Western Growers

Rob Yraceburu to Chair Western Growers’ Board of Directors

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:34:20 GMT

Western Growers announced Nov. 10 that its membership of family farmers and growers elected Rob Yraceburu, president of Wonderful Orchards at The Wonderful Company, to serve as chair of the Western Growers board of directors for a two-year term. Yraceburu was first elected to the board in 2016 and has served as vice chair since 2023.

Yraceburu’s long relationship with the organization, which represents two-thirds of America’s fresh produce, spans more than two decades going back to his many years as a senior banker at Wells Fargo focused on the agriculture industry and, more recently, more than a decade at The Wonderful Company as a grower.

“Agriculture is America’s single most important product, and the world counts on our success, which is why the work of Western Growers will always be critically important,” Yraceburu says.

“When growers stand shoulder to shoulder, we are the most powerful voice there is and, today, our collective voice has never mattered more. My commitment as chair will be to champion the tremendous momentum we have and support our talented leadership and staff in ensuring the agriculture business stays strong for the nation. As Western Growers approaches its 100^th anniversary, it’s an honor to serve as chair and as the custodian of this work.”

Yraceburu’s roots in California’s Central Valley run deep. He was born and raised working on his family’s small farm growing almonds and producing raisins. His 40-year career at the intersection of finance and farming began at Wells Fargo, rising to executive vice president and head of the national food and agribusiness division. During that time, he partnered with Stewart Resnick to finance many of the acquisitions that shaped The Wonderful Company — from early pistachio and almond acreage to FIJI Water, JUSTIN Vineyards, and Wonderful Citrus operations.

That deep history and his aspirations to return to farming led to Yraceburu joining Wonderful in 2015 as president of Wonderful Orchards, where today he oversees nearly 160,000 acres from Bakersfield to Madera County, and from the Sierra Foothills to Paso Robles. With more than 100,000 acres planted, Wonderful is the world’s largest grower of pistachios and pomegranates and one of the largest growers of almonds and wine grapes. At peak harvest, Yraceburu leads a workforce of more than 5,000 people.

In his role, Yraceburu also oversees Wonderful Bees, one of the largest beekeeping operations in the U.S. with more than 62,000 hives; Wonderful Nurseries, which specializes in the production of almond and proprietary pistachio trees; and Wonderful Laboratories, which provides agricultural analyses and supports growers across the industry.

“Our industry is facing formidable challenges but also an interesting set of potential opportunities flowing from our national dialogue around food and nutrition,” says Western Growers president and CEO Dave Puglia. “Rob is a thoughtful and focused leader in our industry, and we are fortunate that he has committed himself to lead the Western Growers board of directors for the next two years. I look forward to working even more closely with Rob as he takes the gavel. I also wish to thank Stuart Woolf as he steps down as chair. His term coincided with an unusually active period for our association as well as the larger industry, and Stuart provided exceptional leadership and counsel throughout.”

Outgoing Western Growers chair Stuart Woolf passed the gavel to Yraceburu during the Western Growers 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego. During the Annual Meeting, Stewart Resnick, The Wonderful Company chairman, president and co-owner, received the Award of Honor, the association’s highest recognition of achievement, for his 50 years of agricultural excellence and community impact.

Besides Yraceburu, the other members of the executive committee of the association are:

Vice Chair Neill Callis, Turlock Fruit Company
Treasurer Don Cameron, Terranova Ranch
Executive Secretary Catherine Fanucchi, Tri-Fanucchi Farms and Puglia
Past Chair Woolf, Woolf Farming and Processing
Member at Large Albert Keck, Hadley Date Gardens
Member at Large J.P. LaBrucherie, LaBrucherie Produce

Western Growers Signs Food Safety Memorandum with FDA

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:14:37 GMT

Western Growers says the organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve proactive, science-based food safety standards focused on the prevention of outbreaks and the protection of public health.

The organization, which represents fresh produce growers in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico, says this memorandum creates a data-sharing pilot project focused on fresh produce food safety data. This project will use Western Growers’ proprietary GreenLink food safety data-sharing platform. The MOU also establishes a broader framework for ongoing data sharing between WG and the FDA.

Kyle Diamantis, deputy commissioner for human foods at FDA, says this partnership helps increase data sharing between the agency and the fresh produce industry.

“With these data, the FDA can identify the factors that might contribute to contamination, such as land use surrounding the farm, the age and condition of equipment and how produce is transported,” he says. “This information is critical to focusing our collaborative efforts with growers on practices that are the most effective in reducing risk. We see these collaborations as more than just simply delivering a certain goal like data sharing or conducting a root cause analysis. These are the beginning of what we hope is a long-term relationship with industry that is built on trust and can help prevent outbreaks.”

Western Growers says this program aims to create a sustainable model that protects public health by advancing food safety knowledge, fostering preventive food safety behaviors, supporting resource management for public health agencies and minimizing supply chain disruptions.

“This partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing food safety knowledge, promoting preventive measures and strengthening public-private collaboration,” says Sonia Salas, associate vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs at Western Growers.

Western Growers says the goal of this collaboration is also to create opportunities for the FDA and the association to foster a better understanding of safe practices in the growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fresh produce. Western Growers says this effort aligns with the FDA’s goals in the new Reagan-Udall Foundation’s Roadmap to Produce Safety , which advocates for a shared responsibility approach to food safety and structured, stakeholder-led collaborations.

Your next read:
The Golden State Sets the Gold Standard for Food Safety

Western Growers Makes Membership Director Promotion

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:12:17 GMT

Western Growers has promoted Bryan Nickerson to director of membership, overseeing the development and implementation of strategies to grow and retain membership, according to the association.

“This is a full-circle moment for both Bryan and Western Growers,” Cory Lunde, vice president of external affairs, said in a news release. “After 11 years of serving our members in a variety of roles, Bryan is returning to where he began — this time to lead the membership department and champion the unmatched value our organization brings to the fresh produce community. Born and raised in California agriculture, Bryan bleeds Western Growers green and speaks our members’ language. His passion and commitment to the industry will be front and center in this new role.”

Nickerson, a third-generation agriculturalist, was born and raised in California’s Coachella Valley. He brings a deep-rooted understanding of agricultural production and operations to his role, the association says. Before he joined Western Growers, he served as director of packing operations for Prime Time International, a year-round grower-packer-shipper of colored peppers.

Western Growers says Nickerson will focus on enhancing member engagement and expanding utilization of its broad portfolio of services and resources. He will also continue to provide commodity and supply chain support to members, including dispute resolution services, sales guidance, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act training and other supply chain matters under federal jurisdiction. He also oversees the Western Growers Leadership Program.

Nickerson also currently serves on the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Market Enforcement Advisory Committee. He is an alumnus of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 48).

FDA appoints EPA veteran to build new Human Foods Program

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 19:38:07 GMT

The FDA has recently named James “Jim” Jones to serve as the first deputy commissioner for the Human Foods Program, a new unified program within the agency that will be tasked with addressing food safety, chemical safety, food product innovations and agtech, according to a news release.

The Human Foods Program launch is one response to recent pressure for reform, including a critical Reagan-Udall Foundation report issued December 2022 that urged changes in the FDA. Jones, who has more than three decades of leadership and regulatory experience with the EPA, was a member of the foundation’s expert panel that called for the formation of the very organization that he will now lead, according to the release.

Jones contributions on the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s Independent Expert Panel for Foods makes him intimately knowledgeable and uniquely equipped to address agency’s challenges, opportunities and recent reform recommendations, the release said.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve as the first deputy commissioner for Human Foods at the FDA. I had the pleasure of serving on the expert panel that provided operational recommendations for the FDA’s foods-related activities, and I now look forward to helping the agency realize its vision for the proposed Human Foods Program, including carrying out important nutrition initiatives to improve the health of our country,” Jones said in the release.

