Ann Donahue
Western Growers, Director, Marketing and Communications
Ann Donahue serves as Director, Marketing and 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, […]
Posts By: Anna Ramirez-Castro
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Western Growers at Brisbane Biological Symposium
On February 17, 2025, Western Growers participated in the 2025 Brisbane Biological Symposium, where Jeana Cadby, Director of Environment and Climate, and Dennis Donohue, Director of the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, contributed to discussions on agricultural biologicals. Dennis Donohue joined the "Investment and Development" panel, emphasizing the importance of grower…
USDA Offers Financial Assistance with Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
Did your farm recently incur costs for food safety certification? The USDA’s Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program provides financial assistance to help specialty crop operations offset these expenses. USDA's Farm Service Agency will accept FSCSC applications for calendar year 2025 from January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Eligible Expenses Reimbursement is…
Environmental and Agronomic Benefits of Cover Crops
Cover crops offer numerous environmental and agronomic benefits, including improving soil health, enhancing water infiltration, cycling nutrients, boosting yields and providing overwintering habitats for beneficial insects. However, achieving these benefits requires careful management. To get the most from cover crops, keep these key factors in mind: Monitor growth stages to prevent…
Harvesting Equipment Cleaning & Hygienic Design: Key Considerations
Keeping harvesting equipment clean is essential for maintaining food safety and reducing contamination risks. One key factor? Hygienic design — the process of designing tools and machinery to make cleaning, sanitizing and maintenance easier. Why Does Hygienic Design Matter? When food-contact surfaces are poorly designed, they can trap residue, accumulate water or develop cracks that…
When is the Best Time to Terminate a Cover Crop?
At our recent Cover Crops and Sustainability Field Day, Eric Brennan, Research Horticulturist at USDA-ARS in Salinas, shared valuable insights on determining the best time to terminate cover crops. Timing is key to maximizing the benefits of cover crops while minimizing potential drawbacks. Here are the factors to consider: Maximizing Biomass for Soil Health Allowing cover crops to…
WG to Present at Southwest Ag Summit in Yuma Feb 18-20, 2025
The Southwest Ag Summit is the premier agriculture show for the desert Southwest, bringing together growers, industry leaders and experts to share knowledge and innovation. Hosted in Yuma, Arizona—a hub for over 600,000 acres of irrigated land—the Summit offers invaluable insights on topics like irrigation management, crop protection, produce safety and more. This year, our very own…
FDA Releases New Strategy to Prevent Enteric Viruses in Fresh and Frozen Berries
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a new strategy to prevent contamination of fresh and frozen berries with enteric viruses such as Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) and human norovirus (NoV). This initiative is part of FDA’s efforts to enhance food safety and reduce foodborne illnesses. The FDA’s prevention strategy addresses factors that may contribute to contamination,…
Field Day Recap: Cover Crops and Sustainability at Dole Farms
On January 16th, Dole Farms in Soledad, CA, became a center for learning and collaboration as industry experts, growers and sustainability advocates gathered for the Cover Crops and Sustainability Initiatives Field Day. The event provided attendees with a hands-on opportunity to explore how cover crops can advance sustainability in vegetable production systems. The agenda…
Western Growers Women: Wearing Multiple Hats Successfully, and Using Stress for Good in the Process
Navigating today’s workforce comes with unprecedented challenges. Many of us wear multiple hats as supervisors, team members, mentors, counselors and friends, all while supporting others through change and stress. Join Dr. Tina Huff and the Western Growers Women (WGW) Program for an empowering workshop where you’ll learn practical strategies to manage these diverse roles. Discover how to…
The Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 Becomes Law
Did you know that some of the most vital protectors of U.S. agriculture have four legs, floppy ears and an extraordinary sense of smell? That’s right—these defenders are dogs! Known as the Beagle Brigade, these specially trained detector dogs use their remarkable noses to identify items like fruits, vegetables, meat and plants that could introduce pests or diseases. They intercept these…
Proceedings from the NAS Workshop: Safeguarding the Food Supply
As mentioned here, the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) hosted a workshop titled “Safeguarding the Food Supply: Integrating Diverse Risks, Connecting with Consumers, and Protecting Vulnerable Populations” in September 2024. This event explored hazard and risk-based approaches to food safety, covering nutrition, economics and equity implications. The workshop proceedings have now…
Insights from the 2023 Cadmium Food Safety Workshop in Salinas
A peer-reviewed article titled “Collaborating to Address Heavy Metals in Fresh Produce Supply – A Case Study on Cadmium in Spinach and Carrots Grown in Arizona and California”, summarizes the proceedings from a pilot workshop convened by the USDA in 2023 to facilitate collaboration between industry, government and academia to benefit food safety and public health. The Cadmium Food…
2024 FREP/WPH Nutrient Management Conference Recap
The 32nd Annual Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and Western Plant Health (WPH) Nutrient Management Conference brought together a diverse audience in Seaside, CA, on October 29-30, 2024. Key Highlights: Pre-Conference Tour: A visit to the McFadden Woodchip Bioreactor showcased innovative water treatment methods reducing nutrient pollutants by up to 75%. Day…
IFSAC Release Annual Report for 2022 Sources of Foodborne Illness
The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) has released its newest annual report, titled "Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes – United States, 2022." IFSAC, a partnership between the CDC, FDA and USDA FSIS, was established to enhance coordination across federal agencies in food safety analysis.…
Cover Crops and Sustainability Initiatives Field Day at Dole Farms
Join us on January 16th for an afternoon field day at Dole Farms to discover how integrating cover crops can boost sustainability outcomes in vegetable production systems. Learn how to integrate cover crops into farming to boost soil health, improve yield, cycle nitrogen and control erosion at this side-by-side fallow winter/cover crop trial. Discover how cover crops reduce pesticide use,…
California State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Regenerative Agriculture on December 3, 2024
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will meet on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to discuss the definition of regenerative agriculture. This meeting will be an important step in the ongoing effort to shape state policies around regenerative farming practices, a process that has been underway for over a year. The meeting will take place virtually from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM…
CDFA’s Produce Safety Program Hosting Workshops in December
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) is hosting in-person PSP Portal Training Workshops in December, offering valuable resources for growers and producers. Each session will feature a presentation on the CDFA Produce Safety Program and a live tutorial on navigating the PSP Portal. The first hour will cover the training presentation, with…
USDA to Invest $14 Million to Strengthen Food Safety Research and Training
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced a $14 million investment to enhance food safety through research, outreach and workforce training. This funding will support efforts to reduce food contamination risks and strengthen the safety of the nation’s food supply. A major portion of this investment—$4.5…
Stay Informed on STEC: Insights from Recent CPS Webinar
With recent outbreaks of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC), or EHEC, making headlines, food safety professionals are more focused than ever on understanding how these pathogens behave. As with all areas of science, our understanding of STEC/EHEC continues to evolve. Staying ahead of evolving scientific research to support food safety efforts and providing deeper insights into these…
What is GreenLink®? The Future of Data-Driven Food Safety
In today’s fast-paced landscape, data is essential for improving food safety risk management and making informed decisions. But how can growers be sure that their data is of high quality, secure and actionable? That’s where GreenLink® comes in. GreenLink® is a private, confidential data-sharing platform developed by Western Growers to support food safety initiatives and…