and lobbyists all missed out on their Memorial Day barbeques, the work done that day to move the State of Arizona forward was well worth the sacrifice. WG staff is already working on plans for the 2020 legislative session to ensure that our members can continue to operate and produce the best medicine in the world.

 

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Why Supply Chain Visibility is Critically Important

July 8th, 2019

By Mark Petersen, Vice President of Transportation, C.H. Robinson Worldwide

While not always predictable, external factors can have a significant impact on supply chains. It is more important than ever for businesses to know exactly where items are in the supply chain at all times. The ability to watch and monitor a supply chain, often referred to as supply chain visibility, is the best way to adapt to external events and optimize your supply chain for whatever the market brings next.

What is supply chain visibility?

Your ability to track different goods and/or products from pickup to delivery determines your level of supply chain visibility. Ideally, you have a clear view of inventory and activity at all times.

Having a clear view enables you to identify and avoid disruptions and seamlessly integrate with fully automated interactions. As a result, your supply chain becomes stronger and more agile—an even more critical step when shipping sensitive products, like fresh produce.

Total supply chain visibility goes beyond locating your goods. Applying your own shipping data with events happening around the world can deliver advanced insights on how your supply chain works, recommendations to add efficiency, and strategies to reduce risks.

Benefits to clear supply chain visibility

•  Ability to better anticipate and mitigate disruptions

•  Greater agility and flexibility

•  Faster speed to market through clear planning

•  Data-driven analytics to improve long-term results

 

Supply chain visibility needs the right technology

Technology plays a huge role in optimal supply chain visibility and acts as a true “X-ray machine.” The right technology can provide the visibility needed to accurately assess supply chain infrastructure and performance.

The good news is that when you choose to bring in an external provider, you can expect them to dedicate their time to analyzing the opportunities and gaps in your ordering, shipping, transportation, and receiving processes.

Automation offered by the best supply chain providers helps ensure freight flows easily through the supply chain. By creating a “universal language” that is spoken digitally by all parties, technology considerably improves both speed and clarity.

With Western Growers’ exclusive third party logistics provider, C.H. Robinson, you can use proprietary technology to optimize your supply chain and improve visibility—without adding headcount.

Our experience and scale deliver a unique information advantage, creating better outcomes for our customers. At C.H. Robinson, the heart of our technology advantage is our proprietary Navisphere® platform. It connects a network of over 200,000 companies in a single global transportation management system, providing real-time insights and visibility to shippers. The level of automation and connectivity to Navisphere is increasing every day. Currently, over 75% of customer shipments are tendered electronically, and 50% of shipments across all modes are fully automated from order tender to carrier selection.

Not only does the information captured through Navisphere provide you with better visibility, it helps us create an advantage with carriers. Our information advantage helps align carriers to the freight and lanes they want. It is just one more reason carriers choose to work with C.H. Robinson over digital freight brokers.

Our data science team’s deep understanding of predicting where capacity will be in the future, allows us to effectively match our customers’ freight with the right equipment. Our intent is to create a better plan for your freight. By doing so, your supply chain becomes more adaptable and efficient.

How to improve your supply chain visibility

You can’t achieve better supply chain visibility through one single change. Implementing technology must be an organization-wide focus to improve awareness. Here are two steps on the path to greater supply chain visibility:

 

Choose automation and advanced technology

Visibility isn’t about having eyes on everything, all the time. It’s about making sure everyone involved in the supply chain has the information they need, including updates, exception alerts, and knowledge of what to do when things go wrong. This is greatly assisted with automation tools that give back precious time usually spent on menial tasks. With assistance from advanced technology you can optimize route options to provide carriers the freight they want in the lanes they want while maximizing efficiencies.

 

Encourage employees to be versatile in their supply chain knowledge

From the top of the chain, down to the bottom, employees should be versatile. Employees shouldn’t be expected to specialize in one aspect of the supply chain. There is room for improvement across each level of your supply chain—this should be the focus. Strict specialization has the potential to put theoretical blinders on your employees, which will lead to limited visibility across the tiers of the supply chain. These employees are your eyes and ears, and training them to be versatile in their roles will pair well with technological advances. Multi-talented employees can connect the dots and independently solve issues.

 

What’s next

Traditionally, companies built supply chains with a focus on logistics. Analyzing the shipments of goods and optimizing their movement has always been the key to improvement. However, as supply chains grow, visibility through technology is the key to success. With C.H. Robinson’s unique information advantage, you can create smart solutions and better outcomes. Learn more about the Western Growers Transportation Program’s exclusive provider, C.H. Robinson, and how technology can benefit you by visiting www.wga.com/logistics.

 

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Reimagining Food Safety Risk Management with Technology

July 8th, 2019

From an insurance perspective, a fire is a fire. However, not all food contamination and recall events are the same. Recall-related situations can be as simple as first-party business losses where only the insured is affected, or as complicated as holding the supply chain responsible for third-party losses due to product refusal in the marketplace.

Coverage solutions must be created which address the unique fingerprint of each specific outbreak, and now technology is bringing customizable risk management programs to the next level. The team here at Insurance Services have partnered with our Science & Tech division to launch a game changing solution that will digitize food safety all the way through the supply chain. Our Supply Chain Risk Management Solution is an industry-driven solution to take control of supply chain food safety and traceability issues and allow us to develop a more targeted insurance package that meets your company’s needs.

