Hank Giclas

Henry Lee Giclas III, loving husband and father and chile connoisseur, passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the age of 63.

Hank, as he was called by all who knew him, was born in Socorro, New Mexico, to parents Patricia “Patsy” and Henry “Hank” Giclas Jr. With a mother who earned her PhD in molecular biology and a father who was a mechanical engineer, Hank came by his widely-respected intelligence honestly, which he utilized in service of the Western fresh produce industry.

During his early years, Hank’s love of agriculture was cultivated working on the family farm in Buckeye, Ariz. Following an extended stint in the oil, gas and exploration business, Hank completed his studies in agricultural education at his beloved University of Arizona—Bear Down!—and taught vocational agriculture prior to joining Western Growers in 1990.

In the three decades that followed until his retirement as Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science and Technology in 2020, Hank built a professional reputation second-to-none. Often described as a gentle giant thanks to his towering stature and patient, positive attitude, he spent much of his career at the forefront of advancements in food safety and agtech.

Given all his professional accolades, Hank was proudest of his strong, 34-year marriage to the love of his life, Kathy, and the accomplishments of his children. (And, maybe, his orchard and garden.) He never failed to tell his family how much he loved them and always made sure to kiss them goodbye.

When he wasn’t exploring the world with his family or quoting lines from “Monty Python” movies, Hank could be found enjoying the great outdoors—no matter the weather—or in the kitchen cooking or baking from scratch, often with ingredients picked from his own garden.

While he may have moved at his own pace in all things, Hank carried with him an unshakeable moral compass and lived by the non-negotiable values of faith, integrity and humility. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughter, Hannah; son, Henry IV; father Henry Giclas Jr.; and brother Patric Giclas.

“Hank Giclas dedicated himself, totally and fully, in service to the people of the fresh produce industry. His career was an unabashed love affair with agriculture, second only to his dedication and devotion to the love of his life, Kathy, and their two children. We have a saying in our organization, that someone especially enamored with and dedicated to the people of our industry ‘bleeds Western Growers green.’ Hank probably coined that saying but whether he did or not, no one will ever embody its spirit more fully,” said Dave Puglia, President and CEO. “Our industry is immeasurably better for Hank’s vision and leadership. Few in our industry labored as long and hard as Hank to produce scientifically valid food safety guidance. For much of his career, he blazed that trail with little company along the way, but because of his perseverance our industry today places food safety at the top of the agenda. Similarly, Hank saw the unlimited potential for technological innovation to solve the most intractable problems and improve every aspect of our industry. It was Hank’s vision to create and then grow the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, which is today at the center of agtech innovation for the fresh produce industry.”

Puglia continued: “His career achievements go far beyond these, but in everything he did, Hank Giclas was that rare and special person who brought strategic vision forward and ensured its successful and practical execution.”

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., in the chapel at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104.

In lieu of flowers and cards, the Giclas family asks friends and family to consider a donation in Hank’s name to MoGro Mobile Grocery, a New Mexico charity focused on bringing produce to underserved communities (and where Hank and Kathy volunteered), or World Central Kitchen, which feeds people in war or disaster zones. Checks for MoGro Mobile Grocery can be mailed to Santa Fe Community Foundation, PO Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1827. Donations for MoGro Mobile Grocery can also be made online at https://santa-fe-community-foundation.snwbll.com/mogro#action. Donations for World Central Kitchen can be online at https://wck.org.

Carl Sam Maggio

Carl Sam Maggio, one of three founding partners of Prime Time International, and a six-decade veteran of the fresh produce industry, died on Aug. 19, 2022. He was 89.

Growing up in El Centro, Calif. and the Imperial Valley, Maggio served in the U.S. Army and went on to graduate from the University of Southern California. He went to work for his uncle, carrot king Joe Maggio, in 1957. In 1975, Carl Sam Maggio, Cookie Bianco and Howard Marguleas launched Sun World International as two main partners in what would become a highly innovative operation. The company started with a citrus deal, added a lettuce operation and then was off to the races. For the next 15 years, Sun World was at the forefront of innovation with such produce items as seedless watermelon, yellow and red peppers, vine-ripe tomatoes and Superior Seedless table grapes.

In 1992, Maggio, alongside Mark Nickerson and Chuck Hodges, founded Sun and Sands Enterprises. Sun and Sands merged with C.H. Sales in 1997, and Prime Time International was born. Prime Time, then headquartered in Coachella, Calif., continues to specialize in red, orange, yellow and green peppers.