He will begin his new role Sept. 24 and report to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf. Jones will lead initiatives within the Human Foods Program that “bolster the resilience of the U.S. food supply in the face of climate change and globalization, as well as nutrition to help reduce diet-related diseases and improve health equity,” the release said.

Related news: What fresh produce needs to know about FSMA 204, 2D bar codes

Leadership for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, as well as the Office of Food Policy and Response, will report to Jones until the Human Foods Program reorganization is implemented, according to the release.

“Our proposed reorganization is the largest undertaking of its kind in recent history for our agency. I’m confident that under Jim’s leadership, we will build a stronger organization that will be integrated with other components of the FDA and focused on keeping the foods we regulate safe and nutritious, while ensuring the agency remains on the cutting edge of the latest advancements in food science and nutrition,” Califf said in the release.

Early reactions from produce industry leaders

International Fresh Produce Associations Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer Natalie Dyenson applauded the FDA’s selection of Jones.

“On behalf of our members, IFPA is thrilled with the appointment of Jim Jones as deputy commissioner, Human Foods Program. The industry needs a deputy commissioner who has the experience to address transformational change and ability to lead this culture shift within the agency,” Dyenson said in a press statement. “We have long advocated for the importance of having a unified Human Foods Program with a single point of accountability for food safety and program leader who can and will elevate the importance of foods within FDA.

“We look forward to collaborating with the new deputy commissioner in a meaningful way as he works towards focusing on risk-based prevention strategies as part of a consistent and coordinated agenda for the agency,” she continued.

De Ann Davis, Western Growers’ senior vice president of science, also shared support for Jones.

“Western Growers is pleased to learn that Jim Jones has been appointed as the first deputy commissioner for the Human Foods Program by the Food and Drug Administration,” she said in a statement. “Jim has a proven record of government leadership, as evidenced by his work on the critical Reagan-Udall Foundation expert panel resulting in the December 2022 report on Operational Evaluation of the FDA’s Human Foods Program.”

Davis is hopeful that the new program will lead to a more prevention-focused strategy.

“In 2011, with the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the intent of the U.S. Congress was clear: The FDA is to prioritize preventative actions over reaction,” she said. “We look forward to engaging with Jim as we collaborate on the critical need for the agency to deliver on its promises to aid consumers by setting a prevention agenda.”

Track record of service

In Jones’ more than 30 years at the EPA, he managed teams and provided strategic planning on issues related to chemical safety and environmental sustainability, the release said.

“As a former pesticide regulator, I have a deep understanding of the unique needs of government programs involved in upholding safety of the U.S. food supply, as well as the important role that the agriculture community and state partners play in this paradigm. I am honored to serve the FDA and the country in this new capacity,” Jones said in the release.

Not only was he in integral part of the Toxic Substances Control Act at the EPA, but his work has largely focused on lessening the effect that pollution and chemicals have on the U.S. food supply, according to the release.

Related news: Tim York — The real truth about your food

He also led sustainability programs such as the EPA’s Environmental Preferable Purchasing Program and the Presidential Green Chemistry Awards Challenge, and he made decisions on pesticides and commercial chemical regulations. Jones holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland, according to the release.

To learn more about the Human Food Programs and the reorganization at the FDA, watch a video from the agency .

New H-2A wage rule is met with criticism from industry groups

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 19:25:50 GMT

Not all changes are welcome ones. The Department of Labor published on Feb. 28 its final rule changing how its sets H-2A program adverse effect wage rates, rankling fresh produce industry groups.

“American farmers are already stretched to the limit by rising costs and shrinking margins. With economic blinders on, the administration will now mandate that farmers pay higher wages to H-2A workers and domestic workers in corresponding employment,” Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said in a news release.

Related news: H-2A program sees double-digit gains in positions filled

The new rule updates the approach to setting field and livestock farmworker wage rates for the H-2A temporary visa program. The amendments in the department’s final rule include:

Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Cost Index will determine wages and salaries for the previous year.
Stabilization of rates, reducing wild fluctuations in wage rates.
Stipulation that workers doing different jobs must be paid the highest level wage for the job classification.
Restoring the annual federal survey of farm employers to set the adverse effective wage rate (AEWR).

The department said in a statement that the new rule improves consistency of AEWRs, provides stronger worker protections and establishes better stability for employers complying with these wage obligations.

Not everyone agrees with that assessment.

The final rule goes into effect on March 30, 2023, and the modification in how the agency sets H-2A wage rates was not received with praise.

“The changes made to the AEWR calculation attempt to revise a fatally flawed wage calculation that should be scrapped in its entirety,” the International Fresh Produce Association said in a statement.

“The fresh produce and floral industry already face enough challenges and the publication of today’s AEWR rule is just one more burden our industry can simply not bear,” IFPA CEO Cathy Burns said in a statement. “The H-2A program is unaffordable, ineffective and out of date, and these program changes make it even more difficult for our members to find the workers they need. This is why Congress must act to pass agricultural immigration reform now. America’s agricultural producers simply cannot wait any longer.”

Related news: Grower group expresses alarm over new H-2A wage rule

Puglia of Western Growers agrees that the changes will heighten challenges faced by growers, fearing that the H-2A update could spark a shift towards production outside of the U.S.

“Increasing wages by regulatory order will force farmers to cut back on plantings in the U.S. and increase their farm operations in Mexico and other countries where wages are a fraction of the H-2A wage,” Puglia said. “No one in the administration would want those things to happen, but these are the entirely foreseeable consequences of economically myopic policy decisions like this.”

Read the Department of Labor’s final rule on the Federal Register.

California’s sustainable pesticide road map: What it is and why it matters

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:21:58 GMT

This year the state of California has set its sights on ambitious pest management goals in the name of improving human health and promoting ecosystem resilience, sustainable agriculture and thriving urban and agricultural communities.

To achieve this, the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, Department of Food and Agriculture, and the California Environmental Protection Agency are working together to tackle two chief objectives by 2025: eliminating use of the worst pesticides and encouraging sustainable pest management across the state. State officials are embarking on this bold plan with what they’ve coined as the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap , which is one part visionary north star and one part task force.

But what does this mean for produce growers across the U.S.?

If pesticide use is significantly reduced in the Golden State — which produces about half of U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables, according to the USDA — it would not only have a lasting effect on overall pesticide use; if successful, California’s pesticide road map could lead the way for other states to adopt similar sustainable pest management goals and pesticide regulations. As California goes, so does the nation.

California’s pesticide road map, explained

“For decades, California has used pesticides to protect our crops, our cities, our homes, and our businesses from pests,” Yana Garcia, California’s secretary for environmental protection, said in a news release. “Exposure to harmful pesticides carries risks — to our health and to our environment — and these risks are disproportionately borne by communities already overburdened by pollution. If we truly want to build a healthy and safe California for all, we must phase out and replace the highest-risk pesticides, and the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap is a bold, new plan to get us there.”

According to the recently released Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California, the 2050 milestones set forth for pest management across the state include:

The state of California will have eliminated the use of what it has dubbed “priority pesticides.” This is achieved by transitioning to sustainable pest management practices.
Sustainable pest management practices will have been adopted as the main, de facto pest management systems in the state of California.

“The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap recognizes how the management of pest pressures is strongly interconnected with resilient farms and ecosystems, and the health of farmworkers and communities,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in the release. “We have a lot of work ahead to implement the approaches outlined in the road map. However, the implementation of these recommendations will ensure an abundant and healthful food supply, protect our natural resources, and create healthy, resilient communities.”

Related news: Rains hinder early season picking for Southern California strawberries

Not only does has the road map set its sights on an ambitious goal — to ultimately reduce pesticide inputs in the state of California by 2050 — but the gathered working group setting the course of this road map is itself an achievement.