The industry has faced several high-profile food contamination events within the last few years – everything from E.coli to Listeria – and evolving beyond traditional tracking systems will allow the industry to reduce the number of outbreaks, substantially improve food safety and keep consumers safe.

To quote the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

“The ongoing U.S.-wide romaine lettuce E.coli outbreak showed us, once again, that our traditional paper-based food tracking system is no longer adequate for the 21st century. An ability to deliver accurate, real-time information about food, how it’s produced, and how it flows from farm to table is a game-changer for food safety.”

Western Growers (WG) is taking this challenge head on. Our new Supply Chain Risk Management Solution allows us to use technology to advance food safety in four ways:

•  Daily Assessment: offers real-time process control throughout the supply chain, providing companies with daily and continuous input on their food safety performance

•  Track Trends: 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: provides instantaneous case and item level traceability across the entire supply chain using cloud and blockchain enabled technology

•  Financial Protection: indemnification to supply chain participants in the case of a contamination event

Through the successful implementation of this unique software system, our goal is to facilitate continuous improvement every day, quickly recognize and react to data, identify trends and implement needed changes to our food safety programs.

DAILY ASSESSMENT & TRACK TRENDS

We have tapped iFoodDecisionSciences to provide real-time process control throughout the supply chain. iFoods is helping growers, shippers, processors and retailers move their food safety documents from paper to a digital platform. Leaping beyond other systems that copy paper documents and share them electronically, iFoods works to capture all essential food safety data points through the supply chain, resulting in a best-in-class documentation of food safety processes and practices, which mitigates the possibility of a contamination event. Additionally, for our members, it will reduce time for audits and audit preparation, provide real-time data and trend analysis to help ensure compliance and improve data quality and metrics for decision-making.

TRACEABILITY

Beyond data aggregation and analysis, our new software system can also track product throughout the supply chain and can be seamlessly shared using blockchain ready technology if the supply chain requires it. We partnered with Trimble HarvestMark to provide item level traceability that facilitates store level identification of products, which is currently missing with case level traceability. In the event of an outbreak or recall, QR codes on packaging would allow consumers to quickly scan products to determine that they are safe to buy and eat. This feature protects your company and customers by facilitating efficient recalls when warranted. Moreover, this readily available traceback and traceforward capability can quickly narrow and identify the specific products that are and are not involved in a food safety event.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Having served the agriculture and food industries for over 60 years, Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS) knows the issues our members face and are committed to providing services and developing solutions that are tailored to your company’s exact needs. In 2016, we rolled out Western Growers Shield® a comprehensive contaminated products program designed to guide food and agriculture companies through managing a contamination-related event and mitigating exposure. This is the next iteration in the evolution of our industry solution.

The insurance portion of our Supply Chain Risk Management Solution will provide access to superior crisis management guidance as well as legal counsel and claim adjudication. Additionally, you will have a significant level of insurance through WGIS with funds for the following:

•  Business Interruption/Extra Expense

•  Brand Restoration

•  Product Refusal

•  Third Party Expenses

We are also working with the WG legal team to bring a uniform contract back to the table for the industry. If we can use one contract throughout the stream of commerce, in the case of a contamination event, there is no disagreement between supplier and customer on where financial liability lies, and all parties could be indemnified under the terms of the contract and the insurance coverage.

It’s important to note that this system, unlike others, is developed to be open source and to work with other existing systems already in place. It is managed by WG, a trusted partner, for the use of all supply chain participants so that it will benefit the industry as a whole. WG is dedicated to moving the needle on food safety and will utilize anonymized data from this new system to help inform, improve and protect the entire industry and advance supply chain reliability, transparency and responsiveness. Together, with government agencies and all players in the food supply chain, we can work toward creating stronger preventive controls.

WG is currently working with a group of early adopters in the leafy green market segment but welcomes other interested WG members (leafy green and non-leafy green companies) to test the program before a broader rollout takes place. If you are interested in being part of the Supply Chain Risk Management Solution or would like more information, please contact me at (949) 885-2351 or Hank Giclas at (949) 885-2205.

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5G Will Usher in Financial Winners

July 8th, 2019

We are all about to enter the next generation of wireless connectivity known as fifth generation or 5G, which will replace the current high speed standard of 4G. 5G is not widely available yet and most carriers are only offering the service in a few select cities.

But by 2025, the entire U.S. cellular network will be upgraded with very high frequencies to support hardware with devices that demand massive amounts of bandwidth that have at least 10 times the speed of 4G with very vast and precise coverage. 5G also uses much shorter wavelengths then the current 4G standard, which will further provide speed and efficiency. In short, 5G can support more than 1,000 devices per meter above what 4G can. 5G even has a minimum peak downloadable speed of 20Gbps (gigabits per second); contrast this to 4G, which is approximately 1Gbps. Put another way, at peak speed, 5G is actually 20 times faster than 4G. A single movie downloaded over 4G can be downloaded 20 times faster over a 5G network. You could download 10 movies before 4G finished delivering half of even one movie.

