Ann Donahue serves as Director, Communications for Western Growers, where she is responsible for external communication efforts and publicizing the Association’s executives, initiatives, and members across all media platforms. Ann spent more than 20 years as an editor and reporter covering entertainment journalism, with bylines at publications including Variety, the L.A. Times, Billboard, IndieWire, and […]
Lori Taylor, Founder and CEO of The Produce Moms, joins Voices of the Valley this week to talk about how she uses her multimedia platform to pull back the veil for the general public about the process of produce farming. “Our mission is to simple: To get more fruits and vegetables on every table,” she ...
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 3, 2022) – Western Growers is pleased to announce the results of the 2023-2024 Western Growers Board of Directors elections. The following members have been elected by the membership to serve a two-year term starting in November 2022 at the 96th Western Growers Annual Meeting: D-1 All Arizona except Yuma County Steve ...
By Walt Duflock, Vice President, Innovation The cost for an agtech startup to build its initial product and get it into market are among the highest for any tech segment. It frequently runs $50-100 million to get a version 1.0 product into market with partners or direct sales teams that can sell and support it. ...
This year, OGS provided growers with firsthand knowledge and information in areas ranging from agtech to food safety to sustainability, and the events at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa gave attendees the opportunity to watch cutting-edge panels, listen to keynotes from industry leaders and attend vital networking opportunities. This year, the Grower of the Year…
By David Zanze, Executive Vice President of Western Growers Assurance Trust Health insurance is one of the most important investments we make, but for many it has also proven to be one of the most complicated. According to the 2022 Health Insurance Knowledge Snapshot commissioned by Justworks and conducted by Harris Poll, many employed adults ...
By Jason Resnick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel Labor shortages in agriculture are nothing new. For decades, farmers, ranchers and farm labor contractors have struggled to consistently access all the labor needed to get the job done. There is little doubt that agricultural employers are struggling, more than ever, to find the workers. But ...
By Sonia Salas, AVP, Science On Sept. 26, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is working on developing food safety prevention strategies. Specifically, they shared their first two strategies for 1) salmonellosis and listeriosis associated with imported enoki and wood ear mushrooms and 2) salmonellosis associated with bulb onions. (Additional details ...
The Western Growers Transportation Program (WGTP) is an exclusive, turn-key benefit for Western Growers members. Through C.H. Robinson (CHR), this personalized program meets the needs of the most challenging supply chains, providing high-quality service coupled with the latest logistical technology to optimize distribution patterns and lower delivered costs. Western Growers (WG) is thrilled to…
By Ann Donahue For Melissa Kendrick, the CEO and Executive Director of the Food Bank for Monterey County, her mission is two-fold. Like every food bank, the organization strives to end hunger in the community—and in Monterey County, this is a pressing issue, as it is estimated that one in three children and one in ...
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me: ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” OK, yes, it’s the quote posted by your aunt every time our country faces a challenge. But the sentiment still resonates for a ...
By Cory Lunde UCLA basketball coaching legend John Wooden once said: “It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” Though this oft-quoted adage has reached cliché-level status, these words carry tremendous truths for the fresh produce industry and speak to the important roles played by organizations of ...
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 4, 2022) – Western Growers and S2G Ventures have announced the winner of the 2022 AgSharks Pitch Competition, with Nutjobs earning a record equity investment offer of $6 million from the event’s judges. Nutjobs transforms nutshell waste into bio-benign plastic alternative products that are bio-based, compostable and derived from secondary agricultural waste. ...
Do you have a farm dog? Or a barn cat? Or a cat that thinks it is a barn cat despite living a life of unimaginable luxury? Western Grower & Shipper Magazine wants your pet photos! WG&S is starting a new feature where we will run photos in the magazine that show off our members’ favorite working ...
IRVINE, CALIF. (Nov. 22, 2022) – Western Growers is debuting a documentary short video online for Thanksgiving that demonstrates the care California farmers put into growing the food that will be consumed this holiday season. The video features Colby Pereira, Braga Fresh Family Farms; Martin Jefferson, Duda Farm Fresh Foods; Mark Mason, Huntington Farms; and Jynel ...
As the data for the next edition of Western Growers’ Global Harvest Automation Report are being crunched, Mike Dentinger, the Director of AG OEM Development at Trimble, joins the podcast to discuss the potential of automated harvest becoming a day-to-day reality soon. “It’s a really tough equation,” he says. “How many carrot harvesters does California ...