Diverse perspectives on the Sustainable Pest Management Work Group

Gathering a cross-sector array of perspectives for policy committees is a feat in and of itself, much less on a thorny topic like pesticides. California policy makers, however, have made strides in gathering together a diverse stakeholder group. Representatives of commodity associations and businesses — like almond, citrus and berries — from both conventional and organic production have taken a seat at the table alongside farmworker labor representatives, an indigenous tribal group, environmental advocates and academic researchers to tackle the road map’s goals.

The work group comprises 25 members representing diverse interests to address sustainable pest management in agricultural settings, and an additional eight members formed an urban subgroup to address urban pest pressures specifically. The Sustainable Pest Management Work Group was formed in response to both a recommendation from the state’s Chlorpyrifos Alternatives Work Group, and the governor’s, CalEPA’s and DPR’s recognition of the need to accelerate a holistic, systemwide approach to safer, more sustainable pest management.

“Successfully transitioning to sustainable pest management requires collective action,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said in the release. “The critical actions outlined in the road map include prioritizing prevention, coordinating state-level leadership, investing in building knowledge about sustainable pest management, improving the state’s registration and evaluation process to bring more sustainable alternatives to market and enhancing monitoring and statewide data collection to better inform actions.”

Despite the bold goals and diverse voices at the table to shepherd paradigm-shifting policies for the state, some grower groups believe more should be done before restricting certain pesticides.

“The California Department of Pesticide Regulation must move quickly to register effective and efficient alternatives prior to imposing new use restrictions on existing pesticides,” Western Grower’s Vice President of State Government Affairs Matthew Allen said in a statement. “The department must continue to use the best available scientific data and methods in evaluating pesticides and they, frankly, have a duty to remind the public that California already has the most comprehensive regulatory system in place that protects the health and safety of applicators, bystanders and surrounding communities.”

Weigh in and learn more about California’s pesticide road map

Public comment regarding the prioritization and implementation of the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap’s next steps is open until March 13, 2023.

Comments can be sent to alternatives@cdpr.ca.gov or by mail to 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812. Comments received will be considered as part of the state-level coordination on implementing the recommendations in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.

More information about the road map will be available from the California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation through informational webinars:

Two webinars on Feb. 28, 2023, will address the road map’s recommendations for urban pest management. Sessions are at 10 a.m. PST and 5:30 p.m. PST on Zoom.
Two webinars on Mar. 2, 2023, will address the road map’s recommendations for agricultural pest management. Sessions are at 10 a.m. PST and 5:30 p.m. PST on Zoom.

Passage of bipartisan farm labor bill would be a 'Christmas miracle'

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 19:06:22 GMT

On Dec. 15, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., with support from Sen. Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, presented a rarity to the Senate — a bipartisan farm labor bill.

The challenge now is to negotiate a Senate version of the Affordable and Secure Food Act that can go to a floor vote in the final days of 2022 — no small feat. Bennet said negotiating a farm labor bill in the lame duck session of Congress would be “a Christmas miracle,” but Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, is holding out hope.

“Stranger things have happened in Congress,” Puglia told The Packer.

According to Puglia, passing the bill would be “a lift for both parties.” At least 10 Republicans would have to step forward for the bill to pass, but every sector that has a labor need is in strong support, he said. The bill passed in the House with votes from 30 Republicans and all but one Democrat.

“We have an obligation to push and fight until the final bell,” Puglia said.

The promise of reform

While long-term farm labor problems persist, additional challenges in recent years — such as inflation and supply chain issues — have exacerbated financial strains on farmers and ranchers and raised the temperature on existing labor issues.

“Businesses need certainty, and these wage reforms will provide that. My members are trying to survive; they’re not in this to lose money and can’t afford to bleed out every year,” Puglia said. “This bill would put guardrails on labor costs. Wages will be capped as to how much they can go up each year.”

The Affordable and Secure Food Act not only offers farm labor wage stabilization, but it also charts a path for legalization for the millions of undocumented workers who currently work in agriculture in the U.S. and streamlines the H2-A visa program. If enacted, the bill would address the precarious status of undocumented farm laborers currently working in the U.S.

“In the produce industry in the West, half of our workforce is not here legally. They are here working, productively paying taxes and keeping this industry running. For them, they live with the fear of not living in the shadows and of deportation,” said Puglia.

The Affordable and Secure Food Act proposes a new status of certified agriculture worker. This CAW status would offer a “degree of certainty for the agricultural workforce that they deserve,” according to Puglia.

“I have members of Western Growers that have moved to H2-A because they cannot find domestic workers,” he added. “This is a simple notion. We don’t have Americans knocking the door down wanting to harvest celery or lettuce.”

Decades advocating for change

“Western Growers has an awful lot of history and footprints in the sand that trace back on this bill,” Puglia told The Packer.

Former Western Growers president Tom Nassif, along with former United Farmworkers president Arturo Rodriguez, were key in bringing foundational farm labor reforms to Congress over a decade ago, said Puglia. The current bill has roots in Nassif and Rodriguez’s work over many years.

“Finally, Congress is addressing an issue we’ve been shouting from the rooftops for 15 years,” he said.

Harnessing industry support

What’s more, Puglia believes that with such a large and diverse produce industry, strong advocacy throughout could increase the likelihood of success.

“Friends in the dairy industry have helped broaden the political appeal to more Republican senators,” Puglia said. “We could have a louder call for this reform to be passed if it came from all sectors of the produce and food industry.”

Related news: Pandemic can’t slow the growth of the H-2A program, USDA report says

In the fresh produce industry, several organizations have joined in support of the bill. The U.S. Apple Association was one organization that joined advocates on Capitol Hill.

“Apple growers from coast to coast are hanging on by a thread as labor as input costs spiral out of control,” Jim Bair, U.S. Apple Association president and CEO, said in a news release. “The reforms included in the Affordable and Secure Food Act would provide much needed stability and certainty for the agriculture workforce and predictability to the H-2A program. In short, it is good for both growers and workers. We thank Senator Bennet for bringing this proposal forward and urge the Senate to act swiftly.”

Ian LeMay, president of California Fresh Fruit Association, also offered his support, thanking Bennet for introducing the bill.

“The agricultural industry in California and across the country prides itself on being able to provide a safe and secure food supply to the nation and the world. However, this can only be accomplished with a dependable workforce. There is no doubt that agriculture has waited many years for immigration reform, and we are optimistic that this bill will finally accomplish this goal,” said LeMay in the release.

The time is right to lean in and push for the bill’s passage now, said Puglia at Western Growers. If the Affordable and Secure Food Act doesn’t pass in the last weeks of 2022, it could be an uphill battle to address this issue with the new Congress.

“I’m concerned with restarting this issue with a Republican House in 2023 with the current border crisis,” said Puglia. “Lack of labor and border security both deserve Congress’ attention, but prospects in both houses are difficult next year.”

Affordable and Secure Food Act Highlights

Certified agricultural workers and path to citizenship

Undocumented agricultural workers could apply for certified agricultural worker status to work legally in the U.S.
CAW candidates would not be at risk of deportation while applications are in review. Additionally, employers would not be penalized for having hired these workers.
If approved, CAW certification would give workers 5½ years of legal residency for themselves and dependents, with the potential for extension.
CAW workers who meet additional residency and work history requirements would be eligible to apply for permanent legal U.S. residency and citizenship.

Streamline and enhance H2-A

Those who don’t qualify for CAW status would receive access to year-round H-2A visas.
Workers would not have to return to their home country to apply for an H-2A visa.
The H-2A process is streamlined for employers.
Housing for farmworkers and transportation in and out of fields is addressed.
H2-A workers would be free to leave one employer for another.
Additional H2-A worker protections include guaranteed minimum hours as well as health and safety plans to avoid serious on-the-job injuries and heat illness.

Additional features

Wage standards set for agricultural workers across the board.
Establishes wage increase limits, capping year over year increases at 3% to 4%, a long-term tool to stabilize labor costs.
E-verify will be mandatory for all agricultural workers.

