E: [email protected]/P:949.241.5337 Kara Timmins is the Communications Manager for Western Growers. She has worked in marketing and publishing for over ten years. She has a keen interest in biological evolution and how science can be used to find solutions to human issues. Kara received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of […]
Western Growers Tracey Chow, Federal Government Affairs Director, spoke at a virtual public hearing on August 14, 2024, to urge that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not grant California the ability to fully implement its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which mandates the transition from diesel to zero emission trucks and other vehicles. In order to move forward with the full ACF…
Based on results from a sampling assignment of fresh basil, cilantro and parsley from September 2017 to September 2021, the FDA has stated that it will update program priorities regarding sampling assignments and surveillance inspections. This assignment assessed Cyclospora cayetanensis, Salmonella spp., and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in these herbs, both domestic and…
In April, the Specialty Crops Security Act of 2024 (S. 4168) was introduced by U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), which increases funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and ensures specialty crop farmers have a say in how the funding is spent. According to the press release, this legislation will "increase the United States Department of…
California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis met with the Western Growers Board of Directors at the board meeting held in Sacramento, Calif. on April 8, 2024. Kounalakis spoke to the Board during lunch before the group went to meet with legislators at the Capitol. The Western Growers Board of Directors also had the opportunity to meet with California's Natural Resources Secretary Wade…
“We grow the best medicine in the world." It’s a sentiment that is so important to Western Growers that it is core to the company’s philosophy. Now there are burgeoning initiatives to make this case on a federal level. Few would dispute that the average American diet is leading to illness; the research cascades like a winning game of solitaire. Diet-related disease is one of the…
This content has been edited and formatted for print. What does it take to grow nutritious food for the world? It starts with healthy soil, which provides nutrients to crops, supports a diverse ecosystem of beneficial microorganisms, and helps suppress harmful pest and pathogen, all of which leads to healthier crops and higher yields. In a recent episode of the Voices of the Valley…
Farming is all about biology. It always has been. It always will be. With an expanding industry portfolio of biological products going to market, each with the hope that there’s a place for its utility and an industry looking for viable solutions to growing environmental, regulatory and consumer pressures, the movement in biologically cohesive systems is advancing. Growers are navigating…
Every grower’s water story is unique, but just like water, everything is intrinsically connected. With new groundwater basin classification and a rain response executive order in California alongside a newly formed council tasked with groundwater management in Arizona, the water terrain for these two states in 2024 is shaping up to be turbulent. Below, Western Growers provides an update of the…
There are many reasons a person becomes a farmer. But there is a through line to their motivation: whatever farmers grow, they don’t want to waste it. The issue of food waste is one that is growing in importance in the mind of the consumer. This goes beyond the “clean your plate!” orders from mothers throughout time to include an increased desire from the public to know about how much…
On Thursday, the Specialty Crops Security Act of 2024 (S. 4168) was introduced by U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), which increases funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and ensures specialty crop farmers have a say in how the funding is spent. According to the press release, this legislation will “increase the United States…
Human Resources departments require tools and information to support their organizations. These decisions can strengthen a corporate structure for years to come. For the agricultural industry to stay competitive, it requires specialized insight to make data-based decisions. The Compensation Survey is an annual report created with collective contributions from Western Growers members to…
Following the release of two separate farm bill frameworks by the chairs of the U.S. House and Senate, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has commended the progress made by representatives. “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance commends House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow for their work in moving the 2024 farm bill…
Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology (CIT) has released the first of an ongoing series of case studies reporting on financial impacts of different agtech implementation. In this case study, the CIT collaborated with grower operations to share quantifiable data of the financial value of Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder. This case study assesses the cost savings related to variable…
Are you ready to hire an intern? In a coordinated effort between Western Growers and growers to identify key skill needs within fresh-produce agriculture, students throughout California have completed industry-specific college-level coursework. Students who have acquired the number of credits to qualify for internships are now ready for opportunities. Western Growers is also offering to…
California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis met with the Western Growers Board of Directors at the board meeting held in Sacramento, Calif. on April 8, 2024. Kounalakis spoke to the Board during lunch before the group went to meet with legislators at the Capitol. Pictured: Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing and Western Growers Board of Directors…
CONTACT will be hosting The Traceability Rule: How to Prepare and What to Expect from Buyers webinar on April 16, 2024, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. PDT. The webinar will feature Natalie Hunter and Erik Larsen, traceability advisors with New Era Partners. This event is free to attend and will be held on Zoom. Register here.
A farmland landscape may not make many people think of a place rich in scientific research and discovery, but it should! In this episode of Voices of the Valley Megan Kavanaugh, VP of Science and Agronomy at Bio S.I., talks about the life and activity happening in the soil with Western Growers Jeana Cadby, Director of Climate and Sustainability, and Kara Timmins, Communications…
As Albert Keck passed the gavel representing the position of chair of the board to Stuart Woolf at the 2023 Western Growers annual meeting in Kauai, Hawaii, in November, it was more than a handoff of the role. It was a clear view into how deep the bench is in the Western Growers board for leadership. Though a new chair of the board may mean a different tone in guidance, the collaborative and…
For AliBio, structures and systems are at the core of what they offer. The microbial systems they offer parallel the complexity of the systems created by the agricultural industry in order to feed the world’s population. By selecting the most capable microorganisms and analyzing millions of data from their genetics and metabolism, AliBio has a clear mission: provide a product that can help…
Farmers are often called stewards of the land–and more than ever before, the public is paying attention to how these stewards maintain the health of the imperceptibly small components of soil. The team at Bio S.I. has a keen eye on that soil as well. In the inoculant field since the ‘90s and incorporated in 2006, Bio S.I produces microbial products that help rebuild, restore and renew soil…