Consumers will appreciate 5G’s benefit in multiple situation. 5G will not have a lag or slowdown effect that 4G has. In your home, an entire family can connect many multiple devices, thermostats, smart TV, phones, wireless headsets…the list goes on and on. With 5G, you will not have to worry that your devices will stop working or slowdown as you connect additional devices to your system.

Since there will be a massive transition to the new 5G standard, various companies stand to benefit financially as the world becomes connected to this improved technology. Computer infrastructures, massive hard drives, drones, smart manufacturing, cell service providers, networks, semiconductors and modem makers will all have some skin in the game and be looking to profit on this transformation.

So what industries or companies stand to benefit the most?

Cellphone Manufacturers. That iPhone or android device, iPad or tablet device…none of these devices is currently 5G eligible. Meaning even if 5G was available, most devices could not participate. When 5G does become widely available, virtually all current devices will need to be replaced. The obvious beneficiaries are Apple Inc. (AAPL), Samsung (SMSN LI), Motorola (MSI) and Google (GOOGL).

Cellphone & Cable Service Providers. While this is an obvious one, some companies will benefit better than others. Verizon (VZ) seems to be the standout according to analysts. While AT&T (T) should be a benefactor, analysts worry that the massive merger with Direct TV could be a drag on the organization for years to come. Currently, consumers are trending toward paid TV subscriptions like Netflix (NFLX), Amazon Prime (AMZN), and Hulu. As service providers of 5G, such as Verizon and AT&T, expand 5G broadband services to homes, cable stocks like Comcast (CMCSA) and Charter Communications may be threatened.

Semiconductors and modems. The market for 5G semiconductors, which currently sits at $19 billion, is expected to double over the next five years. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), Qorvo (QRVO), Broadcom (AVGO), and Qualcomm are all chipmakers expected to benefit from the build out. Even test and measurement companies like Keysight Technologies (KEYS), Xilinx (XLNX), Marvell Technology (MRVL) should have sustained growth for years.

Fiber Optics. 5G will still utilize fiber-optic networks. Fiber optics will play a critical role in robotics, emerging autonomy electric and motor vehicles, as well as medical and surgical applications. Imagine a surgeon performing an exam on a patient in Seattle while he is in Miami. Acacia Communications (ACIA), Corning (GLW), and Ciena are all fiber-optic providers. There are also the cell-tower fiber optic networks from the likes of Crown Castle (CCI) and American Tower (AMT).

Data Centers and Edge Computing. When it comes to data centers, think of your local library. If your city has the capability to offer 10 to 20 times more data (books) than it does now, you are going to need to build a significantly larger library or data center when it comes to storing all of that digital information. Dell Technologies (DELL), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Nokia all have a stake in it.

While 5G definitely will have a significant impact on society, it does not come without politics. The current administration is pressuring other allied countries not to use foreign competitors from the like of Huawei, which is China’s largest 5G gear maker. The U.S. wants to position itself as the global leader in 5G, which should be bullish for 5G companies.

 

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Better Together: Technology Advances in Health Care

July 8th, 2019

As technology evolves, the way employees access health care has undergone massive shifts to improve accuracy and methods of care. Errors are costly in any profession, but none as high as in medicine—a study by Johns Hopkins cited medical mistakes as the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.

Advancements in Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology is at the forefront of finding new vehicles to offset medical oversight. EHR is a digital version of a medical chart, which chronicles a patient’s health history across multiple clinics or care providers to track changes in vital signs and labs. This shared data also flags complications such as allergic reactions or past diagnosis, which if not disclosed to a treating physician, can lead to serious complications.

In specialty care, such as a hospital environment, multiple physicians with specific areas of expertise have to collaborate and keep detailed notes, assign prescription or surgical orders with varying methods of treatment that affect the overall patient outcome. Customized EHR systems create checks and balances between departments and care providers, and some hospitals are instituting policies to move away from verbal orders, requiring physicians to electronically log dosage and treatment orders before staff administer them. This is to alleviate miscommunications, track methods of care and properly bill insurance carriers for all services rendered.

Administrator portals such as Western Growers Assurance Trust’s (WGAT) HealthView, connects employees to resources to manage both care and cost with easy access to explanation of benefits (EOB), provider lookups, claims status and copies of ID cards. Encouraging preventative care and disease management are vital to the employee’s wellbeing as well as curbs absenteeism, hospitalization, or premature death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that illness and decreased levels of productivity reduces economic output by $260 billion per year—affecting every employer.

The introduction of telemedicine—virtual medical consultation through a smartphone or computer—provides easy access for after-hours non-emergency care and fills a need specific to the agricultural community where a clinic or facility can be a far distance away. With telemedicine, a virtual appointment is scheduled through an online portal for a video chat with a doctor to diagnose and issue treatment for common maladies. WGAT’s partnership with Doctor on Demand offers employee access to care with U.S. based, board-certified physicians through live, secure video chat to diagnose top medical issues such as flu, rash, infections, upset stomach, allergies, and sports injuries.

As well as issuing prescription refills, Doctor on Demand physicians are able to initiate requests for lab orders through in-network laboratories and review the results. The Doctor on Demand app is available 24/7 and requests can be made for appointments with specific physicians. WGAT participants also have access to Doctor on Demand services for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Appointments can be made with a staff psychologist and psychiatrist. Along with easy access to care, many telemedicine copays are lower than the cost of an office visit.

