Michelle Rivera
Western Growers, Communications Manager
E: [email protected]/P: 949.885.4778 EXT 4778 Michelle Rivera serves as the Communications Manager for Western Growers, where she is responsible for ensuring effective internal and external communications for Western Growers members, industry partners and consumers across all platforms. Michelle has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience in various industries, including adtech, consumer products […]
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WG Director Profile: Bob Giragosian
Managing Partner of Kern Ridge Growers, LLC Director since 2022 | Member since 1977 | D-9 Kern County/Bakersfield While narratives of generational family farmworkers resonate within the ag industry, Bob Giragosian has independently charted his own unique path to achieve success. Bob began his agricultural career in Fresno, where he worked as a farm laborer throughout high school and…
WG Director Profile: Kyle Richardson, President, Garry Richardson Farms
Kyle Richardson, President, Garry Richardson Farms Director since 2022 | Member since 2016 | D-9 Kern County/Bakersfield Kyle Richardson comes from a family with a strong work ethic, innovative ideas and rich traditions. As a third-generation farmer, these values have enabled Richardson to thrive in a position of leadership and influence among the agricultural community. At present,…
Western Growers 2023 Annual Meeting: Event Highlights Preview
This year marks the 97th Western Growers Annual Meeting, which will be held at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa from Nov. 12-15, 2023. We hope you’re ready for a few days of captivating speakers, engaging panel discussions and a series of social events! Here’s a brief glimpse into the upcoming activities scheduled during the gathering: Sunday, November 12 5 p.m. –…
CDFA Now Accepting Proposals for 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting proposals for the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), with a submission deadline of Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at 5 p.m. PT. The SCBGP funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Grant amounts for the program range from $100,000 to $500,000 per project, and the maximum grant…
WGCIT Hosts August Lunch and Learn Session with Coastline Family Farms’ Larry Cox
The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology (WGCIT) welcomed Owner Larry Cox from Coastline Family Farms as the speaker for its August Lunch and Learn event. For the representatives in attendance, Cox spoke about his expansion from farming in the desert to Mexico, Salinas and Oregon. He also talked about the insights he gained from his own father, a farmer in the Imperial Valley,…
See Autonomous Farming Solutions in Action at FIRA USA 2023
Growers, innovators, scientists and investors are set to come together next month at the second edition of FIRA USA, a three-day gathering of autonomous farming and agricultural robotics solutions. The event will take place at the Salinas Sports Complex on Sept. 19-21. During the event, attendees can expect a showcase of robotic farming solutions, exhibitions, presentations, panel discussions…
Food Safety Counts
Food safety has been a top priority for Western Growers, its members, consumers and the entire food industry for decades. While our industry has made significant progress in food safety, we understand the need for constant improvement, and our efforts will continue to evolve as new challenges in our industry arise. Our goal is to ensure a safe and secure food supply and healthy crops for as long…
Director Profile: Craig Alameda, Treasurer, Topflavor Farms, Inc.
Craig Alameda, Treasurer, Topflavor Farms, Inc. Director since 2022 | Member since 1993 | D-2 Yuma Craig Alameda discovered his love of agriculture at an early age while working alongside his grandfather, father and brothers at grower-packer-shipper L.S. Williams Company in Fremont, Calif. “Farming was bred into us,” he said, as he recalls his days of picking cucumbers, harvesting…
WG Member Profile: BlazerWilkinsonGee
BlazerWilkinsonGee Member since 2008 There’s something about a picture-perfect strawberry that has made the fruit consistently rank as one of the most popular fruits consumed by millions of Americans each year. According to grower-packer-shipper BlazerWilkinsonGee, there are five to seven petals per strawberry flower, an estimated 200 seeds on a strawberry’s surface, and five pounds of…
WGCIT Resident: Carbon Robotics
When the majority of Americans think about robotics and artificial intelligence, one of the last things that comes to mind right now is the farming industry. But Paul Mikesell, Founder and CEO of Seattle-based Carbon Robotics, is looking to change that. Founded in 2018, Carbon Robotics is an agricultural startup that builds innovative tools that provides farmers with precise and cost-effective…
WGCIT Sponsor: Nutrien Ag Solutions
For most professionals involved in agriculture, they say ag is in their blood. For Carson Britz, his family started out in agriculture as a crop retailer in the 1940s. After working a number of years in areas that include production, growing, processing, food safety, R&D and ag tech, he’s come full circle, and is now the Senior Manager of Sustainable Ag in the Western U.S. region for…
How California Let Arizona Take the Driver’s Seat When It Comes to Using Autonomous Farm Vehicles
California is the top agriculture-producing state in the U.S., according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. But when it comes to autonomous vehicle ecosystem superiority, Arizona has not only taken a front seat—it’s also become the driver. The state has deployed a pro-business approach that has made it the hub for businesses in autonomous technology—and it’s now enjoying all the spoils…
Upon His Retirement, the Western Growers Family of Companies Celebrates David Zanze’s 38 Years of Service
When you start a new job with a company, the last thing you’re thinking about is the legacy you’ll be leaving behind. Rather, you may be thinking about how you’ll fit in with your new colleagues and hoping you’ll be successful in your new role, among others. When David Zanze joined Western Growers Family of Companies (WGFC) in the mid-‘80s, he was just excited to jump at the…
WG Women Profile: Marisol Moreno
Marisol Moreno, Controller at Allied Potato Not too many people can say that the owner of their company made them a sandwich, but that’s exactly what happened to recent WG Women Certificate of Completion honoree Marisol Moreno when she discovered her passion for agriculture. At the time, she was working for a table grapes company as a senior accountant and was told she’d need to cover for…
WG Director Profile: Chad Amaral, D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California
Chad Amaral, D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, Calif. Director since 2022 | Member since 1937 | D-11 Monterey County D’Arrigo California will be celebrating 100 years of business in 2023, and Chad Amaral, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for D’Arrigo and newly elected Western Growers Board Member, has been with the company for 25 of them. Amaral…
Western Growers Mourns the Passing of Luther J. Khachigian
The Western Growers Family of Companies mourns the passing of former board member Luther J. Khachigian, long-time farmer and agricultural advocate, who passed away on June 20, 2023. He was 87 years old. A life in agriculture started early for Luther; he was born on his family’s 60-acre grape and walnut farm in Visalia, Calif., later earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of…
Save the Date: USDA Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Webinar on July 19
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) invite California agricultural employers to attend a webinar on July 19 on the USDA Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program. The webinar will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn more about the program and how it works in California to assist farm and food workers. The…
FSA Accepting Nominations for Farmers to Serve on Local County Committees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee members. Nominations for the 2023 election will need to be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2023, and the elections will occur later this year. Nominations are open for those who participate or cooperate in a USDA program and live in the Local…
Navigating Cyclospora During Peak Season
It’s Cyclospora season. Cyclospora cayatenensis is a waterborne parasite that can cause intestinal illness year-round, but we typically see outbreaks of Cyclospora during its peak season in spring and summer. Western Growers’ very own Afreen Malik, Science Programs Director, talked about the growing concern of Cyclospora, and things you should know as we face peak season, in a recent article…
Register Today for the H-2A Certificate Program
The Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) is excited to offer the certificate program for the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Visa Program. This educational certificate program is designed to broaden your knowledge and better navigate the complex H-2A program for the novice and experienced H-2A user. Western Growers H-2A Service’s Jason Resnick will be teaching several of…