Western Growers new Center for Innovation and Technology is expected to open later this month in Salinas, California. As part of that initiative, we are launching a comprehensive “innovation” program to help find and accelerate the availability of technologies and services that will help members deal with the pressing problems of producing more high quality ...
With the publication of FDA’s final Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food and Animal Feed, the produce industry has come together to provide a FREE series of webinars to help industry members understand the final rules and implications for their businesses. FDA’s final FSMA regulations will have a significant ...
Yesterday, U.S. trade negotiators announced that an agreement had been reached with 11 Pacific Rim nations on the Tran Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal expected to increase market opportunities for agricultural products, including specialty crops. Western Growers’ president and CEO Tom Nassif, issued a statement to the media congratulating negotiators for reaching the deal. ...
Western Growers is excited and pleased to announce the addition of former federal district court judge, Oliver W. Wanger, to the panel of our water workshop entitled, Under Attack: Water Rights, Water Use during the 90th Annual Meeting in November in San Diego. Judge Wanger is a member of Wanger Jones Helsley PC in Fresno, ...
As reported in The Packer and other industry outlets, Ocean Mist Farms announced that Joe Pezzini will succeed Ed Boutonnet as president and CEO of the Castroville-based grower-shipper. The leadership transition will take place over the next year. Pezzini joined Ocean Mist in 1983, was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2001, and became ...
On October 10th, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that provides certain employers of piece-rate employees, with a safe harbor against pending or potential class action lawsuits for uncompensated non-productive time (NPT) and rest and recovery periods. The bill, AB 1513, codifies Gonzalez v. Downtown LA Motors and Bluford v. Safeway — effective January 1, 2016. ...
Is your company prepared for the employer mandates that become effective in 2016 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? If not, you need to act fast in order to avoid IRS penalties. Don’t understand what’s expected? Western Growers can help. In response to our successful road show events held recently in Modesto and Bakersfield, we ...
The upcoming October issue of the WG&S magazine includes an article on sustainable agriculture that features two WG members — The Nunes Company and Church Brothers — and what each is doing to sell edible fresh produce items that were previously discarded or not harvested. Their innovative approaches to reducing food waste are stories worth ...
Arizona employers can expect the minimum wage for 2016 to remain at $8.05, the same rate as it was in 2015. The state Industrial Commission issued a release indicating that federal cost of living indexes used to determine wage increases did not warrant an increase in the minimum wage this year. Arizona’s minimum wage rate, ...
With the 90th Annual Meeting right around the corner, Western Growers wants to thank all of our sponsors for this year’s event. From our Platinum to our Supplier Sponsors, we appreciate your generous support! Without you, this fun and informative networking event could not take place! We would especially like to thank our Platinum and ...
Join Western Growers on Thursday, October 29, for this month’s Lunch and Learn Webinar to hear about the current state of biofuel production and related challenges and opportunities for agricultural operations. Dr. Stephen Kaffka, Director of the California Biomass Collaborative, will provide an overview of the current science and efforts related to biofuel production in ...
Join Western Growers on Thursday, October 29, for this month’s Lunch and Learn Webinar to hear about the current state of biofuel production and related challenges and opportunities for agricultural operations. Dr. Stephen Kaffka, Director of the California Biomass Collaborative, will provide an overview of the current science and efforts related to biofuel production in ...
Every business works hard to avoid injuries and serious accidents. Accidents not only harm employees, but also negatively impact the business. In addition to suffering lost time and income from a productive employee, a business might be subject to an OSHA inspection and possible fines if it is determined that they were not following proper ...
Yesterday, twelve individuals were honored as “White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture.” Jesus (Jesse) Rodriguez, farm manager at Sano Farms, was one of those recognized during the ceremony. Sano Farms is a Western Growers member that operates out of Firebaugh, California. The White House Champions’ of Change Program honors farmers, ranchers,…
Fox Business Network anchor Stuart Varney is bringing his views on America’s economy to Western Growers’ 90th Annual Meeting. Varney will headline this year’s PAC Lunch on Monday, November 9 which promises to be an entertaining and informative luncheon. Never seen Varney in action? Check out this recent video clip: [VIDEO::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpvh3o4yXkk::aVideoStyle] The…
The State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources released information about a series of informational meetings they will hold to discuss the implementation of Suitable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and to answer questions from the public. The first two meetings start tomorrow, October 21 in the Los Angeles area. Two meetings ...
If you missed the Affordable Care Act Road Show events we held in Modesto, Bakersfield, Imperial, Fresno, Visalia, Salinas and Santa Maria, here’s your chance to get the information you missed! Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, November 5, to cover upcoming Affordable Care Act requirements. Resident ACA expert and ...
The 90th Annual Meeting will undoubtedly send attendees home feeling enriched from their networking and information gathering experience. But if you are registered for and playing in the Western Growers 2015 Annual Golf Tournament, sponsored by Rabobank, one lucky person may go home feeling enriched in a completely different way. Not only is golfing on ...
Quaker City Produce, a wholesaler located in Philadelphia that originally opened in 1940, is set to close its doors tomorrow, Friday, October 30. The closing comes on the heels of the death of the company’s patriarch Jimmy Storey on October 13. If you are currently owed money from Quaker City and have questions about your ...
Is your company prepared for the employer mandates that become effective in 2016 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? If not, you need to act fast in order to avoid IRS penalties. Don’t understand what’s expected? Western Growers can help. In response to our successful road show events held recently in Modesto and Bakersfield, we ...