Posts By: Jeff Janas

Coalition Seeking Signatories for Pro TPP Letter to Congress

The U.S. Coalition for TPP is collecting signatures for a joint sign-on letter urging support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The letter will be delivered to all members of Congress this fall. This letter is open to all businesses/corporations, business associations, state and local chambers and allied organizations. Please consider joining onto the letter by clicking ...

New Countywide ACP Quarantine in Fresno Co. Will Make Citrus Shipping Easier for Growers

Western Farm Press is reporting that Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Les Wright has implemented a countywide Asian citrus psyllid quarantine for Fresno County. Wright’s decision eliminates regulatory restrictions and makes it easier for growers to ship citrus within the county and from Tulare County in Fresno County. Several pest discoveries around the state made over ...

Early Ballot Reminder for Arizona Members

The Arizona Secretary of State’s office is encouraging voters in Arizona to mail in early ballots by TODAY to ensure they are received in time to be counted. If you have not already done so, please mail in your Arizona ballot today!  

Sign on to Business Community‘s Congressional Immigration Reform Letter

The National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are working with other business organizations, across all sectors of the economy, to recruit signatories for a letter that will be delivered shortly after the election urging members of Congress to address immigration reform. The letter is open to all: businesses/corporations; business/industry associations; state ...

Western Growers and C.H. Robinson Giving Day Video Now on YouTube

Western Growers and C.H. Robinson memorialized our Giving Day held this past August 24, 2016, by producing a video encapsulating the event that saw growers and associations donate more than 240,000 pounds of produce to Feeding America. Along with monetary donations, participants provided donations equating to over 250,000 meals. We are proud to have celebrated ...

Western Growers Issues Statement on Trump Being Elected President

Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif issued a statement yesterday on Donald Trump being elected as the 45th president of the United States.  Nassif congratulated President-elect Trump and Vice-president-elect Mike Pence on a “well-earned victory.” He also expressed optimism that the new president and his administration “will work together to pursue pragmatic solutions to…

DIR Updates Piece-rate FAQ Webpage

The California Department of Industrial Relations updated its FAQ webpage on piece-rate compensation (AB 1513) to include much-needed information on the pay-outs for wages due to piece-rate employees. Employers impacted by these retro-payments should now be processing those payments to workers. Info on retro payments can be found in the FAQs by going to the ...

DWR to Hold Series of Meetings on Groundwater Best Management Practices

DWR is hosting a series of public meetings to share information and to seek feedback on a draft of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for sustainable groundwater management. BMPs are intended to provide clarification, guidance, and examples to help Groundwater Sustainability Agencies develop the essential elements of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the sustainable management of ...

AZ Voters Pass Minimum Wage Hike and Paid Sick Time

Arizona voters passed Proposition 206 (the “Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act”) which raises the minimum wage in Arizona from $8.05 per hour to $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2017, and incrementally over the next four years to $12 per hour. Then, the minimum wage will increase with the cost of living starting in 2021.  In addition, ...

Changes to FLSA White Collar Exemptions Take Effect December 1

The deadline for employers to implement changes to the federal “white collar” overtime compensation requirement is just two weeks away. As previously reported in Spotlight, the U.S. Department of Labor issued revised regulations covering the “white collar” exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) last May. Those employees who meet the regulatory requirements are…

As AB 1513 Deadline Looms, Beware of Back Payment Check Fraud

Western Growers members making back payments of wages pursuant to AB 1513 are advised to confirm that negotiated checks match both the intended recipient and amount. Western Growers has been advised that there have been cases of checks being altered to change the name of the payee and the check amount. In one case, a ...

Arizona Department of Ag Ready to Assist with Export Certificates

I​n preparation for the winter harvest in Yuma, the Arizona Department of Ag has authorized staff to work extended hours during the week to provide greater flexibility and timeliness for facilitating the industries’ export certification needs. The fee is $56 ($50 for the inspection and certification of each lot and $6 for the Federal administrative fee required…

Court Blocks FLSA Overtime Rule

On November 22, 2016, the U.S. District Court in Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s final overtime exemption rule, which would have raised the minimum salary threshold to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act’s white collar exemption to $47,476 per year, starting December 1, 2016. The rule is now ...

DWR Sets Initial State Water Allocation at 20 Percent

The California Department of Water Resources announced a 20 percent initial state water allocation for 2017 for customers served by the State Water Project (SWP). State officials suggested the allocation amount may change in the spring of next year depending on the amount of precipitation winter storms bring to the state. According the DWR’s release, ...

STATEMENT: Western Growers’ Statement on Election of Donald Trump

IRVINE, Calif. (November 9, 2016) – Following the results of the 2016 presidential election, Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers, issued the following statement: “Western Growers congratulates President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and the Republican Party on well-earned victories in the 2016 general election. In the aftermath of a…