Expert panel recommends major reforms to FDA

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:51:28 GMT

Business as usual is not going to cut it at the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. Pushing through a rocky 2022, the FDA recently received recommendations from an outside expert panel that would reinvent the agency structure and culture if implemented.

The Operational Evaluation of the FDA Human Foods Program report was released Dec. 7 by the Reagan-Udall foundation at the behest of FDA Commissioner Robert Califf. Initial responses to the report have been positive from food and consumer groups alike.

“Today’s report is a very encouraging first step that will hopefully translate into meaningful reform within the FDA foods program,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, said in a news release. “We cannot afford to tolerate the status quo and let this moment go by without adopting fundamental changes to improve the FDA’s ability to protect the public and ensure our food is safe.”

The report validates many of the criticisms raised by advocates and industry leaders in recent months. What’s more, the panel’s formal acknowledgment that “serious problems” exist in the FDA food program is significant, as this will compel the agency to act on reforms, Ronholm said in a video press briefing.

Fresh produce leaders respond

Emily Griep, International Fresh Produce Association vice president of regulatory compliance and global food safety, shares the positive sentiment.

“IFPA is very grateful for the release of today’s report from the Reagan-Udall foundation,” Griep said in the briefing. “We agree with the report’s recommendations for the need for a strong, supportive, singular leadership with clear lines of authority within the FDA’s human foods programs to help break down interagency silos and provide overall improvements to the culture of the human foods program.”

The report, Griep said, provided a clear and strong approach to bring the agency back to the “prevention-focused mindset established in the Food Safety Modernization Act.”

“To do this, some structural changes are needed. And this was a major theme identified by the review panel,” Griep continued. “We feel these changes will go a long way in supporting the necessary cultural change, allowing clear decision making and effective use of the agency’s existing and future resources.”

Broadly, fresh produce advocates and industry leaders say they are relieved and hopeful that the report will empower necessary changes long overdue at the FDA.

Related news: FDA unveils Food Traceability Final Rule

“We are very pleased and thankful for the expert panel’s dedication to this report,” De Ann Davis, senior vice president of science for Western Growers, said in the video briefing. “We think it reflects many of the conversations that we’ve had and recommendations that we made, including the need for a single point of leadership for the agency when it comes to human foods program.

“We are also appreciative of the panel’s acknowledgement of the need for a prevention focus by the agency when it comes to the safety of the nation’s food. This was the original intention of the Food Safety Modernization Act, and we are very grateful for the call to see it reestablished,” Davis continued. “With more than 20,000 farms in California alone that provide produce to the nation, we acknowledge that the best way to continue to achieve food safety is through prevention-based programs rather than compliance.”

Mounting pressure on the FDA to act in 2022

Faced with a series of back-to-back challenges that tested and stressed FDA operations, early 2022 was anything but smooth sailing for the agency. Exposés and pushback beset the FDA, culminating with a coalition of food and public health consumer groups — including the IFPA, Western Growers, FMI and others — petitioning the FDA to empower a deputy commission for foods.

In July 2022, Califf responded to pressure to take a closer look at how the FDA does business and reached out to an independent expert panel to evaluate the current FDA Human Foods Program.

The panel, convened by the Reagan-Udall Foundation, was asked to evaluate the program within a 60-day period and offer recommendations to strengthen the FDA’s food regulatory role. Califf acknowledged in the report that while Americans generally have access to safe and nutritious food, the FDA was “challenged by our nation’s endlessly complex food systems and supply chain.”

Now that an expert evaluation and recommendations have been shared, Congress would need to enact these new policy recommendations with appropriate resources and funding. Reforms that cover the gamut of FDA topics — improving food safety prevention strategies all the way to aspirational plans of creating an entirely new center focused on nutrition — are only possible with funding that can turn words into boots-on-the-ground action.

3 finalists named to compete in AgSharks’ pitch competition

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:56:46 GMT

California-based Western Growers and S2G Ventures have named three finalists for the 2023 AgSharks Competition, an event in which startups pitch innovations to a live audience of specialty crop producers for a chance to win a $250,000 minimum investment, according to a news release.

The finalists include:

Climate Robotics, a developer of mobile biochar production systems for commercial agriculture.
Cultiva, a global leader in plant cuticle health technology.
Provision, a company whose cloud software simplifies compliance for growers in any commodity, helping them meet requirements from customers, regulators and certifications.

These three startups will pitch their inventions to four industry judges and an audience of more than 300 fresh produce farmers and industry leaders at the Western Growers’ annual meeting Nov. 12-15 on Kauai island in Hawaii, according to the release.

Related news: John D’Arrigo to receive Western Growers’ highest accolade

The competition will be hosted by Daryl Shelton, executive vice president for RDO Equipment Co. The judges include:

Briana Giampaoli, head of marketing and product innovation at Live Oak Farms.
Audre Kapacinskas, principal at S2G Ventures.
J.P. LaBrucherie, president at LaBrucherie Produce.
Sumeeta Salvador, associate at S2G Ventures.

AgSharks was first held in 2017, and through the competition, past winners Hazel Technologies, Burro and Nutjobs have since brought their products from development to market, the release said.

Hazel Technologies has raised over $87.8 million in funding over six rounds and is advancing the industry with sachets that extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Burro raised $10.9 million in a Series A round in September 2021, led by S2G Ventures and Toyota Ventures, and continues to help solve farmers’ labor woes with the expansion of its fleet of autonomous robots to farms across the West. Last year Nutjobs received an AgSharks record $6 million equity investment for its technology transforming nutshell waste into bioplastics, according to the release.

Western Growers to present Award of Honor to Sonny Rodriguez

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:06:15 GMT

The Growers Co. President and CEO Sonny Rodriguez is set to receive Western Growers ’ 2024 Award of Honor at the organization’s 98th annual meeting in November.

Western Growers says the award is its highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.

The Growers Co. has offered custom produce harvesting since 1950 and is a third-generation family business, according to a news release. The Yuma, Ariz.-based company, with offices in California, harvests lettuce, mix lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli and other commodities.

Rodriguez joined the company in 1975, and under his leadership, it thrived on its mission to serve customers’ needs while providing fair, equitable and opportunistic employment for all of their workers, the release said.

Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said the award is typically bestowed on the growers for whom the association was created in 1926, but this year the organization is with that practice to honor Rodriguez.

“As president and CEO of The Growers Co., Sonny ensures that his customers — growers of fresh produce — can be confident that their crops will be expertly tended and harvested by skilled farm employees, and he does this with the highest commitment to integrity, ethical conduct and compassion for all,” Puglia said in the release.

“Sonny started working in the fields as a teenager and has never strayed from the values his father inculcated in him, none more important than treating every worker with dignity and respect,” Puglia continued. “Few in our industry have done as much to educate elected leaders and government officials about the many positive contributions — and the many challenges confronting — America’s fresh produce industry. He is a respected and well-known advocate for agricultural labor reform that would honor the work of our farm employees and bring rationality to the industry.

“In everything he does for the industry, Sonny’s lifelong commitments to his faith and his family, starting with his wife, Cynthia, are always paramount,” Puglia added. “It is entirely fitting that we will honor Sonny this November as the Western Growers Annual Meeting returns to his home state of Arizona.”

Rodriguez was first elected to the Western Growers board of directors in 1998, the release said.

“I have no words to describe how grateful I am to be chosen this year for the Award of Honor,” Rodriguez said. “I am truly humbled to be recognized by my peers and to stand among the great men and women who were honored before me. The real honor is being able to serve our industry by being on the board of Western Growers.”

Rodriguez is a graduate of Project CENTRL Arizona Leadership Program’s Class XII and served on the Agricultural Employment Relations Board from 1995 to 2005. He was active in the Yuma Vegetable Shippers Association for 15 years.

In addition, Rodriguez is one of the founders of Yuma Catholic High School, the release said. He served on the Diocese of Tucson charity and ministry board for six years, was chairman of the St. Francis Parish board for three years and Hospice of Yuma board for two years of his six-year term.

