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2015 California Legislative Update
The 2015 California legislative year was completed early Saturday morning following final action on bills. The focus now shifts as the governor will decide the fate of the bills that were passed. Below is a brief snapshot of key bills of importance to WG. AB 465 (Roger Hernandez, D – West Covina) Oppose: AB 465 ...
The 90th Annual Meeting — Golf One of San Diego’s Best Courses, The Grand Del Mar Golf Course
Does the excitement from watching the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits this past weekend have you in the mood to golf? Then sign up today for the Western Growers golf tournament during our 90th Annual Meeting in San Diego this November. Located on site at the Grand Del Mar, the Grand Golf Club features San ...
FSMA –Preventive Controls for Human Food Webinar THIS FRIDAY
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 ...
90th Annual Meeting – Get Inspired by Top Chef Shirley Chung
When “chef-testant,” Shirley Chung was eliminated from the Top Chef show’s final four episode in Hawaii in 2014, she graciously lamented about her performance saying, “I feel like I disappointed a lot of people, but I have to be honest and say that I agreed with the judges. I was simply not at my best ...
THIS WEEK — ACA Dashboard Road Show Hits the Central Valley
Is your company prepared for the 2016 employer mandates under the Affordable Care Act? If not, you need to act fast in order to avoid IRS penalties. Don’t understand what’s expected? Western Growers can help. We are hosting events in Modesto and Bakersfield next week to help guide you through the tangled web of ACA ...
Celebrate the Career of Bob Gray at this Year’s Award of Honor Dinner
There are many reasons to attend Western Growers’ 90th Annual Meeting this November. One of the best ones is to help celebrate the career of this year’s Award of Honor recipient, Bob Gray. Gray will be honored by Western Growers for his accomplishments over his 40-year career in agriculture. The former Western Growers board member and ...
Yuma Ag Center to Host Fusarium Conference in November
The University of Arizona’s Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture is hosting a Fusarium Wilt Conference on Wednesday, November 12, 2015. The Conference will take place in Yuma and run through Friday, November 13. Attendees will hear from Fusarium Wilt experts from Arizona, California, Italy and Brazil and will also have the opportunity to ...
90th Annual Meeting — Innovation Arena Workshop
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 ...
The FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food Webinar is TOMORROW
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 ...
Nassif Congratulates Negotiators on Trade Deal
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. ...
Former Federal Water Wars Judge Joins 90th Annual Meeting Water Workshop Panel
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, ...
Pezzini Named as Ocean Mist CEO
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 ...
Brown Signs Safe Harbor Piece-Rate Bill into Law — WG to Hold Advisory Webinar
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. ...
ACA ROADSHOW — PHASE II
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 ...
Food Waste and Innovation – Tell WG Your Story
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 Minimum Wage to Remain at $8.05 for 2016
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, ...
90th Annual Meeting – Thank You to Our Sponsors!
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 ...
This Thursday’s Lunch and Learn Webinar to Address BioFuel Issues in Ag Production
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 ...
Lunch and Learn Webinar — What the Produce Industry Needs to Know about Biofuel Production
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 ...
Western Growers Wishes You a Happy 2016
A reminder that Western Growers’ offices will be closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Wishing you and yours, a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!