Posts By: Cory Lunde
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Fieldin: Real-Time Spray Tech Startup Started by Growers for Growers
By Cory Lunde and Stephanie Metzinger When Boaz Bachar and Iftach Birger founded Fieldin in Israel seven years ago, the millions of dollars they saved growers in pest management in such a short amount of time was impressive. The start-up company has now brought its smart sprayer to the California market to help Western Growers ...
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 ...
The D’Arrigo Legacy: Three Generations of Leadership in the Produce Industry
By Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos and Cory Lunde What drives an individual or organization to rise above in times of adversity? Why are some defeated by challenges and others thrive and come out ahead? Let’s take a glimpse into produce history to examine the unique parallels between the leadership and legacy built and sustained by D’Arrigo California ...
Western Growers Annual Meeting Highlights
By Cory Lunde With the cancellation of the Western Growers Annual Meeting in 2020, its return in 2021 represented an opportunity to celebrate the resiliency of the Western fresh produce industry. Amid a global pandemic, Western Growers members have rallied to continue providing a healthy, abundant supply of fruits, vegetables and tree nuts to consumers ...
Teamwork Powered the Broncos… and Colorado Fruit & Veg Growers
On the heels of a dramatic Super Bowl victory for the Denver Broncos, an enthusiastic Robert Sakata, president of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) and owner of Sakata Farms, Brighton, CO, addressed the crowd at the organization’s second annual conference in true fan style. Sporting a Peyton Manning jersey—complete with a bright ...
Infrastructure Bill Delivers Major Victory for Western Water Users
IRVINE, Calif. (November 15, 2021) – With President Joe Biden’s signature on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act today, a national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, businesses and rural and urban water providers declared a victory for Western water users and called on the Administration to immediately clear the path for projects that will…
National Ag and Labor Groups Push for Senate Action on Immigration Reform
Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia joined Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), and leaders from major farm and farmworker organizations this morning to spur Senate action on the agricultural labor crisis. During the roundtable session, which took place in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Hearing ...
Ag, Business Coalition Files Lawsuit to Protect Nation’s Food Supply
Western Growers and a coalition of agricultural and business association allies filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday challenging the COVID-19 related emergency temporary standards (ETS) recently approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Board). The complaint alleges, among other things, that the Board lacks statutory authority to impose many…
Governor Newsom Urges Businesses to Use Backup Energy Sources During Heat Wave
With the West Coast heat wave projected to intensify over the coming days, Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on Californians to limit power usage during peak times, and is urging businesses to use backup energy sources to relieve pressure on the grid. In an Executive Order earlier this week, Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency, ...
Calif. Provides Masks for Agricultural Employees
Cal-OES State Operations Center made a number of surgical masks and cloth masks available for farmworkers and other agricultural employees, with the cloth masks intended specifically for migrant housing facilities. These have shipped to County Ag Commissioners’ (CAC) offices and will be made available according to local needs. This is a one-time emergency shipment to ...
WG, Industry Seek $5 Billion in COVID-19 Relief
Yesterday, WG joined a coalition of more than 80 produce organizations from across the country in urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to establish a $5 billion Produce Market Stabilization Fund from the monies allocated to USDA in the recently-enacted CARES Act. The letter to Secretary Perdue notes that: “Almost overnight, critical movement and economic activity in ...
Cal/OSHA Guidance on COVID-19 Infection Prevention for Agriculture Now Available in Spanish
On Tuesday, Cal/OSHA issued guidance for agricultural employers on how to update their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) to include preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. This guidance is now available in Spanish. The COVID-19 Infection Prevention to Agricultural Employers and Employees guidance does not introduce any new legal obligations, but because ...
WG Provides Webinar on FFCRA Paid Leave Mandates
On Friday, April 3, WG provided a webinar on what employers need to know to comply with the paid leave mandates in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The following topics were addressed during the webinar: Overview of FFCRA Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act Tax Credits for Paid ...
Calif. DPR Issues Guidance on N95 Alternatives, Glove Safety Tips
Due to the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the current COVID-19 crisis, the Calif. Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has compiled a list of respirators and exposure controls that offer the same or better protection for employees who are required to use N95 respirators. Additionally, DPR has provided glove safety tips for handling ...
WG, Coalition Urge Calif. Governor Newsom to Protect Businesses from Lawsuits
Last Friday, a coalition of nearly 40 business groups sent a letter to Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to protect businesses providing critical services from lawsuits during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with the Civil Justice Association of California, the coalition asked the governor to expand the Emergency Services Act, which protects private entities ...
List of Vendors Offering COVID-19 Products and Services
For our members who are looking for vendors offering COVID-19 products, materials, or manufacturing services, check out the list of more than 1,000 suppliers on Thomas, a well-established industrial supply company. The vendors listed can be easily searched by company type and location, locations served, quality certifications, and other types of certifications and registrations. According…
Congress, White House Reach Deal on Interim COVID-19 Package
Congress and the Trump Administration have reached a deal on a $484 billion interim COVID-19 funding bill that will, in part, replenish the small business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The “Phase 3.5” relief bill was passed by the Senate today, with the House vote set to take place on Thursday. Included in the bill is ...
WG Helps Shape California’s Coronavirus Emergency Response
WG leaders have been in frequent communication with California officials to provide on-the-ground feedback and help shape the state’s emergency policy responses to the Coronavirus pandemic. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is leading the Administration’s policy development for agriculture and food production issues during the crisis. At the moment, state health and labor agencies are reviewing…
Calif. Rep. Cox, House Colleagues Press Leadership on Western Water Projects
Last Friday, May 8th, Calif. Rep. T.J. Cox (CA-21) headlined a letter to House leadership calling for any COVID-19 infrastructure stimulus package to include the Bureau of Reclamation infrastructure. Bureau of Reclamation facilities supply drinking water for 31 million people and irrigation water for over 10 million acres of farmland. The letter states: “Farms and…
WG Wraps Up July Board of Directors Meeting
Chairman Ron Ratto concluded the July Board of Directors Meeting earlier today. Over the past three days, nearly 40 directors met in Newport Beach, Calif., to deliberate on policy issues most critical to the future of Western Growers members, and to provide staff continued guidance on association priorities. Key highlights from the meeting are noted ...