Rodriguez’s achievements will be celebrated at the Award of Honor Dinner Gala at the Western Growers 2024 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., Nov. 3-6.

LGMA food safety auditing in pandemic boosted by online tools

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:08:56 GMT

As food safety audits of leafy greens continue during the pandemic, California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement members have access to new tools streamlining the audit data.

The new data collection process is through a collaboration with iFoodDecisionSciences (iFoodDS), the LGMA and Western Growers announced on May 18.

The process, which facilitates remote audits, has been approved for use by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which oversees audits of LGMA members, according to a news release.

In-person inspections are limited because of the pandemic, but much of the LGMA audits focus on reviewing verification documents.

“In a time where COVID-19 is testing all industries, this new auditing process will support food safety oversight during this pandemic,” Sonia Salas, assistant vice president of food safety, science and technology for Western Growers, said in the release.

The system was developed and tested in recent weeks. Sharan Lanini, the director of food safety for Pacific International Marketing and chairwoman of the LGMA’s technical committee, said in the release the program worked “extremely well from start to finish” during testing.

Streamlining of data and documents is a positive outcome of where the industry is now, according to Diane Wetherington, executive chairwoman of the IFoodDS board.

“The use of iFoodDS software will not only save the auditors time, but it will allow them to more efficiently assess compliance with LGMA food safety metrics through the use of a consistent online verification system,” she said in the release.

LGMA CEO Scott Horsfall said the program has been finding innovative ways to operate during the pandemic.

“This new auditing system is another example of the pioneering spirit of the LGMA and its commitment to find new and better ways to enhance the safety of leafy greens,” Horsfall said in the release.

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Taking the measure of the road back for the industry

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:07:52 GMT

The next Congressional coronavirus aid package could be the last before the November election, and Dennis Nuxoll says it is important to account for the needs of growers in that legislation.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited on July 1 with Nuxoll, vice president of federal government affairs for Western Growers.

Nuxoll touched on a variety of topics, including the newly minted USMCA, the next coronavirus legislation and what it could offer growers, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

For the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to determine direct payments to growers by commodity was problematic, Nuxoll said.

“We said to USDA very early on that we thought there were going to be too many commodities in our space to try to do a program on a commodity basis,’ he said. Western Growers represents farmers of about 300 crops, he said.

“Having USDA calculate payments crop by crop by crop by crop. that is an arduous process,” he said. Western Growers has submitted comments asking that the program include more commodities.

The April 15 cutoff for the determining market damage also is a problem, Nuxoll said.

“We would like to see additional time periods covered,” he said.

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The Packer’s Western Growers

Western Growers’ Dave Puglia named to advisory committee

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:44 GMT

Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers , has been appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee.

Puglia and other committee members advise the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy matters, including the operation of existing trade agreements and negotiations of new agreements.

“International markets are vital to the growth of the fresh produce industry, accounting for more than $23 billion in fruit, vegetable and tree nut sales in 2019,
Puglia said in a news release. “However, tariff and non-tariff barriers continue to restrict access to key export destinations.”

Puglia said in the release he looks forward to working with other committee members “to help formulate durable trade policies that benefit our domestic growers.”

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Canadian romaine requirement could be a costly precedent

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:48:55 GMT

New Canadian food safety import requirements for U.S. romaine lettuce could cost the Canadian industry between $11 million and $13 million per week, and the mandate to test Salinas Valley romaine for E. coli add to costs for California shippers.

Even more concerning, industry leaders say, is the precedent the testing mandate will have on future trade between the two countries.

“CPMA will continue to work with both industry and government to endeavor to mitigate this impact as much as possible; our goal is to avoid a similar situation as we all move forward,” said Ron Lemaire, president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association .

Jane Proctor, vice president of policy and issue management for CPMA, said CPMA is developing a task force made up of approximately 10 industry food safety experts from both Canada and the U.S.

“The intended task is to review the CFIA requirements for romaine imports from the U.S., as currently written, to identify issues including with sampling and testing as included in the requirements, including how the current requirements will affect the supply chain,” Proctor said.

The task force will also provide suggestions back to CFIA on how to make the procedure workable for industry, she said in an e-mail Oct. 9.

Although the FDA and the CFIA are in continued discussions on the romaine import regulations, the requirements remain in place, according to a public affairs spokesperson for the CFIA in an Oct. 9 e-mail.

Lemaire said new water measures put in place by the Arizona and California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements have already raised the bar for food safety of romaine this year.

“We’re very confident that Canadians would have been able to enjoy romaine in a safe way, but the unintended consequences of putting the testing in place means (some) shippers deciding not to ship and shortages potentially occurring in the market because of those decisions,” he said.

CPMA estimates a drop of $11 million to $13 million in trade a week until production shifts away from the Central Coast region in California.

California viewpoint

The hope among shippers is that something can be done to change the Canadian import rules, said Scott Horsfall, CEO of the California LGMA .

“It is just going to be very difficult to comply.”

Horsfall said one industry concern is that the Canadian action could be a precedent that might be used for other commodities.

“I think it’s an issue that should be of concern to people because these things have to be done in a way that makes sense, both scientifically and practically,” he said.

“The imposition of this type of requirement at the last minute is really problematic.”

He said Canada’s post-harvest E. coli testing requirement hasn’t proven to be an effective way to protect consumers in the past.

“You just can’t test your way to food safety,” Horsfall said, citing the greater importance of prevention measures on the farm and in facilities.

“I think the hope is that, through discussions and through collaboration with the two governments, that something a little more reasonable can be accomplished,” he said. “Certainly, for October and November, you are talking about a lot of romaine (shipments) that potentially aren’t going to go to Canada.”

Issues like cold storage, shelf life and transportation needs complicate Canada’s testing requirement, said De Ann Davis, senior vice president of science at Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers .
Testing for E. coli on romaine may take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, she said.

“So that is two days of cold storage space that’s needed,” she said, in addition to the needs of other orders and the other romaine that is associated with that harvest lot.

“I think the concern is that if this is a precedent set by the Canadian government, and the way that they want to manage romaine from a longer-term standpoint, then there will be economic impact,” she said. “People will be more conservative in planting and it will impact trade.”

Davis said Western Growers has concerns about the seasonal transition between Salinas and desert growing regions next March and whether CFIA will put in place another testing requirement.
“And what about other crops? Leafy greens is not alone in terms of recent outbreaks,” she said.

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Top lobbyists, analyst, to break down election results

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:51:19 GMT

The stakes are high for the Nov. 3 election, and industry leaders will discuss the results and what it might mean for the produce industry in a live panel on Nov. 12 at The Packer’s virtual West Coast Produce Expo .

The session features Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association ; Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas ; Dave Puglia, president of Western Growers ; and Jim Wiesemeyer, policy analyst for Pro Farmer.

The session, moderated by Tom Karst, editor of The Packer, will look at implications for the industry in the results of the House, Senate and presidential election contests.

While a trade war with China has led to U.S. export declines, President Trump has received broad support from farmers, including fresh produce growers.

In a September poll on the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, 72% of those voting predicted Trump will be re-elected to a second term. Many recent polls show Biden with a lead over Trump in many key states.

Registration for the West Coast Produce Expo is online .

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Western Growers, LGMA offer virtual audit program

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:05:58 GMT

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and Western Growers have launched an online audit system to use in place of some in-person parts of the LGMA audit process.

The Virtual Desktop Audits Program is free to all Western Growers and LGMA members, according to a news release.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on reducing human contact forced agencies to find virtual methods to continue inspections. The Virtual Desktop Audits program is in response to the need to reduce contact while continuing audits.

The program’s platform allows leafy greens handers to upload audit documents to a personal online repository on the day of the audit, according to the release, with security measures like the ones used for in-person audits.

The benefits of the program, according to the release, include:

Users can answer questions and upload documents at their convenience;
General audit information can be entered once and copied to other folders;
Growers and handlers can share their audit report with shippers and buyers without repeating the process for each one; and
Around-the-clock customer support.