A clear example of the positive contribution of telemedicine is in curbing the spread of communicable illnesses such as the flu, measles and whooping cough. Through telemedicine, a patient can be seen and diagnosed without risk of exposing that patient to further contact with the general public. Meanwhile, for those with challenged immune systems such as young children, elderly adults, and cancer patients, diagnosing patients remotely for simple medical issues greatly increases the chances for recovery without exposure to medical waiting rooms and unknown communicable diseases. Telemedicine is a powerful tool that reduces medical costs, absenteeism, and stress. Further, the results of having received timely care without having to wait in long lines, improves the sense of empowerment employees have over their health care options.

As the market for health care demand increases with expanding general populations and finite health care professionals and facilities to serve them, telemedicine, along with EHR and self-service health care portals, will be the key to providing the answers on how to serve and support the health care needs without decreasing the quality of care.

If you don’t have the WGAT plan, which includes Doctor on Demand telemedicine services, contact Western Growers Insurance Services for more information and to see how it can help you better manage your health care costs. You can reach a sales team member at (800) 333-4942.

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Posted in WG&S Magazine, July / August 2019 Issue | No Comments »

Award of Honor: Tom Nassif A Natural Selection

July 8th, 2019

Western Growers Chairman of the Board Ron Ratto, who also headed up the selection committee for the 2019 Award of Honor recipient, said selecting WG President/CEO Tom Nassif was as close to a no-brainer as there is.

“How could we not acknowledge his service to Western Growers,” he said.  “We know we are going to be celebrating his career at Western Growers at the Annual Meeting (which is where the Award of Honor is presented each year), it was a natural selection to name Tom.”

While the award has typically been given to an industry member with a hands-on connection to production agriculture, Ratto said there is no one that has done more for the Western Growers community over the last two decades than Tom Nassif. “The Award of Honor is the highest recognition for individual achievement to the ag community. Who has accomplished more for our industry?”

Ratto, who is president of Ratto Bros., Inc., Modesto, CA, is also chairing the search committee to find Nassif’s replacement, as the Western Growers president is retiring at the end of the year after nearly two decades of leadership. Ratto said they are big shoes to fill but the search committee is moving forward with the effort and hopes to have a selection by the Annual Meeting, which will be held November 10-13 in Hawaii.

It will be at that convention that Mr. Nassif will be recognized at the Award of Honor Dinner on November 12 at the Wailea Beach Resort in Maui.

Western Grower & Shipper asked a number of people who are well acquainted with Mr. Nassif to weigh in on his service to Western Growers and his impact on the industry. (Some of the comments have been condensed and paraphrased.)

 

Ron Ratto, Ratto Bros., Inc., Modesto, CA

2019 Western Growers Chairman of the Board.

“I’m a relative newcomer to Western Growers as it has only been the last 10-12 years that I have been actively involved with the board and dealing with Tom. I know some of my colleagues have a history going back 30 or 40 years. My quick impressions are that Tom is brilliant and funny and uses his wit in a very useful way. It has been my good fortune to be involved in this industry with a person of his caliber.

“Under his leadership, this organization has done a wonderful job of building businesses that have brought great value to the membership. Tom has a great staff but he is the leader…and it is to his credit that he has built such a talented staff.

“He has built some great programs from food safety to technology that set the trade association apart. He has done a tremendous job for Western Growers and for the industry. I don’t think there is anyone that has done any more than he has.”

 

Carol Chandler, Chandler Farms, Selma, CA

Treasurer, Western Growers Board of Director

“I first met Tom because of my involvement with California Women for Agriculture. It was Tom who asked me if I would consider serving on Western Growers board as an at large member. Tom saw an advantage in having women with grassroots backgrounds in agriculture serving on the board. He appreciated what we brought and wanted to have a broader scope of participation on the board. Tom is inclusive. Eventually, I was able to get elected on my own right. He encouraged me to step up into a leadership position.

“When I think of Tom, advocacy and diplomacy come to mind.  He is the consummate diplomat.  I’ve seen him in action in both Sacramento and Washington D.C.  He is a tough negotiator but is always diplomatic. A great example is when he introduced Gavin Newsom to the board.  It’s hard to describe, but he wanted to let Gavin know that we were a bit suspicious, but we were open to listen to him.  It was consummate Tom.  He did it in such a funny way.

“I think it is very fitting that we are giving him the Award of Honor, honoring his legacy and the tremendous service he has given to Western Growers.”

 

Sammy Duda, Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., Salinas, CA

Former WG Chairman of the Board

“As Chairman, you get to spend quite a bit of time with Tom. I was struck by several things about Tom. First was his passion for the produce business and his drive to do what’s right for the industry and, especially, for WGA members. He is a tireless advocate for our industry and his stamina is incredible.

“On a humorous note, Tom is also very particular about what he likes especially with his food in restaurants. He is not shy about sending his food back when it doesn’t meet his expectations. I reminded him on more than one occasion what the chef does to the food when you send it back. He replied, “Yes I do as I read Anthony Bourdain’s book”, but he continued to do it anyway much to my entertainment. I never asked for a taste of what he ordered after he got it back from the chef!

