Agricultural operators throughout the San Joaquin Valley can now apply for grants to purchase low-dust harvesters. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District recently launched the Low-Dust Nut Harvester Replacement Program, an effort to significantly reduce particular matter 10 microns and smaller emissions that result from nut harvesting activities. The program will pay for…
Robert “Bobby” Bianco, co-owner of Anthony Vineyards and a longtime member of Western Growers, passed away unexpectedly over the weekend at age 78. Bianco, recognized as one of the Coachella Valley’s most esteemed grape growers, was a driving force in the community. He was a staunch supporter of various youth and religious organizations, and through ...
The agriculture industry has faced numerous problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, all while continuing to provide fresh produce to consumers both domestically and internationally. This week, Western Growers President and CEO, Dave Puglia joined Jeff Nalley for Agri-Pulse’s weekly Open Mic. During this interview, Puglia discussed policy issues the industry is faced with, ranging from ...
As an organization that is dedicated to helping its members cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders, this magazine edition highlights young farmers and the differences they are making in their operation. Click here to access the digital version of this magazine. Custom Organic and Conventional Vegetable Growing in the Desert Region J.P. LaBrucherie was ...
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) is accepting applications for the 2021 AZ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. In an effort to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Arizona, AZDA will be providing financial assistance to state and/or local organizations, government entities, producer associations, academia, ...
Western Growers is proud to announce that the official mobile app for the Western Growers Annual Meeting 2018 in Palm Desert, California, is now available for download! Designed with members in mind, the tools of this app will make your annual meeting experience seamless from beginning to end. To get started: Download the app for ...
The 93rd Western Growers Annual Meeting brought together over 500 agricultural leaders to the J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California, to engage with key decision makers in the fresh produce industry. Western Growers would like to thank all the attendees, sponsors and industry partners who made this year’s Annual Meeting a huge ...
The November/December issue of Western Grower & Shipper is now available online. This issue includes: Bruce Taylor Deserves All the Credit President Tom Nassif credits Taylor Farms’ Bruce Taylor and his vision for the development of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology. Not only did Bruce come up with the idea for this ...
The January/February issue of Western Grower & Shipper is now available online. This issue includes: Ratto Bros. Thrives with Unique Niche Modesto,CA-based Ratto Bros Inc. has a long family history in agriculture and overtime has developed its own unique niche that sets them apart from other growers and shippers in the industry. Ron Ratto, currently serving ...
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced yesterday that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will temporarily reopen amidst the government shutdown to perform limited services for farmers and ranchers. The following FSA offices will open for Farm Loan Program Services on January 17, 18 and 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: ...
In an effort to provide consumers with an inside look into farming, Western Growers hosted its first Instagram Takeover last week. The social media posts during the Instagram Takeover, which featured Jack Vessey of Vessey & Co., reached more than 22,830 people – a 305 percent increase from the week prior. Vessey is a ...
Bryan Nickerson, Manager of the Trade Practices and Commodity Services Department at Western Growers, is among the recent graduates of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP). After committing 17 months, Nickerson, as well as the other 22 graduates, have successfully completed the program making them the 48TH class. Over the past 40 years, CALP has ...
Western Growers has partnered with the Alliance for Food and Farming to produce “How Safe Are Your Fruits and Veggies?”- a video featuring the residue calculator section of safefruitsandveggies.com. The purpose of this calculator is to show how small the residues found on fruits and vegetables are. Using toxicologist Dr. Robert Krieger’s analysis, it has ...
Western Growers is pleased to announce the recent hire of Darcie Floyd, who has joined the Insurance Services team as the Director of Employee Benefits. As Director, Floyd will be responsible for supporting the production employee benefits to new and existing customers. In addition, she will oversee all employee benefit account executives. Floyd brings over ...
Western Growers’ Executive Vice President Dave Puglia is among the 100 influential Californians included in this year’s California Influencer Series. For the second year, The Sacramento Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced Sun-Star, Fresno Bee and San Luis Obispo tribune have partnered to launch a discussion about pressing issues facing the state of California. As part of ...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 300A Form logs work-related injuries and illnesses in 2018. All eligible employers are required to maintain and post an OSHA 300A summary sheet from February 1 to April 30. Employers with 10 or less employees or who work in low-hazard industries are not required to post their summary. To review ...
Last week, Western Growers’ HR Learning and Development Manager Anna Bilderbach conducted a SB 1343 training session for WG members Neil Bassetti Farms and JV Smith Companies. Topics of the training included sexual harassment prevention and strategies on how to maintain a compliant workplace. As previously reported in Spotlight, SB 1343 requires that California employers ...
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear award-winning entrepreneur Daymond John at the 2019 Western Growers Annual Meeting Chairman’s Luncheon and Keynote as he speaks about his success in marketing and building a successful brand. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over ...
Save the date for our next AgTechX event, which will explore trends and technologies that will shape the food safety systems of the future. From preventive controls to the elusive kill step, academics, technologists and growers will gather to learn and exchange ideas on how technology can help enhance the safety of our food supply. ...
Western Growers will honor Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif, whose passion for agriculture and remarkable leadership has elevated WG exponentially, with the 2019 Award of Honor during Western Growers 94th Annual Meeting in Maui, Hawaii. Nassif’s impact and commitment to the Western Growers community will be recognized at the Award of Honor Dinner ...