Maggio said in an interview that there weren’t many people in the pepper business in the 1990s and he felt the timing was perfect to expand in that particular commodity. “When we started the business, we looked for an opening…and that opportunity was the year-round bell pepper category,” he said in an interview with TheSnack.net.

Thanks to Maggio’s leadership, Prime Time has grown to ship more than 30,000 cases of mini, green, yellow, orange and red peppers daily from their growing areas throughout California and Mexico.

Earlier this year, Maggio announced his retirement from Prime Time International. “Carl Sam, Mark and the late Chuck Hodges founded our company in 1992 and are true titans of the produce industry. They made Prime Time into a leader in the bell pepper category, and we look forward to building upon their success,” said Mike Way, Prime Time International’s Managing Partner, at the time of Maggio and Nickerson’s retirement. “Not only are Carl Sam and Mark leaders in the industry, they are also generous in their support of our community and its many charitable organizations; we have learned a great deal from both men.”

Maggio was the 2012 recipient of Western Growers’ Award of Honor, the associations’ highest award. He served on Western Growers Board of Directors in 1978 and again from 1980-1994, including a term as Chair in 1992.

For Maggio, it was that dedication to the agriculture community that was one of the highlights of his career. “I’ve met great people; great things have happened,” Maggio said at the time he received the Award of Honor. “Obviously, I could retire if I wanted to, but nothing’s as much fun as this.”

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children: daughters Jennifer Maggio and Leanne Ryan, and his son, Sam Maggio.

Bee Sweet Citrus President Jim Marderosian first opened the doors of the company in 1987 as an independent packer and shipper of California oranges. As time progressed and consumer needs shifted, the citrus line expanded to include approximately 10 different varieties.

Now a successful year-round operation, Bee Sweet ships throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Rim countries, including Japan. “We offer customers a 12-month citrus program and still offer personal customer service and a heartfelt commitment to each of our growers and buyers,” said Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications & Compliance.

Bee Sweet Citrus has experienced steady growth during its 35 years in operation and is particularly proud of a handful of accomplishments realized over the last half-dozen years or so. A few recent highlights include:

2015: Bee Sweet Citrus donates $1 million to Valley Children’s Pediatric Center in Fowler, Calif.

2015: Bee Sweet Citrus installs solar panels on its packing facility to offset its use of electricity

2017: Bee Sweet Citrus begins to utilize an innovative automatic palletization system

2019: Bee Sweet Citrus donates a state-of-the-art pack line to the students of California State University, Fresno

2020: Bee Sweet Citrus builds a new wash line in Nipomo, Calif.

2021: Bee Sweet Citrus revamps its label to reflect a new, modernized brand

2022: Bee Sweet Citrus begins construction on a new, state-of-the-art mandarin facility.

“When Bee Sweet Citrus first opened its doors, we only worked with oranges. As citrus became more of a household staple for many families, however, we expanded our citrus line to include lemons, mandarins and specialty citrus varieties during California’s citrus domestic season,” said Bienvenue. “Now, we offer our customers a 12-month citrus program to meet the needs of families year-round, and supplement our citrus line with Chilean product during the summer months when domestic fruit is unavailable or scarce.”

As a family owned and operated company, Bee Sweet sees its value proposition as understanding how important it is to provide families with fresh citrus year-round. “Our employees work hard to make sure that every piece of fruit that leaves our facility not only meets, but exceeds, our expectations in taste and quality, and customer service remains top priority for our team,” she said.

Bee Sweet also touts its one-stop shop as a major selling point. “All our customers can also conveniently pick up our varieties at one central location off California Highway 99 and can rely on our sales team for timely information regarding field and shipping updates,” Bienvenue reported.

She noted that one of the company’s newest initiatives is the recent revamping of its label to give it a more modernized feel. With decorative citrus slices displayed on the packaging of each variety and a dashed lined that draws the eye to the company logo, the label was strategically designed to educate shoppers about the varieties in each package, and to remind customers about Bee Sweet’s ability to grow, pack and ship numerous varieties year-round.

Another initiative is the expansion of the packing facility in Fowler, to include a state-of-the-art mandarin line. At more than 200,000 square feet, this new facility will include best-in-class pre-sort and pack lines, cold storage and a shipping dock.

As Bee Sweet looks down the road, the company expects the California citrus crop to maintain its current role in the industry with mandarins continuing to gain sales. “While we don’t anticipate too much changing, we do believe that the mandarin variety will continue to grow as a class, domestically,” Bienvenue said. “Over the last few years, the popularity of mandarins has skyrocketed, and we anticipate that trend to continue as parents continue to invest in the health of their families.”

