Posts By: Cory Lunde

Western Growers COVID-19 Webinar Series

As many Western states enter peak summer harvest season, there is increasing concern over the potential impact of COVID-19 on the agricultural workforce. To minimize the risks of disruption to our farms and food supply, the CDC and U.S. Department of Labor recently released joint guidance for agriculture workers and employers. To facilitate industry-wide adoption ...

WGIS Launches Connected Worker Program

Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS) has officially launched the Connected Worker Program to help prevent injuries before they occur. Utilizing the latest advancements in wearable technology, the Connected Worker Program measures certain motions and detects unsafe movements of employees during their shift. The data is shared with the supervisor and used to identify risk trends, ...

COVID-19 Shared Housing and Transportation Webinar: July 9 – Registration Now Open

As many Western states enter peak summer harvest season, there is increasing concern over the potential impact of COVID-19 on the agricultural workforce. This Thursday, July 9, join Western Growers for part three of our COVID-19 webinar series, which will address the latest guidance related to shared housing and transportation in the fresh produce industry. ...

Message from WG President Dave Puglia – Annual Meeting Canceled

To Our Valued Members and Industry Allies, Lately we have received many inquiries from members asking whether they could plan to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting. We have delayed making that decision hoping for better news but unfortunately, for the first time in our 95-year history, Western Growers will not hold its Annual Meeting. Due to ...

Additional Commodities Eligible for CFAP

USDA has announced that additional commodities have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), with more eligible commodities expected to be added in the coming weeks. Other adjustments to the program have also been made based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers will be able ...

WG COVID-19 Webinar Series Resources Available

In an effort to facilitate industry-wide adoption of the CDC-DOL interim guidance for agriculture workers and employers, Western Growers (WG) recently completed a three-part webinar series addressing the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures on produce farms and in facilities. Conducted in partnership with leading experts from industry and academia – including Colorado…

WG Supports Feinstein Water Conveyance Bill

Western Growers has issued a letter in support of S. 3811, a bill recently introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein to address severe subsidence impacts that have substantially reduced the carrying capacity of California’s water delivery system. The letter praises Senator Feinstein for her efforts to secure reliable water supplies for California farmers, and notes that ...

Recording and Reporting Requirements for COVID-19 Cases

There have been a number of questions regarding recording and reporting requirements for COVID-19 cases. Review the resources listed below to ensure your company is in compliance with current state and federal mandates. Cal/OSHA The California Department of Industrial Relations has issued a FAQ on recording and reporting requirements for COVID-19 cases. Among the questions ...

WG, Coalition Urges Additional Congressional Resources for Farmworker Safety

In response to limited access to COVID-19 resources in many parts of rural America, Western Growers has organized a national coalition of more than 30 industry allies calling on Congress to provide additional assistance to growers in protecting their workforces. The letter states that while “countless U.S. farms have adopted best practices including social distancing, ...

Wearable Tech Reduces Risks of Workplace Injuries in Agriculture

IRVINE, Calif., (July 1, 2020) – Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS) today rolled out the Connected Worker Program to help prevent injuries before they occur. Utilizing the latest advancements in wearable technology, the Connected Worker Program measures certain motions and detects unsafe movements of employees during their shift. The data is shared with the supervisor and ...

Wearable Tech Reduces Risks of Workplace Injuries

Meet Rosa. She is an H-2A worker from Mexico who was harvesting fresh produce for a Western Growers member company during the past winter vegetable season. Despite her age, she is over 55 years old, Rosa was relatively new to farm work, with less than five years of experience. Intuitively, Rosa fell into a higher ...