“It is remarkable what WGA has become under Tom’s leadership especially with regard to its financial position. Having said that, he has never lost sight of the importance of member advocacy at a state and federal level. His leadership and guidance in WGAT (Western Growers Assurance Trust) and the opening of the Center for Innovation and Technology will be lasting legacies of Tom for many years to come.”

 

Matt McInerney, Former Senior Executive Vice President of Western Growers

“Tom commenced his employment with Western Growers in early 2002, which was a pivotal time in the history of the association, with the recent untimely passing of President Dave Moore. Tom brought to WG unprecedented career credentials. Upon joining the association, Tom challenged staff and the Board of Directors to prioritize both new and existing member services that would enhance the value proposition for WG members. There was a renewed energy on member-first activity for these last 18 years.

“In an endeavor to advance policy at the federal level, Tom took the lead in advocating for having specialty crops included in the Farm Bill, something that was not a permanent situation before his arrival. He was also tireless in advancing legislation for an immigration fix. To this day, he is the lead for all of agriculture in negotiating a solution for the legal and reliable workforce needs of ag. To increase the position of WG as a national influencer on policy, he opened a Washington, D.C. office with WG staff advancing those critical issues important to the membership.

“Since the establishment of Western Growers in 1926, there has not been a president that has left such an indelible mark on the association as Tom has. He was the right man at the right time for the challenges of the position of president. He has been true to the mission to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of the members, and Western Growers is a better place for his dedicated service.”

 

Mike Stuart, Former president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

“I met Tom in 1979 in the middle of the Imperial Valley labor issues when I was working for Western Growers, but I didn’t really get to know him until after he was named president of WGA.

“Both Tom and I realized that FFVA and WGA had a very good relationship and we wanted to continue that. We had many shared members and had the same vision with few differences. And we didn’t let those few differences get in the way of working together. We agreed to attend each other’s conventions when we could. Over the years we became very good friends and have had a very good relationship. Neither of us shy away from differences when they arise and I believe we both respect that in the other. Tom is a very assertive individual. I think it is his basic personality and a result of his legal training.

“As a former employee of Western Growers, I am very familiar with where the organization was when Tom came aboard. It needed new leadership. Tom was an outstanding selection. He was the right person for the right job. He came in and did what had to be done.

“As far as working with him is concerned, a couple of things stand out…one was the partnership we formed, along with others, to create the Specialty Crop Alliance for the Farm Bill. Second, was the effort he put forth when we were negotiating immigration reform in the winter and spring of 2013 with the Senate and Californa’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Tom’s leadership was extremely helpful in putting together the agreement. His skills as a labor negotiator were very much in evidence. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get that legislation past the finish line but it was a heck of an effort.”

 

Gary Pasquinelli, Pasquinelli Produce, Yuma, AZ

Former WG Chairman of the Board

“I met Tom Nassif in 1971, during the contentious labor battles in the Yuma area. I’ve always said we got a ‘twofer’ when we hired Tom. Western Growers always had someone running the insurance side and a different leader for the association side. Tom did both. He shattered that myth.

“I’m not sure we knew when he was hired the degree of professionalism he would bring to the job. We knew we had a good man, but the skill set he possesses might have been a bit of a surprise. His commitment to the job and his integrity is unmatched. I think he can sell ice to Eskimos, but he is as polished as anyone in agriculture. As you can see I am the self-appointed president of the Tom Nassif Fan Club. He has set the bar very high and it is going to be very difficult to replace him.”

 

Vic Smith, J.V Smith Companies, Yuma, AZ

Former WG Chairman of the Board

“I first met Tom shortly after he was hired (at Western Growers in 2002) when he came to Yuma to introduce himself and listen to our concerns. I was very impressed with his desire to help all areas of WGA membership. My best memories working with Tom were associated with our travels. There was the Havana, Cuba, trip with multiple samplings of the finest cigars and his dancing at the night clubs. When I was chairman, he and I traveled to Palm Beach for the Florida group’s annual meeting and I really enjoyed his sense of humor which seemed to improve the further he was away from the office.”

“I think Tom has done remarkable work for our association during his tenure as he has elevated WGA to greater recognition in the state governments we operate in and to an even higher level in Washington, DC.

“He has ‘raised the bar’ for performance and accountability for all of us in our industry. The successes we have had over the last 18 years are directly attributable to his, and his team’s, efforts. We have been very fortunate to have him as our leader.

 

Craig Reade, Bonipak Produce Inc., Santa Maria, CA

Former Chairman of the Board

“My first year on the board was the year Tom became the CEO so I have witnessed him close up throughout his WG career. I was a young man and it was an honor and a privilege to be on the WG Board. The senior partners at Bonipak like Milo Ferini knew Tom and had a very good opinion of him.

“Early on he had quite the presence and just did an amazing job at Western Growers. At the time he was hired, Western Growers was going through some rough times. Tom not only kept us afloat, but what he has done with regard to the bottom line is amazing. I think we got way more than we expected. He has been a man who has worn many hats and has done it well. We all knew about his labor relations skills, but we didn’t know he was going to be able to run all the businesses under the WG umbrella so well.

“On a personal note, he always treated me and my family very well and made sure when he came to Santa Maria that he got to know our business. He is just a good guy to hang out with, though, I wish he was a little more considerate. I have been fishing with him a couple of times and he always catches all the fish. He should be more considerate of his fellow fishermen. He’s a very competitive guy.”