Of course, like other California farmers, Bee Sweet must contend with several challenges, but the citrus producer does so with a sense that the glass is half full. “Finding skilled, experienced labor remains a challenge, as well as adhering to constant changes to laws and regulations,” she said. “Nonetheless, we always adapt and remain optimistic for the future.”

As a member of Western Growers for much of those three-plus decades, Bee Sweet appreciates the organization’s commitment to agriculture. “Western Growers is a premier industry organization, and we are proud to be a member,” Bienvenue said. “The amount of professional resources that are available for members is outstanding, and we utilize many of them regularly.”

There is competition, and then there is competition with a quarter of a million dollars on the line in front of a live audience filled with people hanging on your every word.

We’re referring, of course, to the AgSharks® Competition, which will return to the 2022 Western Growers Annual Meeting. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas from Nov. 2-5, 2022.

It’s the fifth year of the successful—and exciting!—AgSharks partnership between WG and S2G Ventures, the direct investment arm of Builders Vision, a platform that partners with entrepreneurs who seek solutions to the world’s challenges in the food, agriculture, oceans and clean energy markets.

“AgSharks leads as the only pitch competition that offers agtech startups an audience with the biggest agricultural companies across the globe,” said Audre Kapacinskas, Principal at S2G Ventures. “The combination of exclusive access to hundreds of industry leaders, plus investment capital to fuel growth, are two elements that are crucial for a startup’s success in this industry.”

AgSharks was first held in 2017, and through the competition, past winners Hazel Technologies and Burro have since brought their products from development to market.

Hazel Technologies has raised about $88 million in funding over six rounds and is advancing the industry with sachets that extend the shelf life of fresh produce by as much as three times.

Burro raised a $10.9 million Series A round in September 2021 led by S2G Ventures and Toyota Ventures and continues to help solve farmers’ labor woes with the expansion of its fleet of autonomous robots to farms across the west. The company’s 2018 AgSharks win came after also participating in the competition the prior year.

“We’ve been very persistent,” said CEO Charlie Andersen at the time his company won. “We pitched last year and didn’t win. Since then, we’ve assembled the world’s best team, found initial customers and have been through a whirlwind of progress. We believe that we are the best play in the world in which to deploy capital into agtech robotics, and I’m glad that we won the judges over this year.”

It’s a success story that very well could happen again in 2022. “With a proven track record of rewarding cutting-edge agtech innovators and enabling them to grow their businesses, we look forward to this year’s competitors engaging in a live, spirited back-and-forth with our members on how best to use technology to solve the most pressing needs of our industry,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “With its real-world financial stakes for the start-ups and the potential long-term benefits for our members, the AgSharks Competition is one of the highlights of our Annual Meeting.”

During this year’s competition, three finalists will be able to pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop growers, shippers and processors to potentially win a $250,000 minimum investment. A judging panel of growers and venture capitalists will make the final decision as to which of the finalists are eligible to receive the funding.

In addition to potential investment capital, the winner(s) will receive international recognition, mentoring from S2G and WG, potential access to farm acreage to pilot their technologies and access to WG’s expansive network of leading fresh produce companies.

We can’t hold our cards too close to our vest anymore: You are invited to join the full house for the Western Growers Annual Meeting, which will be held at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas from Nov. 2-5, 2022.

(Fine, fine. We’ll stop with Vegas puns now.)

This will be the 96th WG Annual Meeting, and like every year before it, it provides an opportunity for our membership to gather for camaraderie and learning at the premiere event in Western agriculture. In 2022 the lineup of speakers, panels and social events is top-notch.

The event opens on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, with all-day registration at The Venetian and a Welcome Reception that will start at 5:30 p.m. On Nov. 3, the Board of Directors will meet in the morning, and the PAC Lunch will begin at noon. The Western Growers Political Action Committee (PAC) provides strategic campaign support to elected officials and candidates. Proceeds from our annual PAC lunch help amplify our members’ voices in political contests across Arizona, California and elsewhere. Tickets to the PAC Lunch are $195 and available to purchase during online registration.

This year’s speaker is Karl Rove, the former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush. Before the White House, he ran Rove + Co., a Texas-based public affairs firm that consulted on more than 75 GOP campaigns for Senator, Governor, Congress and statewide offices in 24 states. Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, appears frequently on the Fox News Channel and is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Courage and Consequence.” His latest book is “The Triumph of William McKinley.”

