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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Carbon Robotics: 10 Billion Weeds Killed
The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) is extremely polarizing - for some, the possibilities of AI are exciting and endless; others worry about the profound effects AI could have on society, the economy and, well, humanity. Paul Mikesell, Founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics, best known for the LaserWeeder, says his company exemplifies how AI can be harnessed to make a positive…
New Voices of the Valley Podcast: Innovations in Cross-Border Health Care for Ag Workers
Cross-border health care is growing in popularity as Mexico increasingly provides innovative, technologically advanced medical services at a cost-savings for employers. In fact, close to a million Americans cross the border every year to receive medical care in Mexico. In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Raquel Lugo, Senior Director of Client Services and Mexico Operations at Western…
Charting Her Own Course
In a scene all too familiar in agriculture, young adults in rural communities are often lured to the big city in search of jobs and professional opportunities. But for those who remain, the ambitious and industrious can almost always chart a course of their own choosing. Such is the story of Tracy Jones. Tracy grew up in Reedley, California, a small agricultural town with a limited variety of…
Register Today for Western Growers University Leave Law Event on Sept. 12
Registration is open for Western Growers University’s one-day workshop covering leave law mandates and disability accommodation in the workplace. This WG Leave Law Event is a unique opportunity to build and refine human resource management skills around employee leaves laws and the employer’s duty to provide a discrimination free workplace. Participants will learn how to navigate through…
Western Growers 2024 Compensation and Benefits Survey Available for Purchase
The most comprehensive analysis of California and Arizona specialty crop compensation data is now available for purchase. The Compensation and Benefits Survey provides invaluable insights for HR professionals and executives committed to attracting and retaining top talent in their organizations. The survey includes information regarding base pay, bonuses and total compensation data for 90…
Register Today for Impact of Food Waste: Environmental and Economic Insights Webinar
Join Western Growers Science for an upcoming webinar with Dr. Zach Conrad, Assistant Professor in the departments of Health Sciences and Kinesiology at William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Va. Dr. Conrad will discuss the environmental and economic impacts of food waste, using data-driven approaches highlighted in his research. He will explore the relationship between food waste,…
CDFA Lifts Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine in Contra Costa County
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has lifted the Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine in Contra Costa County. According to a press release, the declaration comes nearly 10 months after officials detected populations of the invasive pest in the area and established a quarantine encompassing parts of the cities of Brentwood and Oakley, as well as surrounding areas in parts…
USDA Offers Assistance for Small and Medium-Sized Specialty Crop Growers to Offset Food Safety Expenses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program provides financial assistance for specialty crop growers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Growers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses through Jan 31, 2025. The application…
CDFA Lifts Tau Fruit Fly Quarantine in Los Angeles County
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has lifted the Tau fruit fly quarantine located in Los Angeles County, Stevenson Ranch Area, effective June 28, 2024. The Tau fruit fly was first detected in July 2023 and led to the first-ever quarantine for the pest in the Western Hemisphere, according to a press release. The quarantine areas included the city of Santa Clarita and…
WG and CPMA Join Forces to Develop Sustainable Produce Packaging Guidelines by December 2025
A new working group spearheaded by the organizations will create guidelines to unify North American supply chain protocols. IRVINE, CALIF. and OTTAWA (JUNE 27, 2024) - Western Growers (WG) and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) today launched a working group to address the evolving landscape of packaging requirements imposed by both governments and retailers throughout North…
WG Board Members Join CDFA Secretary Karen Ross at Annual CATA Conference Opening Session
The California Agricultural Teachers Association (CATA), which focuses on the professional development of agricultural teachers, held its annual summer conference this week. Western Growers executive committee members Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming and Processing; and Neill Callis, General Manager of Turlock Fruit Company, were on hand to kick off the opening session on June…
New Voices of the Valley: San Miguel Produce’s Garrett Nishimori Talks Farm to Fork Movement and FX’s “The Bear”
Our latest podcast episode of Voices of the Valley is now live! In this episode, Western Growers Director of Communications, Ann Donahue, talks with Garrett Nishimori, Business Manager at San Miguel Produce. Garrett grew up in a farming family in Oxnard, Calif. He left to attend culinary school, after which he became a chef in a two-star Michelin restaurant in San Francisco. He returned to…
USDA Proposes Revising Section 8e Import Inspection Fee Structure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing revisions to regulations that govern the inspection and certification of fresh fruits, vegetables and other products. “These proposed changes include a per-pound fee structure for certain Section 8e import inspections, a minimum fee equivalent to a 2-hour charge computed at the current established…
Newsletter Highlights: Sign Up for Industry-Specific Updates from Western Growers
Want to stay updated on the latest in the financial markets? Western Growers’ very own Matt Lewis, President of Western Growers Financial Services, has you covered. You can sign up for Matt’s Market Wrap Up to receive regular updates on the market’s performance as well as other financial insights. You can check out a recent Market Wrap Up here. But wait—there’s more! Western…
My Cross-Border Medical Experience in Mexico, Courtesy of WGAT
I’ve always pictured my first visit to Mexico would be a touristy hotspot, complete with a pool, beach and a refreshing drink in hand. Instead, as someone with an immense appreciation for the agricultural industry and its workforce, I was privileged to visit Mexico for an entirely different reason. The occasion for my visit was purely medical and came thanks to Western Growers Assurance Trust…
The Farmer’s Bet that Bloomed
More than 60 years ago, third-generation farmer John J. Gless, owner of Gless Ranch, took a unique challenge. A friend and fellow Orange County farmer bet him $100, saying that it would be impossible for Gless to successfully cultivate citrus in the Woodcrest area of Riverside. According to Gless, the acreage in Riverside was deemed unsuitable for farming by many because the land consisted…
Time to Renew: Don’t Miss Out on Western Growers Membership Benefits
It’s that time of year again for Western Growers membership renewals. All members should have received their renewal notices, which were mailed out in the first week of June. For members who prefer to renew their memberships online, electronic renewals will be sent at the end of the month. If you have any questions about your renewal or your membership, please contact Rob Steinmann at…
CDFA Lifts Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine in Sacramento County
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has lifted the Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF) quarantine located in the Rancho Cordova area of Sacramento County, effective May 31, 2024. Most recently, the CDFA ended the OFF quarantine in Santa Clara County following the eradication of the invasive pest. Invasive fruit fly quarantines are still in effect in California, including: …
New Trade War with China Could Hurt California Agriculture, Study Finds
Recent tariff increases put in place by the Biden administration on electric vehicles, solar cells, semiconductors and aluminum and steel products from China could have a devastating impact on exports of farm products, according to a recent study. Economists from UC Davis and North Dakota State University evaluated the potential implications of the U.S. revoking China's Permanent Normal Trade…
Food Safety Expert Frank Yiannas Shares Thoughts on New Era Challenges and Data Sharing
World renowned food safety expert and former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA), Frank Yiannas, shared his thoughts on food safety challenges and data sharing in a recent post published in Food Safety News. Yiannas wrote, “Solving new era food safety problems is extremely challenging and it will require new ways of thinking and…