Posts By: Tim Linden

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE New Director Killian Has Deep Ag Roots

In the late 1860s, Mark Killian’s ancestors first started farming in Arizona.  Since that time, the family has continually been involved in agriculture, which made his selection as the new director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) a natural choice. “The Killians and Ellsworths, which are the two families that are my ancestors, were ...

Preordained Career Provides Satisfaction

Director Profile John McPike Vice President California Giant Berry Farms Director since 2014 Member since 1985 FAMILY BACKGROUND:  It is a story played over and over again in the fresh produce industry of a career passed from father to son.  John McPike grew up in Watsonville where his father of the same name managed several ...

California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson represents the 19th district, which stretches along the coast from Oxnard to Guadalupe

(Editor’s Note: The questions and answers have been paraphrased for brevity and clarity.)   Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson was first elected to the California Assembly in 1998 where she served for six years.  After a several year hiatus, she was elected to the State Senate in 2012.   From your start in Boston, how did you ...

TRADE NEGOTIATIONS: Ambassador Vetter Handles Key Assignment with Aplomb

Darci Vetter serves as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the rank of Ambassador at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.  She is responsible for bilateral and multilateral negotiations and policy coordination regarding agricultural trade.  Recently she answered several questions from Western Grower & Shipper concerning her career and the current negotiations.   Q:…

A “Date” with Destiny

Albert P. Keck II was named after his grandfather, who was responsible for bringing the Keck family to the Coachella Valley and introducing the business of agriculture into the family tree.

2015 WG ANNUAL MEETING: Bob Gray Chosen as Award of Honor Recipient

Bob Gray, who will be honored by Western Growers in the fall for his body of work and accomplishments over the 40-year career in agriculture.  He is clearly enjoying the current chapter in his life which has him in a teaching role as he helps develop leaders in the agricultural realm in his position as ...