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USDA Announces $5 Million Farm to Schools Grant
In order to help schools create or strengthen farm to school programs, USDA announced that up to $5 million will be available this school year. The grants will help further USDA efforts to increase locally sourced foods in America’s school meals. The USDA’s release cites the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census, saying that schools with ...
WG Member David Martella Passes Away
Western Growers wishes to extend its condolences to the family and friends of David Martella, a Western Growers’ member who passed away on September 13, 2016. David was owner of the Salinas-based Martella Farming Company and was an independent grower for Tanimiura & Antle and a consultant for Ippolito International. He attended California State University, ...
AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Hall Added in Imperial Valley
A new AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Hall in the Imperial Valley has been added to the series of town halls previously announced last week. The town hall will take place on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at 9:00 A.M. at the Farm Credit Ag Center, 485 Business Pkwy, Imperial, CA 92251. As with the other ...
Low–flying Helo to Conduct Survey in Southern SJ Valley
Starting on September 30, 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will begin groundwater and geologic testing using a low-flying helicopter to collect and record geophysical measurements for scientific research purposes. The work will occur near the towns of Lost Hills, Buttonwillow and Cawelo in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The testing is being done in ...
AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Halls Start Tomorrow
AB 1513 introduced new wage and hour requirements for piece-rate workers, fundamentally changing labor costs for many agricultural employers, and leaving some vulnerable to liability for back pay and penalties. During this transition, the new law offers a conditional “affirmative defense” to claims for damages or statutory penalties based on an employer’s alleged failure to ...
WG Board Votes Unanimously to Oppose Arizona Prop 206
Yesterday, Western Growers released a statement announcing the unanimous decision of the Board of Directors to oppose Arizona Proposition 206, a statewide-initiative that would gradually increase Arizona’s minimum wage to $12 by 2020 while also creating a right to paid sick time. Read the full Western Growers’ Statement For more information, contact Cory Lunde (949) ...
Continued Pesticide Maximum Residue Level (MRL) Violations Jeopardize Export Sales
Japan has notified the United States’ government that a recent export shipment of celery to Japan was found to exceed Japan’s MRL tolerance resulting in a cited violation. Since this is the second time such a violation has been detected on celery within the last few months, Japan has now instituted an intensified inspection program. ...
Sign up for Imperial Town Hall on AB 1513 Safe Harbor Compliance October 18
If you live in or near California’s Imperial Valley, you will want to join Western Growers for an AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Hall being held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at 9:00 A.M. at the Farm Credit Ag Center, 485 Business Pkwy, Imperial, 92251. Over the last two weeks, hundreds of representatives from member ...
DOL Final Rule on White Collar Exemptions to Take Effect December 1
As previously reported in Spotlight, the U.S. Department of Labor’s new FLSA white-collar exemption regulations are scheduled to take effect December 1, 2016. Despite partisan efforts to pass legislation in Congress to repeal or delay the regulations and two separate federal lawsuits seeking to block the regulations, it appears there is no stopping the Final Rule. ...
MRL Violations Places Celery on Hold and Test List
Japan issued an advisory requiring all celery shipments to be subjected to mandatory hold and test procedures due to a third maximum residue level (MRL) violation (Bifenthrin) reported on celery. All future shipments — including those in transit — will be tested by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before being released to the ...
Portions of Placer County Quarantined after Psyllid Detection
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has placed 118 square miles in Placer County under an Asian Citrus psyllid quarantine. The move comes following the detection of multiple life stages on citrus trees within the City of Lincoln. The quarantine prohibits the movement of citrus and curry leaf tree nursery stock, including all plant ...
AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Hall Video Now Available for WG Members
Western Growers recently conducted a series of AB 1513 Safe Harbor Town Halls throughout California. Now Western Growers’ members can access a recording from one of those events on our website (WG members must be logged in to the website to access the video). AB 1513 is the law that defines new wage and hour ...
91st Annual Meeting – Please Support Our Sponsors
Sponsors are an invaluable part of our Annual Meeting. Without them, this yearly fun and educational experience couldn’t take place. Their dedication and commitment to this event — many of whom participate year after year — earns them deserved exposure in front of the membership. We ask our members to support them in their own ...
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 ...