Posts By: Cory Lunde
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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 ...
CDC Hosts Weekly Private Sector COVID-19 Call
On Monday, April 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host the next call in a series of weekly private sector calls for updates on the COVID-19 response. These calls take place every Monday at 1:00 p.m. PT and are hosted by Dr. Jay Butler, the CDC’s Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases. ...
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 ...
Panetta Sends Letter to USDA Urging Relief for Specialty Crop Growers
Earlier this week, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and three House colleagues sent a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue calling on USDA to initially target relief efforts toward growers facing severe financial distress, such as specialty crop growers who count on a majority of their business supplying foodservice outlets. The letter states, “We strongly urge your ...
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…
Paycheck Protection Program Out of Money, According to SBA
Today the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the forgivable loan program for small businesses under 500 employees, has run out of its $350 billion in appropriated money. According to the SBA, they are “currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding.” ...
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 ...
Calif. Governor Newsom Announces Paid Sick Leave Benefits for Food Sector Workers
Today, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order that will give two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave to certain food sector workers if they are subject to a quarantine or isolation order or medical directive. The Executive Order applies to workers in the food sector, including farmworkers, agricultural workers, those working in grocery ...
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, ...
Consult Tax Advisor Prior to Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
The CARES Act provides for the forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that are used for certain payroll-related costs, or covered expenses, and makes clear that forgiven loans are to be excluded from gross income. However, the CARES Act does not address the deductibility of covered expenses, which has prompted the IRS to issue ...
WG Women Social Media Workshop – Register Now
Next Thursday, August 20, the WG Women Program is offering the first of a two-part virtual social media workshop aimed at empowering women to use social media as a tool of industry advocacy. You will learn how to tell the right stories, at the right time, to the right people, in the right way. Space ...
WG Sponsors Virtual Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West – Registration FREE for Members
On September 9th, Western Growers (WG) is sponsoring the virtual Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West, which will feature an intriguing slate of experts from leading food companies discussing food waste, sustainability and even alternative forms of plant-based and cell-based proteins. In addition, WG will host a special late afternoon “Happy Hour” session on ...
USDA to Host CFAP Producer Webinar August 19
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a webinar on August 19 at 3 p.m. ET to discuss recently added commodities eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Join the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for detailed examples on specialty crops, nursery crops, cut flowers, eligible aquaculture and more. Click here to register. USDA is…
Congressman Panetta Leads Call for Assistance in Securing N-95 Masks
Congressmen Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) headline a bipartisan letter to Vice President Mike Pence, as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, requesting immediate assistance in securing safety equipment, including N-95 masks, for farmers and farmworkers impacted by the wildfire smoke. “Such essential equipment will help protect those who continue to ...
CFAP Program Deadline is September 11
As a reminder, the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is September 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. Over 130 specialty crop commodities are eligible for CFAP. All eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations can be found ...
Time is Running Out to Register for Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West
If you haven’t already registered for the virtual Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West next Wednesday, September 9th, don’t wait! Sponsored in part by WG, registration is FREE for all WG members. The day will feature thought-provoking discussions on sustainability, food waste, alternative protein and more, with top leaders in the food and agriculture industries. ...
Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit West Tomorrow
Agri-Pulse’s first annual food and ag policy summit kicks off tomorrow, September 9th. Registration is free for all WG members ($149 value). The day will feature thought-provoking discussions on sustainability, food waste, alternative protein and more, with top leaders in the food and agriculture industries. With an all-star lineup of speakers, you won’t want to miss ...
Registration Open for WG Women Social Media Workshop Part Two
Empower yourself to use social media as a tool for industry advocacy. Building on our first virtual social media class where we learned about the seven archetypes of social media, WG Women is offering participants an in-depth look at effective social media tactics. The training will be provided by digital-first communications experts from Unearth. Workshop ...
Register Now for Leafy Greens Seasonality Webinar
Join us for part two of the Leafy Greens Seasonality webinar series, which will cover industry best practices before and during transition periods. This series is hosted by Western Growers Science in collaboration with the Arizona and California LGMAs. Part 2: Industry Efforts, Tools, and Best Practices to Consider Before and During Transition Periods This ...