Following this year’s sold-out inaugural Summit, Western Growers and New Zealand-based AgriFoodTech consultancy, Wharf42, are delighted to announce the dates of the 2024 Salinas Biological Summit: June 25-26, 2024. With so many challenges facing growers of specialty crops, ‘Supporting Growers Adapt to a Changing Environment’ will be a key outcome for the 2024 Summit. Key topics that…
Stay ahead of the curve by staying informed about the latest employment law developments. WG’s Legal Update for 2024 will assist HR professionals in understanding recent changes in employment law, compliance requirements and case law trends. Join Jason Resnick and Teresa McQueen, on December 12, as they discuss recent changes in employment law and how these changes will impact HR policies…
Western Growers believes that women are essential to the future of agriculture, which is why we have developed WG Women, a program that prepares women for positions of leadership within WG member companies and the broader fresh produce industry. Ready to master the art of media engagement? Join us December 13th at 10 A.M for an unmissable Media Training Workshop featuring the incredible Ann…
This is the fun new sport everyone is talking about so join us for Western Growers 1st Annual Pickleball Tournament! All levels welcome! This event will occur on 8:00am – 11:30am on Wednesday, November 15. Reserve your spot here. New to the sport? Sign up for the Beginners Clinic at 8:00 am, with tournament play immediately following at 8:30 am. Our goal is to give all players…
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Sierra College have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event, Thursday, October 12, dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers. The AgTechX Ed Summit at Sierra College will be comprised of 3 panels, covering topics including: industry…
Western Growers believes that women are essential to the future of agriculture, which is why we have developed WG Women, a program that prepares women for positions of leadership within WG member companies and the broader fresh produce industry. We are excited to announce the relaunch of the WGW Program in the Fall of 2023. Join us October 6, 2023 to discover the latest courses, gain insights…
This program will provide managers and HR professionals with the knowledge, skills and strategies needed to effectively manage difficult workplace leave situations. Join Western Growers Legal Team for this scenarios-based webinar to learn best practices under state and federal law for addressing difficult leave situations while balancing the needs of the organization and the well-being of its…
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Bakersfield College have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers. The AgTechX Ed Summit at Mt. San Antonio College will be comprised of 3 panels, covering topics including: industry issues and…
Join Western Growers, Datatech and APMA for an interactive breakfast designed to inform Ag HR professionals on how to leverage today’s leading technologies for efficient and secure workflows. This event takes place Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 8:00am until 10:00am at the Salinas Sports Complex. Click here for to register
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final rule Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods which implements Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). FSMA Rule 204 contains a number of complex provisions, that include additional supply chain traceability and recordkeeping requirements for entities who manufacture,…
Western Growers will honor D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California CEO/President and Chairman of the Board John D’Arrigo with the 2023 Award of Honor. D’Arrigo’s achievements will be celebrated at the Award of Honor Dinner Gala at the Western Growers 2023 Annual Meeting at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, from Nov. 12-15, 2023. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition…
Join Robert Medler, Manager, Arizona Government Affairs and Ethan Orr Associate Director, ANR and Economic Development as they review the Arizona Water Efficiency Program designed to increase irrigation water application efficiency in crop production by 20% Wednesday June 29,2023 10 am - 11am PST Register here!
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food and Agriculture and West Hills College Lemoore have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers. The AgTechX Ed Summit at West Hills College Lemoore will be comprised of 3 panels, covering topics including: industry…
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Bakersfield College have partnered to host AgTechX Ed – a half-day event dedicated to developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers. The AgTechX Ed Summit at Bakersfield College will be comprised of 3 panels, covering topics including: industry issues and skill…
By Ellie Amesse It’s a pivotal time for ag tech and automated farm equipment. This week’s Voices of the Valley episode addresses the growth of ag tech in recent years in a conversation between hosts Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson and guest Adrian Percy, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Science Initiative. “I’ve been in this business for a long time and I’ve…
By Ellie Amesse University of Notre Dame professors Dr. Brandon Ashfeld and Dr. Tengfei Luo and farmer J.P. Labrucherie join the podcast this week; the trio is part of a research project focused on using technology to make desalination a sustainable water solution for all areas of American life, including agriculture. It’s no secret that desalination is a much-studied and debated topic…
By Michelle Rivera and Kara Timmins Since routine inspections of farms subject to the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) began in 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Association of Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) have worked closely with state and industry partners to prepare regulators and farms for inspections through training, technical assistance, educational visits,…
By Ellie Amesse Most people don’t think of the study of agriculture and the study of space as being related to each other, but this week’s Voices of the Valley guest, Megan Nunes, shares with hosts Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson how space and agricultural technology work together. Nunes is the founder and CEO of Bountiful— a company that uses satellite imagery to provide data-driven…
In late May 2023, Western Growers staff learned about two activities the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering conducting over the next few months in regard to food safety and inspection: Over-the-phone surveys (estimated 30 minutes or longer) with growers to understand the produce industry’s response to flooding and assess impacts in California Inspection and environmental…
The Western Growers Science Team is excited to announce the addition of Frank Yiannas as an advisor to GreenLink™, the WG food safety data sharing platform. Frank is a renowned food safety leader and the former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Frank brings with him his passion for food safety and for protecting consumer health through…