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Posted in July / August 2019 Issue | Comments Closed

Ag Career by Choice Not Birth

July 8th, 2019

Franz De Klotz

Richard Bagdasarian Inc.

Mecca, CA

Director Since 2019 | Member Since 2003

Unlike so many others in this industry, Franz De Klotz was not born into agriculture. His father was a physician and his mother a nurse. However, he did grow up in Fresno, CA, and always had an affinity for agriculture.

“I grew up in the Fig Garden development in Fresno where many of the houses were on one-acre plots,” he said, noting the family always had a vegetable garden and fruit trees in their backyard.

De Klotz was drawn to that work, and even though his folks were in the medical field, when he was a teenager he looked for jobs on the farms in the surrounding communities. Coincidentally, he remembers working for several different fig farms in nearby Madera when he was a teenager.

After high school, he went to the University of California at Davis and then transferred to Fresno State to study viticulture. It was an apropos major as he and his father had just established a vineyard in Madera. “We planted it ourselves. I remember putting in lots of end posts,” he recalls.

The 200-acre vineyard consisted of French Colombard and Chenin Blanc grapes, and it is still in the family today.

After graduating from college in 1983, De Klotz was advised to join California’s Agricultural Inspection Service as a way to improve his ag knowledge and meet prospective employers. In fact, he spent a year inspecting grapes vines in the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys.

In 1985, he was hired by Sun World and worked for them for three years in various capacities, including in the company’s foodservice division at the Irvine Ranch in Orange County. That led to a position with Sysco in their Los Angeles office.

After several years there, he went back to Sun World to work with the firm on managing some of its proprietary crops including the Superior Seedless grape and the Le Rouge Royale pepper. Those were life-changing times for DeKlotz as he met his future wife, who just happened to be the granddaughter of the Los Angeles citrus industry icon, Sam Perricone. After he was married, he went to work in the family business until the Perricone operation was sold in 1999.

That led back to where his career started in California’s Coachella Valley and a position with his current firm, Richard Bagdasarian Inc. “My task, and the reason I came back, was to start Pasha Marketing, which is the company’s vegetable division,” he said. “I have been here ever since as vice president of marketing for both Pasha and Bagdasarian.”

Bagdasarian is a longtime Coachella Valley produce company founded by Richard Bagdasarian in the 1950s. His bookkeeper, Lucille Tidwell, became a partner in the operation and the eventual owner after Mr. Bagdasarian passed in 1966. She was a true pioneering woman in California’s table grape industry. Her son-in-law, Mike Bozick, helped her run the company and grandson Nick Bozick is the current president.

De Klotz said the farming operation controls about 5,000 acres in the Coachella Valley, with 2,500 devoted to citrus (mostly lemons), 1,500 to grapes and 1,000 to vegetables. The vegetable operation grows a variety of crops including green, yellow and red bell peppers, eggplant, green beans, Brussels sprouts and seedless watermelon. The division was an early adopter of organic vegetables and is currently transitioning an entire ranch to organics to be compliant with rules and regulations dealing with organic production.

De Klotz remembers first becoming aware of Western Growers when his mentor at Sun World, Carl Sam Maggio, was heavily involved in the association. In fact, he recently found an old memo that he had sent to Mr. Maggio when he was a young man expressing an interest in the organization and asking if he could become more involved. De Klotz remembers that former WGA presidents Dave Moore and Daryl Arnold shared a condo in the Palm Springs area, which is where he first became acquainted with the association’s leadership. He counted both men friends in those early years of his career.

“I was honored when I was asked if I would consider serving on the board. The history of Western Growers is a long one and I have always thought very highly of the organization. Mr. (Tom) Nassif is one of the great leaders in our industry.”

De Klotz has been active in agricultural organizations in the Coachella Valley including serving on the boards of both the local water district and mosquito abatement program. “I think of it as a way to give back to the community and in that same way I am happy to serve at Western Growers and try to help enhance the profitability of agriculture.”

Franz and his wife, Judy, have four kids, two in college (Emerson at Santa Clara University and Parker at USC) and two still in high school (Lloyd and Olivia).

Looking back at his career in agriculture, he quotes the great Willie Mays talking about his life in baseball: “I can’t believe they pay me to do this,” he quipped.

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Countering the Continued Vilification of Crop Protection

July 8th, 2019

By Jonathan Saragen

 

The issue of pesticide safety continues to be demonized and is frequently raised before the court of law, but it’s in the court of public opinion where we should focus our countering efforts.

As we all know, crop protection technologies truly aid in providing a steady, nutritious diet to families across the country, but they are continuously misunderstood, seen as an easy target, and often misjudged.

The fight against pesticides is evident now more than ever; although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision that glyphosate is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans,” it remains under close examination in the civil court system. In California, CalEPA has announced the intent to ban the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos following its formal listing as a “toxic air contaminant,” even though government agencies at both the state and federal level imposed intense scrutiny of this very issue prior to its registration and use. And recently, the EPA announced that it is cancelling registrations for 12 neonicotinoid-containing pesticides as part of a settlement of a lawsuit brought by beekeepers and environmentalists.