For more information or to sign up for the Virtual Desktop Audits Program, e-mail calgmavirtualaudits@wga.com.

Western Growers’ Jason Resnick promoted to senior vice president

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 18:22:32 GMT

Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers has promoted Jason Resnick to senior vice president and general counsel.

“Over the past 17 years, Jason has demonstrated an unrivaled commitment to Western Growers and our membership and has provided indispensable counsel to the senior leadership team throughout his tenure with the organization,” Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said in a news release. “In addition to his core responsibilities as general counsel, Jason has helped shape our work on important public policy issues, especially immigration. His strategic mind and trusted counsel are of immense importance to me and our board of directors.”

Resnick joined Western Growers in 2003 as a staff attorney and most recently served as vice president and general counsel, according to the release. The promotion is in recognition of the additional duties he has assumed, which the release said include managing the affairs of the board of directors as corporate secretary, establishing Western Growers H-2A Services as a premier H-2A services agency and overseeing the Legal and Trade Practices and Commodity Services Departments.

“It’s truly an honor, and I’m humbled and grateful for this opportunity,” Resnick said in the release. “During my time at Western Growers, I have learned so much about this wonderful industry from extraordinary colleagues, past and present, our visionary members, and the dedicated attorneys who have been zealous advocates for the industry for many years. I am inspired every day by my colleagues who continue to raise the bar for serving our members.”

Resnick is a frequent speaker and contributor to Western Grower & Shipper magazine on employment law and ag labor issues, and serves as vice president on the board of directors for the Agricultural Personnel Management Association, is on the board of iFoodDecisionSciences, Inc. and is a past co-chair of the Agribusiness Committee of the State Bar of California, according to the release.

Western Growers selects Dave Puglia as president and CEO

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:28:38 GMT

Dave Puglia is succeeding Tom Nassif, who is retiring after 18 years as the president and CEO of Western Growers .

Puglia, who joined the association in 2005, is its executive vice president. He will take the role of president and CEO on Feb. 1, according to a news release.
Before joining Western Growers, Puglia was vice president of public affairs consulting firm APCO Worldwide, and served seven years in the California Attorney General’s Office as press secretary and then director of public affairs and communications.

“Since joining our organization, Dave has demonstrated an unyielding passion for our members, a deep understanding of the issues facing Western agriculture — water policy, in particular — and an unrivaled capacity for leading our association and industry into the next decade and beyond,” Ron Ratto, president of Ratto Bros. and chairman of the Western Growers board, said in the release.

Puglia said he is honored to chosen for the opportunity and responsibility to lead the organization, which represents growers in California and Arizona.

“The people of this industry welcomed me into their hearts from the first day on the job, rain or shine,” Puglia said in the release. “As their advocate, I am as energized and optimistic as ever about the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Puglia’s appointment comes after a nationwide search. In the release, he thanked Nassif and other Western Grower representatives for mentoring him on the job.

Ratto credited Nassif for the association’s influence and national prominence. Western Growers has been active on many issues facing growers, including food safety, labor and immigration, water, technology and international trade, according to the release.

“Every day since 2002, my inspiration has been derived from the hard-working, innovative and ethical family farmers who comprise our membership,” Nassif said in the release. “I am proud of the major strides we have taken as an industry during my tenure, and it brings me great satisfaction knowing that the future of our association is secure in the hands of Dave Puglia.”

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UPDATED: Farm labor bill clears committee

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:28:34 GMT

(UPDATED, Nov. 21) Bipartisan farmworker immigration legislation has cleared its first hurdle, passing out of the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 18-12.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act now is set for consideration by the full House of Representatives, which supporters hope can happen before Christmas.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is supported by hundreds of diverse groups , including Farmworker Justice and Western Growers.

“We would love to see it (considered by the House) before Christmas,” said Michael Marsh, president and CEO of the National Agricultural Employers Association. However, House impeachment hearings make that prospect uncertain, he said. Marsh said advocates of the legislation are already reaching out to members of the Senate.

“We’re getting some very enthusiastic responses with regard to legislation from both Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “We’re going to work as hard as we can to make sure that we can get it through the Senate and to the President’s desk,” he said.

In a statement, Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, thanked bill authors Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif, and Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and other legislators who are supporting the bill.

“Throughout the U.S., agriculture is experiencing a critical shortage of labor that jeopardizes our ability to continue producing an abundant, safe and affordable domestic food supply. Securing a reliable and skilled workforce is critical to the future viability of America’s family farms,” Nassif said in the statement. “This bill does exactly that.”

Nassif said the legislation protects existing farm workers and streamlines the H-2A guest worker program to assure a more predictable future flow of labor.

“This bipartisan bill, which has 29 Democratic and 23 Republican co-sponsors, has been carefully crafted through a series of difficult stakeholder-driven negotiations, and has garnered the widespread support of nearly 300 agricultural organizations across the country, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and farm worker unions,” Nassif said, noting that Western Growers is committed to work with lawmakers to address outstanding issues remaining in the bill and bring the legislation to a vote in House soon.

Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association, also praised lawmakers who advanced the legislation. “The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a testament to the tenacity of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to bring much needed reform to the agriculture industry,” Stenzel said in a statement. “The sustainability of American agriculture is at stake if our labor situation is not addressed,”

Stenzel said the House needs to act quickly to pass the legislation.

“We believe a strong vote in the House will lead the way for the Senate to follow suit to finally address the labor crisis in American agriculture.”

Improvements needed

Agriculture interests will continue to try to improve the legislation as it advances, Marsh said, particularly in the way wages for the guest worker program are established. The NCAE earlier brought a lawsuit challenging the way adverse effect wage rates are set for the H-2A program by the Department of Labor; and that case is on appeal to the Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, he said. The group also has filed a petition with the Department of Labor, requesting that the Secretary of Labor annually make a determination if the domestic workforce suffers any adverse effects because of the H-2A program.

“If there is no adverse effect, then there is no need for an adverse effect wage rate (increase),” he said.
In the first year after enactment, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act would be frozen at the 2019 rate, Marsh said. After that, the legislation would put in place “guardrails” to limit increases or decreases in H-2A wage rate; wages couldn’t increase more than 3.25% or decrease more than 1.5% in any given year.

In 2029, the legislation calls for the U.S. Secretaries of Labor and Agriculture would make a determination if the H-2A program has an adverse effect on the domestic workforce, Marsh said.

Attention to wages is necessary for the U.S. to remain competitive with both Canada and Mexico, he said.

“Being (cost) competitive in being able to produce fruits and vegetables here in the United States is extremely important in making sure that U.S. farmers ranchers are competitive in the marketplace,” he said. “We’re going to continue to work together with our other agriculture groups and organizations to see if we can get a really, really good bill out of this.”

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Energy forum focuses on independence for California growers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:23:31 GMT

The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology and energy tech company Concentric Power Inc. are teaming up for the Salinas Valley Energy Forum .

The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, Salinas, Calif., and Concentric Power are co-hosting the Jan. 27 event to help grower-shippers “maintain productivity and improve profitability through energy independence,” according to a Western Growers news release.

“Energy is a huge part of farming,” Dennis Donohue, director of the Western Growers center, said in the news release. “In fact, everything done after harvest requires power. Our members provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, so it’s critically important we help them navigate the energy challenges currently facing the state.”

The forum will discuss overcoming instability in energy availability, reliability and pricing, according to the release.

Matthew Willis, vice president of product and business development of Concentric Power, will moderate the forum. Speakers/panelists include:

Brian Curtis, founder and CEO of Concentric Power;
Rick Sturtevant, state energy coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture;
Norm Groot, executive director at the Monterey County Farm Bureau;
Rene Mendez, city manager for the City of Gonzales, Calif.; and
Gregg Morasca, vice president of strategic customers at Schneider Electric.

