On December 12, 2024, the Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) hosted a jam-packed day to tour, explore and harvest at local member sites in Irvine. The Western Growers team visited Tanaka Farms, Manassero Farms, Harvest Solutions Farm and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Spirits were high as employees enjoyed a colorful wagon ride led by local legend Glenn Tanaka of Tanaka Farms. Between Farmer Tanaka’s wisecracks and stopping to pick carrots, green onions and lettuce, WG employees learned about Tanaka Farms’ success in agritourism, ag-education and Community Supported Agriculture.
A.G. Kawamura—third-generation farmer, former secretary of the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, Western Growers board member, and the visionary founder of Solutions for Urban Agriculture—spent several hours as our guide. He offered an exceptional lunchtime address at Manassero Farms on the state of Western ag, the future of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, and the history of produce in Orange County.
After lunch, we took to the field at Harvest Solutions Farm, where A.G. and his associates taught us how to hand-harvest acorn squash. Our pride was on full display as we worked together to harvest a field of 5,500 pounds of acorn squash—almost three tons.
We then embarked on a tour of Second Harvest Food Bank, a powerful regional food bank serving the Orange County community. In fiscal year 2024, the non-profit donated 35,781,426 pounds of food to an average of 442,154 people per month. Second Harvest is at the heart of serving our community’s hunger and nutritional needs and is an excellent place to volunteer with family and friends.
As part of our December visit, Western Growers was proud to donate $500 to support Solutions for Urban Agriculture in their mission to grow nutritious food for local food banks while teaching the methods and importance of local urban agriculture.
Click here to see the images from the event and get ready to join us for the next Member Site Visit in 2025.