I would note that the EPA often cites action taken by foreign countries in its decisions. For instance, in the recent Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision for Glyphosate, it noted a consistency with regulatory agencies of other nations including Canada, Australia, Europe, Germany, New Zealand, and Japan. While looking to other countries’ decisions to offer another view may serve as a basis of reference, we must not allow it to become the benchmark. Europe, for instance, is taking things to the extreme, and given the global market of pesticides, its actions directly impacts agriculture across the United States. It would be better if the U.S. governmental agencies would engage with other countries on the front end through educational exchanges and data comparisons.

On the bright side, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018 (PRIA) was signed into law and should improve pesticide registration through 2023. This was a long, two-year effort that will provide further resources to the EPA to evaluate and register new crop protection technologies in a more timely fashion, and safeguard modern scientific standards. EPA has committed to swift implementation of the reauthorization.

We, both industry and the relevant government agencies, can do a better job of educating the public on the use of crop protection tools. In the not-too-distant past, the EPA was a defender of its regulatory process, which gave people a concept of the rigorous review process prior to its use. Take California, for instance, where the process is ridiculously thorough. Prior to registration for sale in the state, a pesticide must undergo upwards of 120 health, safety and environmental tests and be further evaluated by the U.S. EPA for an average of nine years to determine its potential for any harm to human life and the environment. If a pesticide is able to pass the gauntlet, and it’s used as intended according to the label, it is in fact safe.

To be sure, there will always be a need for further research to be done to stimulate the next generation of crop protection tools. We can work toward less toxic pesticides and better integrate organic pesticides into the conventional space. In fact, many in the crop protection industry already have a good start on biopesticides.

The public needs to become more aware of exactly how the fresh food they enjoy is produced. The fresh produce that provides nourishment to their families, and a livelihood to many Americans, requires much more effort and science than most realize. Crop protection tools seem to be an easy target for criticism, but they provide much needed protection against pests that would disrupt our food supply.

Western Growers will continue to engage with USDA and other industry partners to promote this awareness. Promoting the process and use of pesticides will serve the nation’s food security much better than the litigation whack-a-mole that we are engaged in today.

Posted in July / August 2019 Issue | Comments Closed

Digital Edition of July/Aug 2019 WG&S Magazine Now Available

July 9th, 2019

It’s all about “agtech” and “disruption on the farm” in the latest edition of Western Grower & Shipper magazine, which is now available online and in print. Click here to access the electronic version of the magazine.

Some highlights from this issue:

Better Together: Technology Advances in Health Care
As technology evolves, the way employees access health care has undergone massive shifts to improve accuracy and methods of care.

5G Will Usher in Financial Winners
Since there will be a massive transition to the new 5G standard, various companies stand to benefit financially as the world becomes connected to this improved technology.

Disruption on the Farm – AgTech Balances Tradition and Technology
Agriculture has always had a relationship with technology, but it wasn’t until about six years ago that the intersection between ag and tech blossomed into a game-changing movement.

Award of Honor: Tom Nassif A Natural Selection
Western Growers Chairman of the Board Ron Ratto, who also headed up the selection committee for the 2019 Award of Honor recipient, said selecting WG President/CEO Tom Nassif was as close to a no-brainer as there is.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THIS ISSUE

 

 

 

 

 

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Western Growers Statement on H-2A Rule Proposal

July 17th, 2019

IRVINE, Calif., (July 17, 2019) — In response to the proposed rule for regulatory amendments to the H-2A program, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

“We appreciate the emphasis the Administration has placed on resolving agriculture’s ongoing labor challenges, and their efforts to incorporate feedback from agricultural employers into the proposed H-2A reforms. While we encourage swift implementation of these important modernizations to the agricultural guest worker program, we also urge Congress to codify these changes into law as we have seen previous regulatory progress reversed by ensuing administrations. Furthermore, legislation will be required to address the pressing need agricultural employers have to retain their existing workforce.”

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 Office Closed July 4 for Independence Day

July 2nd, 2019

In honor of Independence Day, all Western Growers offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4. Western Growers wishes you a safe and happy Independence Day! 

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Early Bird Annual Meeting Sale Ends July 31

July 25th, 2019

Don’t miss your opportunity to save $300 on registration for the Western Growers 94th Annual Meeting. The early bird pricing ends July 31.

This year’s Annual Meeting will give attendees the opportunity to network with premier industry leaders, take part in educational workshops and experience all of the services and benefits Western Growers has to offer. Click here for the event overview.

To register or for more information, visit http://www.wgannualmeeting.com/.

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WG Wraps Up July Board of Directors Meeting

July 25th, 2019

Chairman Ron Ratto concluded the July Board of Directors Meeting earlier today. Over the past three days, nearly 40 directors met in Newport Beach, Calif., to deliberate on policy issues most critical to the future of Western Growers members, and to provide staff continued guidance on association priorities. Key highlights from the meeting are noted below.

Food Safety/Science & Technology: Committee members reaffirmed the strategic focus and activities of the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, which include food safety, automation and data. The committee also provided feedback on traceability technologies and agtech priorities, and addressed adjacency issues with open field cannabis operations and regulatory demands for nitrate application and removal data. 

Legislative: Committee members reviewed and approved positions on a number of California, Arizona and federal bills related to the environment, labor, housing, water, international trade and infrastructure.