“Technological advancements, business models, regulation changes and the low cost of capital have made energy independence a viable option,” Curtis, founder and CEO of Concentric Power, said in the release. “Many organizations simply don’t know that it can pencil out both economically and technically.”

Curtis said power shutoffs and rising utility rates are affecting agricultural businesses in California.

Widespread wildfires have bankrupted California’s largest energy utility and caused power shutoffs. At the same time, rates in the PG&E service territory have risen 20%, according to the release.

The forum is from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Taylor Farms Curious Classroom at the center.

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Giclas retires after 30 years at Western Growers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:33:32 GMT

After nearly 30 years at Western Growers , Hank Giclas is retiring.

Giclas, senior vice president of science, technology and strategic planning, ends his tenure on May 8.

In his most recent roles at the association, Giclas was focused on food safety and technology, which have seen monumental changes in recent years.

Giclas grew up on a farm near Buckeye, Ariz., and pursued a degree in agriculture at the University of Arizona.

“I just sort of fell in love with arid land agriculture, and I wanted to be in agriculture my entire life,” he said.
After graduating from the University of Arizona, he taught vocational agricultural to high school students for a couple of years, and then found an opportunity with Western Growers.

“I was hired as an advocate in Arizona, to be their government affairs representative in Phoenix,” he said.
“I told (Western Growers) in the interview, talking with legislators is a lot like talking to high school students, you really are just educating a different audience on agriculture.”

Giclas said he is thankful for opportunities to work on many issues on behalf of Western Growers members through the years, often taking on complex or controversial issues.

“It would be difficult to overestimate the contributions that Hank has made to the produce industry and to the leafy greens community,” Scott Horsfall, CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement , said in an e-mail. “He has taken the lead on developing food safety practices for the industry, has worked tirelessly to bring technology and agriculture together, and has always been a great friend to the growers, harvesters and shippers who work so hard to put safe and nutritious food on our tables. Hank will be greatly missed.”

A statement from Western Growers said Giclas has had a “larger-than-life impact” on the fresh produce industry.
“It will be impossible to replace him with just one person,” according to the statement. “So, we are actually looking to divide his role up into two positions and hope to make an announcement on one of those positions very soon.”
Over the years, his titles at Western Growers included vice president of science and technical affairs, senior vice president of legal affairs, and vice president of strategic planning, science and technology.

Looking back

Giclas, who has a home in New Mexico, said he is retiring to be available to help with his aging parents, who still live in Arizona.

Giclas started with Western Growers in 1990 and is ending his career nearly 30 years later, in a time of unprecedented change in the industry with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a tough time to retire because you don’t have the opportunity to really express your gratitude to the colleagues, to the growers, to the processors and to the shippers that you’ve worked with for over three decades,” he said.

Giclas believes technology will help growers face the challenges of the future.

The advance of agriculture technology, including automation and big data, is exciting to Giclas, who doesn’t rule out staying connected to the industry in some way.

While it may take another five years or more to automate more field operations, Giclas said Western Growers will play a role in backing needed research for automation. The association helps agtech startups through the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology.

“I appreciate everything that this industry has afforded me,” Giclas said. “The produce industry is unmatched in terms of the people that make it up, the ingenuity and perseverance — all of the qualities that make for good people. It has been my honor in working the industry.”

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Produce industry informs Congress on pandemic safety measures

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:28:22 GMT

As some Democratic lawmakers push for new legislative protections for farm workers, more than 60 specialty crop organizations sent a letter to Congressional leaders highlighting efforts by growers and other agricultural employers to protect their labor force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fresh produce industry is committed to the safety of our workers, whether harvest crews in the field or employees in packing facilities, all while keeping the food supply chain moving,” the May 4 letter said. “We are an essential part of feeding American consumers and the world at a time when our healthy fruits and vegetables are more in need than ever.”

“Recent accusations regarding the employee protections in agriculture are unfounded,” the letter said. “With every stage of the emerging COVID-19 crisis, our industry has worked hard to embrace all public health advice for social distancing, personal and facility hygiene, face coverings and more.”

As more COVID-19 relief legislation is debated, the coalition asked Congress to acknowledge the widespread employee protection protocols already in place and to provide additional support to help agricultural employers meet the needs of employees, according to a news release.

“Farmers and ranchers are striving daily to ensure the welfare of their employees, in order to safeguard our food supply and bolster or nation’s response to COVID-19,” Western Growers president and CEO Dave Puglia said in the release. “We are calling on Congress to extend current relief efforts for agriculture, and to include additional funding for personal protective equipment and other measures to offset the costs of maintaining an essential workforce during the pandemic.”

Worker protections sought

Democratic lawmakers, Farmworker Justice and the Environmental Working Group have said they are pushing for new federal protections for farm and food workers in the next coronavirus stimulus legislation. In April, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced the Essential Workers Bill of Rights to protect frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The lawmakers said they want the next coronavirus relief package to include the policies in the Essential Workers Bill of Rights.

The “bill of rights” includes enhanced health and safety protections, more compensation, enhanced health care and other goals.

The focus on worker issues in the specialty crop industry comes on the heels of widespread cases of COVID-19 cases at meat packing plants. COVID-19 cases at meat packing plants have caused several facilities to temporarily cease operations in the last few weeks, despite President Trump’s April 28 executive order under the Defense Production Act to compel meat processing plants to remain open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At least seven meatpacking plants shut their doors by late April, according to a USA Today report on May 5, and those were preceded by additional closures during April. By Memorial Day, Agweb.com reported that CoBank has projected that meat supplies at retail could be down 30% from normal levels by Memorial Day.

Employee safety is top priority

The leaders of specialty crop associations said the industry has been working hard to take care of its field and packinghouse labor.

“Farmers and ranchers across the country moved quickly to implement new safety protocols early in this crisis,” National Council of Agricultural Employers president and CEO Michael Marsh said in the release. “While America was being placed on lockdown, agricultural employers were already trying to figure out how to best protect their employees and the public.”

“Given the strong food safety culture within the fresh produce industry, adapting and expanding our practices to protect workers happened quickly,” United Fresh Produce Association president and CEO Tom Stenzel said in the release. “The industry leveraged general recommendations offered by the Centers for Disease Control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and various state public health agencies, tailoring them to the specialty crop industry as needed to put worker safety first.”

Agriculture organizations are developing industry-specific training materials and programs to educate both the employer and the employee on critical guidance related to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19, according to the release.

The Packer’s Labor Updates

The Packer’s COVID-19 Updates

Longtime Western Growers’ PACA expert Tommy Oliveri dies

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:35:48 GMT

Tom “Tommy” Oliveri, who worked at Western Growers in various roles for almost 40 years, has died.

Oliveri died May 28. He was 67.

Oliveri retired from Western Growers in January 2018, a few months shy of his 40th anniversary, according to a statement from the association.

“Tommy was a rare breed, an expert in his craft who brought a fierce determination to protect our members when disputes arose between parties in commerce,” Western Growers president and CEO Dave Puglia said in the statement. “Among the WG membership, Tommy probably had the highest name identification of any WG employee; at some point, just about every WG member turned to him for help and he always jumped to their aid.”

Oliveri was an authority on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and demonstrated “uncommon dedication” to the Western Growers’ membership, according to the statement.

While in high school and college, Oliveri was an inspector in the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Standardization Program. He received an agricultural biology degree from Cal Poly-Pomona in 1977 and joined Western Growers in 1978 as a grower field representative.

After several years, he moved to Western Growers’ marketing services department, under the direction of Matt McInerney, another recent hire who became a longtime Western Growers employee.

As director of what is now called the Trade Practices and Commodity Services Department, Oliveri filed PACA claims and helped recover millions of dollars for Western Growers members.

Over the years, Oliveri became a resource on PACA for members, and provided seminars on PACA laws.

“He absolutely loved going to bat for our members and his tireless work boosted many bottom lines,” Puglia said in the statement. “His passing comes as a shock to us all. We join with so many in our industry today in offering our deepest condolences to Tommy’s family.”

