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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 ...
Western Growers Partners with Agritech New Zealand to Connect Global AgTech Markets
Western Growers signs MOU with Agritech New Zealand to increase international connectivity and support agricultural innovation IRVINE, Calif. (August 30, 2018) – Western Growers (WG) has formalized a new strategic partnership with Agritech New Zealand to strengthen, share and accelerate the development of agricultural technologies, as well as help businesses in both countries access…
Western Growers Statement on CA Supreme Court Rejecting ALRB Appeal Petition
IRVINE, Calif., (September 12, 2018) — In response to the decision of the California State Supreme Court to reject the Agricultural Labor Relations Board’s appeal petition, Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “Workers have the right to choose whether they wish to be represented by a union. Nearly five years after the ...
Western Growers Statement in Response to Gerawan Election Results
IRVINE, Calif., (September 18, 2018) — In response to the outcome of Gerawan Farming’s UFW decertification election, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “It took a decision of California’s highest court to force, once and for all, the ALRB to do the right thing and count the votes of Gerawan Farming’s workers. ...
20 Schools Receive New School Gardens through Western Growers Grant
K-12 schools in California and Arizona receive $1,500 to support new garden IRVINE, Calif. (December 27, 2017) – In an effort to promote hands-on learning and interactive STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – education, Western Growers has awarded 20 K-12 schools a grant for $1,500 to support a new school garden. Through these ...
Applications Now Open for The Radicle Automation Competition
Startups specializing in agriculture automation can now apply for a $250,000 minimum investment IRVINE, Calif. (April 10, 2018) – Western Growers and Radicle Growth have partnered to create The Radicle Automation Challenge, a competition where AgTech automation entrepreneurs are eligible to compete for a minimum of $250,000 in investment capital and exclusive access to farm ...
Press Release: Western Growers, S2G Ventures Partner to Launch “Live” AgTech Initiative
AgSharks™ event to identify and advance key innovations for agriculture IRVINE, Calif., (September 5, 2017) — Western Growers (WG) has partnered with S2G Ventures (Seed 2 Growth) to launch AgSharks, a new initiative to identify key innovations in the fresh produce industry. The AgSharks showcase event, sponsored by S2G will premiere at Western Growers 92nd Annual ...
Western Growers’ Statement on Passage of Valadao Water Bill by the House
IRVINE, Calif., (July 12, 2017) — In response to the passage of H.R. 23, Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017, by the U.S. House of Representatives, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “We appreciate the efforts of the House to pass the Valadao water bill, which aims to restore ...
Western Growers Forms Partnership with New Mexico Chile Association
IRVINE, Calif., (March 30, 2017) — The New Mexico Chile Association (NMCA) and Western Growers (WG) have announced a strategic collaboration between their respective associations. The two groups have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows them to coordinate on business matters and policy issues of mutual interest. Additionally, the MOU gives New Mexico chile ...
Western Growers Earns Second $30K AgTech Innovation Grant from Wells Fargo
IRVINE, Calif. (June 30, 2017) – In a joint effort to accelerate the development of agricultural technologies, Wells Fargo has awarded Western Growers a $30,000 grant for the second year in a row. The grant was presented at a private luncheon at the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology during the 2017 Forbes AgTech ...
PRESS RELEASE: New Careers in Ag Program Links STEM Education to Agricultural Workforce
In an effort to fill the agricultural workforce gap, Western Growers has launched a Careers in Ag Program to encourage college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry.
PRESS RELEASE: Western Growers Holds Private Ribbon Cutting to Unveil New Headquarters
IRVINE, Calif. (July 27, 2016) – Western Growers officially unveiled its new headquarters in a private ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, welcoming members of the Western Growers Board of Directors, spouses and special guests to the company’s new home at 15525 Sand Canyon in Irvine, California. Chairman Larry Cox of Lawrence Cox Ranches [Brawley, Calif.] did the ribbon-cutting honors.…