International Trade: Committee members were briefed on the latest trade status between the U.S. and China, Japan and India, as well as WG efforts to push for Congressional approval of the USMCA. Other topics discussed included the USDA trade mitigation package, Tomato Suspension Agreement and federal transportation and infrastructure legislation.

Water: Committee members waded into topics related to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, groundwater markets and trading, and Governor Ducey’s Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council. Committee members also heard analysis on the new smelt and salmon biological opinions being developed by the Department of Interior, and the potential impact on Delta operations.

Labor: Committee members were updated on the Administration’s H-2A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as well as several pending California bills related to H-2A worker housing, sexual harassment liability and paid sick leave. The committee also discussed a stalled California indoor heat illness standard, Cal/OSHA’s recently issued Wildfire Smoke Emergency Regulation, and efforts in Arizona to curb runaway workers’ compensation rates.

In addition to engaging on the policy issues, the Board of Directors also audited the fiscal health of the association and reviewed the consolidated budget.

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Annual Meeting Early Bird Sale Ends Tomorrow

July 30th, 2019

Tomorrow is the last day to save $300 on registration for the Western Growers 94th Annual Meeting! 

During the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to network with premier industry leaders and take part in educational workshops, as well as experience all of the services and benefits Western Growers has to offer. This year,Western Growers is proud to once again bring diverse and innovative keynote speakers to the stage, combining different backgrounds from the world of entrepreneurialism to entertainment.  Click here for the event overview.

To register or for more information, visit http://www.wgannualmeeting.com/.

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Blue Banner Company Taps WG’s HR Department for Management Training

July 9th, 2019

Western Growers’ HR Learning and Development Manager Anna Bilderbach recently provided a “Management 101: Introduction to Supervision” training to Blue Banner Company, in Riverside, California.

Vincent Mazzetti and his team, Martin Diaz (HR Director) and Espie Estrada (Food, Safety & Worker’s Comp Director), invited Western Growers to help equip their leaders with the tools they need to effectively work through the challenges and responsibilities they face as managers. Their goal is to transfer their skills, knowledge and expertise to the next generation by mentoring newer leaders within the company. During the training, the managers and supervisors learned about their management styles, as well as picked up new strategies and tactics for effective leadership. Participants’ tenure at the company ranged between two to 47 years on the team.

Private training on all HR-related topics is an available service for all WG members. If employers are interested in providing training to their employees, they can reach out to Anna Bilderbach at (949) 379-3889.

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SB-200 Drinking Water Bill Heads to Governor Newsom for Signature

July 9th, 2019

For the past four years, WG has been working on a funding solution to address drinking water contamination issues in disadvantaged communities. While we initially advocated the funding should come from a small fee on water bills, and increased fees on agriculture that would have been tied to enforcement changes, the governor and legislature instead decided to continuously appropriate $130 million a year over the next 10 years from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Senator Monning’s SB-200 passed both houses of the legislature and is now before the governor for his signature. The bill will take effect immediately once it is signed. Click here for the bill language.

WG Director of California Government Affairs Gail Delihant shares more about SB-200 in the video below:

[VIDEO::https://youtu.be/cbKS8nhCPAE::aVideoStyle]

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Application for 2019 Market Facilitation Program Now Available

July 26th, 2019

USDA has announced the details of its Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which provides direct payments to producers impacted by export market losses caused by foreign retaliatory tariffs. To apply, download the application on the USDA MFP website here. Sign-up for the program begins Monday, July 29th, and ends December 6th, 2019. 

Almonds, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are among the eligible specialty crop commodities. To be eligible for payments, applicants must either have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000 or derive at least 75 percent of their AGI from farming or ranching. Payment limits have been altered and producers are now eligible for up to $250,000.

For specialty crops, producers will receive a payment based on 2019 acres of fruit or nut bearing plants. Rates include:

  • Nuts: $146 per acre
  • Sweet cherries (fresh): $0.17 per pound at 9,148 pounds per acre
  • Table grapes: $0.03 per pound at 20,820 pounds per acre

The first payment will be comprised of the higher of either 50 percent of a producer’s calculated payment or $15 per acre. The first payment will be made in mid-to-late August. MFP payments will be made in up to three tranches (or portions), with the second and third tranches evaluated as market conditions and trade opportunities dictate. If conditions warrant, the second tranche will be made in November, and the third in early January.

NOTE: Almond and sweet cherry growers deemed ineligible for the MFP in 2018 because they had an average AGI higher than $900,000 may now be retroactively eligible for 2018 MFP benefits. These producers must be able to verify at least 75 percent of their average AGI was derived from farming and ranching to qualify. This supplemental MFP sign-up period will run parallel to the 2019 MFP sign-up period.

For more information, visit the USDA MFP website at https://www.farmers.gov/mfp or contact Dennis Nuxoll at [email protected].

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Western Growers Stands with the People of Gilroy

July 31st, 2019

IRVINE, Calif., (July 31, 2019) — In response to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

“The Western Growers family – members and employees across the West – is devastated by the horrific tragedy that occurred at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, resulting in the death of three innocent people and the injury of at least 12 others. Many of our members farm in the Gilroy area, and we know this tragedy has shaken them and all our members on the Central Coast. The Western Growers family extends our deepest condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.”

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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