Posts By: Stephanie Metzinger

Register for Forbes AgTech Summit Today — WG Members Receive Discount

Mark your calendars! The Forbes AgTech Summit is returning to Salinas on June 28- 29, 2017, where 600 of the smartest and most entrepreneurial minds in Silicon Valley and global agriculture will come together to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges. Held for the third straight year, the Summit fosters lively debate and ...

California Single-User Restroom Law Does NOT Apply to Field Toilets

On March 30, 2017, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH or Cal/OSHA), updated its Frequently Asked Question about single-user toilet facilities, making clear that portable chemical toilets are not covered by AB 1732. The new guidance provides: “Toilet facilities that are multiple-user or that contain other than a flush toilet (e.g., chemical toilets, ...

APMA Offers HR Certification Program for Supervisors in Spanish

The Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) will be offering Human Resource Series for Supervisors, a nine-course Certificate Program designed specifically for Agricultural Supervisors. Classes, which begin on April 27, are currently offered in Spanish and can be taken individually or as part of a curriculum leading to a certificate. The program will offer critical information…

WG Hosting Listening Sessions on LGMA Potential Changes

Western Growers (WG) will be hosting a series of five listening sessions in May about potential changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved food safety metrics. These listening sessions will provide interested parties and signatories of either the California or Arizona LGMAs with an opportunity to comment on possible changes to the LGMA-recognized metrics ...

April 25 Tech Talk Features Innovation in Soil Health Management

Tune in to our next Tech Talk on April 25, where Trace Genomics will speak about technology that improves soil health and disease management. Trace Genomics, one of 35 agtech startups in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, makes it easy for growers to understand the disease pressures in their land before putting plants ...

WG Partners with Google IgniteCS, Facebook to Sponsor Hackathon

In an effort to develop the future agtech workforce, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology will be coming together with Google IgniteCS and Facebook to sponsor herScript Hacks, an annual regional hackathon, on April 29-30. The event is meant to engage students studying STEM-related topics (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by encouraging them to ...

Results of Water Testing Methods to Be Shared at WG Lunch & Learn Webinar

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule has raised some questions regarding the current requirements for water testings, particularly using EPA method 1603. While FDA’s guidance on these requirements is forthcoming, some efforts have been taken to determine if this method can be practically implemented. This webinar will share the findings of recent bench studies conducted in Arizona ...

Vote for WG Foundation for USA Today Networks’ Grant

In an effort to seek more creative alternatives to raise funds, the Western Growers Foundation has entered “A Community Thrives (ACT)” video contest, hosted by the USA Today Network. As our submission, we posted a video about the importance of helping schools create and fund edible school gardens. You can help by voting for the ...

Ag Innovation Showcase Highlights AgTech Research, Solutions

Tom Nassif, president & CEO of Western Growers, will be presenting the keynote address during the Ag Innovation Showcase on May 8 – 9, 2017, at UC Davis. The showcase inspires discussions about trends in the ag industry and presents innovations from around the world—everything from the farmer to the consumer, from climate-smart technologies to ...

Listening Sessions on LGMA Potential Changes Available in May

Western Growers (WG) will be hosting a series of five listening sessions in May about potential changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved food safety metrics. These listening sessions will provide interested parties and signatories of either the California or Arizona LGMAs with an opportunity to comment on possible changes to the LGMA-recognized metrics ...

Lunch & Learn Shares Results of Water Testing Methods

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule has raised some questions regarding the current requirements for water testings, particularly using EPA method 1603. While FDA’s guidance on these requirements is forthcoming, some efforts have been taken to determine if this method can be practically implemented. This webinar will share the findings of recent bench studies conducted in Arizona ...

Help WG Foundation Win USA Today Networks’ Grant

In an effort to seek more creative alternatives to raise funds, the Western Growers Foundation has entered “A Community Thrives (ACT)” video contest, hosted by the USA Today Network. As our submission, we posted a video about the importance of helping schools create and fund edible school gardens. You can help by voting for the ...

WGCIT Partners with Google IgniteCS, Facebook to Sponsor Hackathon

Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology will be coming together with Google IgniteCS and Facebook to sponsor herScript Hacks, an annual regional hackathon, on April 29-30. Sponsorship is part of WG’s effort to develop the future agtech workforce.The event is meant to engage students studying STEM-related topics (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by…

Don’t Wait! Register for One of WGs’ Upcoming LGMA Listening Sessions

Western Growers (WG) will be hosting a series of four listening sessions in May about potential changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved food safety metrics. These listening sessions will provide interested parties and signatories of either the California or Arizona LGMAs with an opportunity to comment on possible changes to the LGMA-recognized metrics and ...

Take Our AgTech Survey to Tell Us Which Technologies Interest You Most

In an effort to develop technologies that meet growers’ exact needs, the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) and its resident start-up companies invite you to participate in our AgTech Survey. The agtech startups working out of the WGCIT are dedicated to creating technologies based on growers’ input. The results of this short survey ...

WGCIT Collaborates with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to Host Packaging, Food Safety Seminar

Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology will be a key supporter of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s freshPACKmoves 2017, an integrated seminar with tours and exhibits on May 22-24, 2017, in Monterey, Calif. This year’s event theme will be e-packaging for fresh produce, safety and logistics. The seminar is focused on giving companies a ...

Register for One of WGs’ Upcoming LGMA Listening Sessions

Western Growers (WG) will be hosting a series of four listening sessions in May about potential changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved food safety metrics. These listening sessions will provide interested parties and signatories of either the California or Arizona LGMAs with an opportunity to comment on possible changes to the LGMA-recognized metrics and ...

Cedar Health and Wellness Center Open House Events Coming in May to Celebrate Newest Location in Oxnard

Western Growers Assurance Trust will be hosting a series of Open House events in each of its four Cedar Health and Wellness Centers. The open houses will take place from May 9-12, 2017, in Salinas, Oxnard, Watsonville and Santa Maria. Make plans now to check out a Cedar Health and Wellness Center near you, and ...

Western Growers Announces Newsroom for Media

Western Growers has developed a “Western Growers Newsroom” to provide journalists with a central location where they can gather news and assets about Western Growers and its members for use in developing future stories. “The Western Growers Newsroom will further our efforts to provide media with the crucial information needed to write balanced stories about ...

Trade-Up Pilot Program Now Available in San Joaquin Valley

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently announced its Grant Solicitation for the Off-Road Mobile Agricultural Equipment Trade-Up Pilot Project in the San Joaquin Valley (Trade-Up Pilot Project). At CARB’s discretion, the solicitation includes the option to award a Grant Agreement for fiscal year 2017-18, funding up to $3,000,000 for this project.  The Trade-Up Pilot ...