In the afternoon of Thursday Nov. 3, the Annual Meeting will offer its first Featured Session: “When Family Farms Give Way to Outsiders.” This session will focus on the increasing number of family farmers who have decided to accept an offer from private equity investors. What factors are motivating multigenerational family farmers to seek the exits? What does the increasing presence of private equity newcomers mean for the culture and fabric of the Western produce industry and thousands of rural communities?

At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, we’ll host the much-anticipated Party with the Partners—it’s always a rollicking good time, and for this year it will feature some special Vegas flair! “A Toast to the Rat Pack & Marilyn” takes the audience on a musical journey through the greatest hits of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Marilyn Monroe. These legends will be brought to life by the performers as they sing their classics, including: “I Want to be Loved by You,” “Come Fly With Me,” “That’s Amore” and “The Candy Man.” You’ll experience the glitz and glamour of 1960s Las Vegas in this fun, energetic showcase of Rat Pack standards.

The next day kicks off with AgSharks®, one of the highlights of the Annual Meeting. Starting at 9:30 a.m., watch as three entrepreneurial finalists in the agtech sector vie for investment to help bring their technologies to market. During this year’s competition, three finalists will be able to pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop growers, shippers and processors to potentially win a $250,000 minimum investment. A judging panel of growers and venture capitalists from WG partner S2G Ventures will make the final decision as to which of the finalists are eligible to receive the funding.

The Chair’s Luncheon and Keynote will take place on Friday, Nov. 4. The keynote will be delivered by Admiral William McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral. He is a recognized national authority on U.S. foreign policy and has advised Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and other leaders on defense issues.

During his time in the military, McRaven commanded special operations forces at every level, eventually taking charge of the U.S. Special Operations Command. His career included combat during Desert Storm and both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He commanded the troops that captured Saddam Hussein and rescued Captain Richard Phillips. McRaven also is credited with developing the plan and leading the Osama bin Laden mission in 2011.

In addition, McRaven served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System. McRaven oversaw 14 institutions that educated 220,000 students and employed 20,000 faculty and more than 80,000 health care professionals, researchers and staff.

He currently serves on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the National Football Foundation and the Board of Directors of CoconoPhilips.

McRaven is the author of four books, including “SPEC OPS: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare” and “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World,” based on his 2014 University of Texas Commencement Speech that received worldwide attention. His third book,
“Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations,” released in 2019, is a remarkable memoir full of inspiring and action-packed stories from McRaven’s life in the special operations world. His most recent book, “The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived,” released in April 2021, is a tribute to the real, everyday heroes from battlefields to hospitals to college campuses, who are doing their part to save the world.

McRaven graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a degree in journalism and received his master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey in 1991. He met his wife, Georgeann, while they were students at UT Austin, and they have three grown children.

After the keynote, the Annual Meeting will offer another Featured Session: “The Promises and Challenges of New Breeding Technologies.” This session will feature experts from the plant genetics industry, growers and retail/food service executives to assess the viability—economic, regulatory, and consumer/social—of cutting-edge breeding techniques. These technologies present opportunities in terms of enhanced flavors and eating experiences, as well as a potential solution to multiple challenges facing the produce industry, from pest and disease vulnerabilities to the need to enable automation and more.

The events of Nov. 4 will close with the Award of Honor Reception and Dinner honoring John C. Harris, the President and Chair of the Board, Harris Farms. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.

With more than 50 years’ experience in ranching, farming, hospitality and thoroughbred horse racing, Harris embodies the diversity of California agribusiness. The Harris Farms Group includes Harris Fresh and the Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division, in addition to the landmark property known to all Californians on the I-5.

The Award of Honor will join numerous other significant awards Harris has received; in 1988 he was named Livestock Man of the Year by his peers in the ranching industry, and in 2014 he received the Agriculturalist of the Year award from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the California State University at Fresno in 2019.

The Annual Meeting will close on Saturday, Nov. 5, with the traditional Western Growers Golf Tournament. This year’s event will take place at the Revere Golf Course, with registration and breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. There will be a Shotgun Start at 8 a.m., and the event will wrap up with awards and lunch at 12:30 p.m. Transportation to and from The Venetian will be provided.

Cash in your chips and join us today by registering at wgannualmeeting.com. (We had to get one more Las Vegas pun in here, sorry!) For more information about registration or to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities, please contact Assistant Vice President, Membership Kim Sherman at [email protected].

In “East of Eden,” Nobel Prize-winning writer John Steinbeck wrote the following: “And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.”

