As a result of the transaction, WGIS’ current clients will gain access to a wider variety of insurance solutions, while maintaining a strong connection with best-in-class regional expertise in the agriculture and food space. Jeff Gullickson, President of WGIS; Jodi Martin, Director, Employee Benefits Leader; Natalie Berend, Senior Director, P&C Leader; Ken Cooper, Director, Operations & Risk Strategy Leader; and the WGIS team will join Hub CNC. Gullickson will become head of the Agribusiness practice in the region and will continue to serve in his position as President of WGIS following the transaction.
Hub International Expands Agribusiness Insurance and Risk Solutions with Acquisition of Western Growers Insurance Services in California Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, and Western Growers Association (WG) announced on Nov. 4 that Hub has acquired the retail insurance brokerage business of Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS). The acquisition will enhance Hub’s services in the agribusiness industry and better position WGIS for long-term growth through expanded scale and capabilities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With 10 offices located in California and Arizona, WGIS provides full-service risk mitigation and management solutions, including insurance products and employee benefits. Their focus on the agribusiness and farm industry supports Hub’s Specialty practices by complementing and strengthening its existing capabilities.
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the planting of flowers essential for effective pest management. Colfer’s approach to farming organically and sustainably integrates sound agronomy practices and a comprehensive systems perspective. Colfer’s passion for agriculture stems from her upbringing on her family’s apple farm in Aptos, California. Her father continued farming until the age of 93, and her brothers now manage the family farm. Colfer pursued plant sciences at Hartnell College and Cal Poly SLO, eventually joining Wilbur-Ellis, a family-owned international company founded in 1921. Wilbur-Ellis combines innovative ideas with traditional agricultural practices to serve the North American agriculture and food system. During the event, Colfer offered practical advice for growers looking to improve soil health, such as considering cover crops where economically feasible. She acknowledged the challenges of adopting biological solutions due to the lack of financial incentives but emphasized the potential for these solutions to replace traditional inputs. Colfer also highlighted the importance of empowering irrigators through education, as they possess valuable on-the-ground knowledge. She concluded by noting that consumer demand and willingness to pay a premium will ultimately drive the adoption of sustainable practices. -Emily Lyons
Sustainability Expert Gina Colfer Joins WGCIT for November Lunch and Learn The November Lunch and Learn event at the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) featured an insightful presentation by Gina Colfer, a licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA) and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) with a specialty in sustainability. WGCIT Director Dennis Donohue served as the emcee while Colfer shared her extensive experience and knowledge in organic farming and soil health. The event provided valuable insights into sustainable farming practices and underscored the importance of a holistic approach to agriculture. Colfer, an alumna of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has over 30 years of experience working in the Salinas Valley. She emphasized the importance of a Whole Systems Approach to farming organically, highlighting the intensive nature of farming in the region, which often involves two- to four rotations per season of leafy vegetable specialty crops. Colfer’s philosophy centers on building soil health as a long-term investment, akin to “putting money in the bank,” to ensure rich soil and high crop yields. Colfer discussed the critical role of biodiversity on farms, advocating for the presence of specific blooming habitats to support bio control agents. She stressed that adult parasites and most adult predators rely on nectar and pollen, making
34 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January | February 2025
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