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Joint California Ag Statement on Workers’ Compensation Executive Order
IRVINE, Calif., (May 7, 2020) — In response to Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order that extends temporary workers’ compensation benefits for COVID-19, a coalition of California agricultural organizations issued the following statement: “As a critical infrastructure industry, agricultural businesses have been asked to continue providing our communities with safe and…
Western Growers Statement on H-2A Rule Proposal
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 ...
Western Growers Insurance Services Welcomes New Senior Account Manager Marlo Reininger
IRVINE, Calif. (October 14, 2019) – In an effort to further bolster its demonstrated commitment to the agriculture industry, Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS), a full service insurance agency, has added Marlo Reininger as senior account manager to its team. In this position, Reininger will work side by side with the WGIS sales team in ...
Western Growers Statement on Approval of “Record of Decision” Governing Delta Water Operations
IRVINE, Calif. (February 20, 2020) – Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s approval of new federal biological opinions in a Record of Decision that updates regulatory policies governing water storage and conveyance. “The Record of Decision approved by President Trump yesterday presents a long-needed break ...
Western Growers Responds to U.S., Japan Trade Deal
IRVINE, Calif., (August 26, 2019) — In response to news that the U.S. and Japan have agreed in principle to a trade deal involving American agricultural products, along with industrial tariffs and digital trade, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “Western Growers is extremely pleased to learn of the deal ...
Western Growers Statement on the Increased Processing of H-2A Visa Holders
IRVINE, Calif., (March 26, 2020) — In response to the steps taken by the State Department to increase processing of H-2A visa holders through consulates around the world – in particular, the expansion of interview waiver eligibility to ensure that the majority of H-2A processing can continue, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia issued the ...
Western Growers Hires Human Resources Veteran Anna Bilderbach to Lead Training Programs
IRVINE, Calif. (March 26, 2019) – Western Growers is proud to announce the recent hire of Anna Bilderbach, who will serve as the Learning and Development Manager on the Human Resources team. Bilderbach brings more than two decades of experience in HR-related training. In her role as Learning and Development Manager, Bilderbach is responsible for ...
Western Growers Board Selects Dave Puglia as Next President and CEO
IRVINE, Calif. (October 16, 2019) – The Western Growers Board of Directors has unanimously selected Dave Puglia as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Puglia will succeed current President and CEO Tom Nassif, who is retiring after 18 years as a forceful and effective leader in the nation’s agriculture industry, on February 1, 2020. “Fifteen ...
Ryan Talley is Elected New Western Growers Chairman of the Board
IRVINE, Calif. (November 11, 2019) – Western Growers is pleased to announce that Ryan Talley, co-owner and farm manager of Talley Farms, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. Talley, who has been committed to agriculture for more than three decades, will serve as chairman for a one-year term, taking over ...
Natalie Berend Joins Western Growers Insurance Services as Senior Director of Commercial Lines
IRVINE, Calif. (June 4, 2019) – Western Growers Insurance Services is pleased to announce the addition of Natalie Berend as Senior Director of Commercial Lines. In this role, Berend will lead the Account Management team and is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating operational needs. She will also lead carrier relationships and premium production goals while ...
Western Growers Stands with the People of Gilroy
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 ...
Western Growers Announces Ron Ratto as New Chairman of the Board
IRVINE, Calif. (October 29, 2018) – Western Growers today announced that Ron Ratto, president of Ratto Bros., Inc., has been elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Taking over volunteer leadership responsibilities from Outgoing Chairman Craig Reade, partner at Bonipak Produce, Ratto will serve as chairman for a one-year term. He joined Western Growers’ ...
Automation Startup Wins Fast Pitch Competition with Game-Changing Tech to Reduce Global Food Gap
Western Growers, S2G Ventures offers $250,000 in seed funding to Augean Robotics for development of autonomous farming robot IRVINE, Calif. (October 30, 2018) – Augean Robotics walked away from Western Growers’ AgSharks™ Competition today with a $250,000 equity investment offer, as well as access to farm acreage for pilot testing, to take its collaborative robotic ...
Western Growers Urges Senate Action on Ag Labor Crisis
IRVINE, Calif. (January 3, 2020) – With another dramatic increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) – the U.S. Department of Labor-regulated hourly rate agricultural employers are required to pay H-2A temporary foreign agricultural workers (and domestic workers in corresponding employment) – taking effect yesterday, Western Growers has joined the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC)…
Western Growers Tech Center and Concentric Power Co-Host Forum to Discuss Energy Independence with California’s Growers January 27
SALINAS, Calif., (January 10, 2020) — The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology (WGCIT) and Concentric Power Inc., an energy technology company deploying power solutions for some of the country’s largest grower-shippers, will co-host the first-ever Salinas Valley Energy Forum to help growers and fresh food providers from California’s agricultural regions maintain…
Western Growers Statement on Signing of the U.S. – China Phase One Trade Agreement
IRVINE, Calif. (January 15, 2020) – Western Growers Board Chairman and Partner at Talley Farms, Ryan Talley, was on hand at the White House today for the signing of the phase one trade agreement with China. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Chairman Talley issued the following statement: “Western Growers applauds the significant strides the Trump ...
Western Growers Insurance Services Hires Eric Trost as VP of Employee Benefits
IRVINE, Calif. (May 13, 2019) – Western Growers is pleased to announce that Eric Trost has joined its Insurance Services team as Vice President of employee benefits. In this role, Trost will lead the expansion of Western Growers Insurance Services’ Employee Benefits capabilities, solutions and resources available to employers of all sizes. He will also support ...
Western Growers Statement on Confirmation of Ken Barbic for Key USDA Post
Western Growers’ Ken Barbic to serve as USDA Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations IRVINE, Calif. (April 26, 2018) – The U.S. Senate today confirmed President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Ken Barbic to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. Barbic joined Western Growers in 2009, and in his role ...
Ganaz, GroGuru Win $500,000 in Seed Funding to Develop Automation to Help Relieve Ag Labor Woes
IRVINE, Calif. (June 26, 2018) – Answering the call to help solve agriculture’s severe labor shortage, Western Growers and Radicle Growth today awarded Ganaz and GroGuru each with $250,000 in seed funding to advance their automation technology. “The labor shortage in agriculture has reached a critical stage, and without legislation for workable ag immigration reform, ...
Steve Patricio Honored for His Significant Contributions to Agriculture
Western Growers will award Patricio the prestigious 2018 Award of Honor on October 30 IRVINE, Calif. (July 12, 2018) – Western Growers will honor Stephen (Steve) Patricio, whose visionary leadership has advanced the agricultural industry by leaps and bounds, with the 2018 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of industry ...