“East of Eden” is a sprawling multi-generational tale of agricultural families in California, a re-telling of Cain and Abel amid the fields in the Salinas Valley. The novel and the resulting film adaptation starring James Dean helped established California in American culture as a place of agricultural risk and reward, and the place where opportunity can exist for individuals who dare to choose their own path.

It is, of course, a work of fiction, and one that is frequently brutal and jarring. But its themes of resilience and ultimate faith in the Golden State’s opportunity create an easy throughline to agricultural icon John Harris, who has grasped the entirety of the state’s bounty and turned it into a thriving business legacy.

In November at the 96^th Western Growers Annual Meeting, the association’s membership will honor Harris with the 2022 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.

With more than 50 years’ experience in ranching, farming, hospitality and thoroughbred horse racing, Harris embodies the diversity of California agribusiness. The Harris Farms Group includes Harris Fresh and the Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division, in addition to the landmark property known to all Californians on the I-5.

“Like his iconic Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, which stands as an oasis alongside a remote stretch of road, John is a pillar in California agriculture and the broader Western fresh produce industry,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “It is safe to say that no one in this industry is more recognized and admired, and not just among his peers but also by community and political leaders throughout California. John’s vision can be seen in all his enterprises, from his ranching and farming businesses to his championship horse racing operations. Beyond his business endeavors, John is a powerful voice for farmers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and has dedicated his life’s work to the advancement of California agriculture and the rural communities our industry supports. John is most deserving of the Western Growers Award of Honor, and we are excited to present him with our highest recognition at our Annual Meeting in November.”

Managing the diversity of his business enterprises over the years required a nimble, methodical approach, according to Harris.

“I went into it with the idea that things were always going to be changing—and they were,” Harris said. “I didn’t have any false illusions that it was going to be an easy deal. Then again, I wasn’t really afraid of any problem, because I started with the idea that any problem would be solvable.”

Harris was born to a farm family whose operations in California extend back more than a century. He graduated with a degree in agricultural production from the University of California, Davis and then served two years in the U.S. Army.

“I was proud to have gone to a good university at Davis and expanded my knowledge there,” Harris said. “And I was in the Army for a couple of years as a commander of a Nike Hercules site and that gave me some leadership experience that was memorable.”

During his tenure as CEO and sole shareholder of Harris Farms and his 11 years on the Western Growers Board of Directors, Harris certainly experienced a saga of upheavals and changes in rural life and the agriculture industry.

“It’s sort of evolved, this area of farming,” Harris said. “Most people were diversified, to some extent, because they had water wells they needed to keep operating….well, we can’t do that anymore. Now we’re trying to diversify because you’re trying to hit all the highs and avoid the lows.”

But farming and ranching and hospitality aren’t Harris’ only endeavors that have brought him acclaim. In addition, Harris served five terms as president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and in the summer you can find him by the ocean—not as your stereotypical retiree, but watching his prospects at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club just north of San Diego.

“I got into it, I guess, because my father was into it,” Harris said. “The whole scene, it kind of grabs you. I like it for the same reason I like farming: I like the people and the variety and the challenge.”

The Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division produced California Chrome, the winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

“I’ve been involved with John not only in horses, but in many agricultural enterprises,” said Don Valpredo, President of Donald Valpredo Farming and horse racing legend. “He’s a tireless worker—he uncovers every stone…he’s about as involved and as fair in everything that he does as anyone I’ve ever been involved with.”

Valpredo continued: “I read some place the other day about a person who is as successful as Mr. Harris. ‘If you see a turtle sitting on a fence, he didn’t get there alone.’ Right? And John has always employed very good people and partnered with very good people.”

It is a point of pride for Harris. “One of the things we do that is kind of unique is that we have a larger year-round workforce because we have a variety of crops,” he said. “I like to use people who have been here a long time because they have a good job and stability, and we like to capitalize on that.”

And this innate sense of team building has paid off not only in the success of Harris’ enterprises, but with the regard he is held in by the agricultural community. “I was very flattered to be recognized by my peers,” Harris said of being named the recipient of the Award of Honor for 2022. “I was pleased and proud that they felt like I deserved it.”

The Award of Honor will join numerous other significant awards Harris has received; in 1988 he was named Livestock Man of the Year by his peers in the ranching industry, and in 2014 he received the Agriculturalist of the Year award from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the California State University at Fresno in 2019.

Looking back on Harris’ career, it is fitting to return to Steinbeck and “East of Eden”:

“But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open.”

Harris mayest, and he did.