After he “retired” from Western Growers in early 2018, he joined the Rynn & Janowsky law firm as a PACA consultant.
Survivors include a son, Matt, and a daughter, Marci,

“His quick wit and sense of humor will be missed,” according to the statement. “The entire Western Growers family extends our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

United Fresh LIVE! closes with industry leaders looking ahead

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:36:08 GMT

The United Fresh LIVE!, virtual conference will feature leaders from five produce associations sharing their vision for the future of the global industry at the closing general session.

The noon Eastern June 19 session, according to a news release, will feature:

Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association president and CEO;
Michael Muzyk, president of Baldor Specialty Foods, the Bronx, N.Y., and United Fresh chairman;
Ryan Talley, Westerm Growers chairman and partner at Talley Farms;
Dave Puglia, president of Western Growers;
Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association ;
Joe Don Zetzsche, PMA chairman and director of H-E-B’s Bloom Floral Shops;
Ron Lemaire president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association ;
Davis Yung, chairman of the CPMA and president of Fresh Direct Produce Ltd.;
Stephan Weist, director of category management for fruit and vegetables at Rewe Group and chairman of Freshfel Europe; and
Philippe Binard, Freshfel Europe general delegate.

The full agenda for United Fresh LIVE! , June 15-19, is available online, and registration is free for the conference.

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China demands COVID-19 declaration on U.S. exports

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:07:58 GMT

Chinese customs officials are demanding U.S. ag exporters sign a form guaranteeing their exports are free from COVID-19, trade and government reports say.

That demand has sparked pushback from trade industry leaders and the Trump administration.

“The recent move by Chinese authorities to require a statement of undertaking for food importers is not based on any legitimate food safety concern,” according to a statement from Western Growers president and CEO Dave Puglia.

Western Growers members and exporters of table grapes, apples, nectarines, almonds and pistachios are among those who have been asked to sign the form, said Cory Lunde, senior director of strategic initiatives and communications for Western Growers

“Our food system is the safest in the world, and the known science behind the transmission of COVID-19 is inconsistent with the Chinese government’s call for more restrictive food safety-related trade measures,” Puglia said in the statement.

“Indeed, the very food safety guidance referenced in the required statement — issued by the United Nations and World Health Organization — affirms that there is ‘no evidence to date’ of COVID-19 being transmitted through food or food packaging. This point is important for our domestic consumers to remember, as well.”

Efforts by some countries to restrict global food exports related to COVID-19 transmission are not consistent with the known science of transmission of COVID-19, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a joint statement.

“There is no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from food or from food packaging. The U.S. food safety system, overseen by our agencies, is the global leader in ensuring the safety of our food products, including product for export,” Perdue and Hahn said in the statement.

Puglia said the viability of many U.S. farms depends on international trade with key partners like China.

“At a time when American farmers are still trying to dig themselves out of a coronavirus-induced financial hole, it will be difficult for the industry to absorb further losses due to unfounded demands like this,” he said in the statement. “We are aware that the Trump administration has objected to

China’s actions and request that the administration continue to pressure the Chinese government until it reverses this ill-timed and scientifically indefensible trade barrier.”

The Washington D.C.-based Agriculture Transportation Coalition said in an e-mail to members that U.S. exporters are reluctant to sign the General Administration of Customs China form guaranteeing their exports are free from COVID-19.

“Instead, some (coalition) members report that they are sending their own ‘Commitment Statements’ along with the cargo,” according to the e-mail. “While China Customs has not confirmed that these statements are acceptable substitutes for the official form, we are hearing that exporters sending these statements have not encountered any issues so far with their customers clearing cargo in China,”

The Packer’s COVID-19 Updates

The Packer’s China Upates

United Fresh schedules food safety web seminars

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:41:52 GMT

The United Fresh Produce Association has food safety web seminars scheduled on a variety of topics, starting with a look at the Food and Drug Administration’s recent unveiling of its blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.

The free “New Era” seminar is from 2-3 p.m. Eastern Aug. 5. Registration is online .

“This webinar will go beyond the numerous bulleted framework points, to share the insights, implications, anticipated impacts, and opportunities for engagement in the journey with FDA,” according to the seminar notice from United Fresh.

Speakers for the event are:

Jennifer McEntire, senior vice president of food safety and technology for United Fresh;
De Ann Davis, senior vice president of science for Western Growers ;
Trevor Suslow, vice president of food safety for the Produce Marketing Association ;
Kate Tynan, senior vice president at the Northwest Horticultural Council ; and
Beth Oleson, director of education and food safety for the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association .

United Fresh also has a web seminar on Aug. 18, “Listeria — How to tell if it’s transient.”

“Resident and transient strains of Listeria monocytogenes can be difficult to identify,” according to the United Fresh notice. “Learn how to differentiate between the two, what to do once that determination is made, and why this distinction matters.”

The web seminar is sponsored by Ecolab.

A virtual recall ready workshop will be Sept. 10-11 as part of United Fresh’s Recall Ready Program. Through a partnership with OFW Law and Watson Green LLC, United Fresh leverages the expertise of food safety, legal and crisis communications experts, according to the notice. Registration and information on fees is online.

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September shaping up as a key month for COVID-19 relief

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:06:50 GMT

September will be a pivotal month to determine if industry pleas for more COVID-19 relief will be answered, Robert Guenther said.

“I think when you talk about what transpired over the last several weeks before the political conventions started, and the fact that a COVID-19 package was not agreed to, it really brings into highlight that September is a truly crucial month,” Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association , said Aug. 19.

With the fourth COVID-19 stimulus package expected to be up for debate in September, Guenther said the United Fresh Washington Conference, set for Sept. 21-25, is timely.

The stakes for election year battles could not be bigger. Beyond the drama of the presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden, Guenther said the fight for control of the Senate is what everybody is watching, Guenther said.

“There are a lot of very hotly contested (Senate) seats, very close races could go either way that may impact to kind of decisions that are made post-election,” he said.

The government is facing the prospect of a shutdown Sept. 30 unless Congress and the administration agree on a spending package.

The online Washington Conference — and a virtual march on Capitol Hill — will include participation by elected leaders, administration officials and industry experts on nutrition, trade, food safety and more, he said.

Unprecedented federal support

Guenther said the effect COVID-19 had on the produce supply chain beginning in March, is devastating. The good news is that federal government support since the COVID-19 pandemic began has been unprecedented. Since March, about $4.5 billion has been distributed to the industry through various relief programs. In comparison, the farm bill supplies $3 billion to the industry over five years.

He said the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Paycheck Protection Program have all been helpful but are not enough.

“All of these three important tools have been very critical, helping stabilize the industry; this next phase is more trying to help not just stabilize, but also to bring (the industry) out of a stabilization phase to more of a recovery phase,” he said.

Urgent needs

One current need of the industry is recouping costs related to containing the spread of COVID-19.

“Now we’re looking at more requests, more discussions about how we can help the companies offset costs related to COVID (safety) enhancements that they’ve done to protect their businesses and most importantly, their employees,” Guenther said.

Jason Resnick, vice president and general counsel for Western Growers , said the COVID-19 pandemic safety measures have hit the bottom lines of growers hard. Western Growers is looking for federal support to help growers defray the costs.

“We’ve encouraged Congress to provide additional funding for these farm worker safety measures,” he said, noting the relief could be in the form of tax credits for those who purchase personal protective equipment.

Resnick said that another issue for Western Growers is seeking funds for workers to cover the cost of child care.

“Childcare is an important priority so that they can continue to work and not have to worry about staying home if they choose to work,” he said.

Western Growers would also like liability protection for growers in the next stimulus package. Although the issue doesn’t have much traction so far, Resnick said Western Growers is collaborating with other associations inside and outside of agriculture to try to influence the debate in Washington on employer liability.

The Packer COVID-19 Coverage

The Packer’s United Fresh Coverage