Western_Grower_Shipper2022MarApr

California : California’s inherent advantages in producing crops must be weighed against some of the challenges that are inherent in a state that is also the nation’s population leader. “The ideal growing conditions in California are hard to beat,” said Mabs. “We live in one of the best places on the globe to grow produce. Just look around the country this week (early February) and you see the storms that are devastating the Southeast. That happens on a regular basis in that region. Even Texas had a devastating freeze last year. We just don’t have to put up with that.” But Mabs noted that lack of labor and water and an ever more-challenging regulatory environment are cause for pause. “Those issues are curtailing the ability for growth in California. California will continue to be a major producer of fresh produce, but I do worry about growth opportunities.” Planning for the Future : One way Homegrown Organic Farms and its Agrivision parent company are planning for the future is the recent change in corporate structure to an ESOP (an employee stock ownership plan). “That was a big move for us,” said Mabs. “It was a very strategic foundational move designed

to help us survive and move forward.” In today’s business environment, Mabs said there must be an exit strategy for the founders and owners. An ESOP allows the principals to sell the company to its employees. Of course, another option would be to sell out to a larger company but that is not what the founders wanted to do. “They did not want the company culture to change,” he said. The ESOP gives employees a stake in the operation and its success. He said it essentially functions as a retirement program, and is an excellent incentive to both retain employees and attract new ones. If the company performs well, the value of the holdings by each employee increases. Western Growers Involvement : Homegrown Organic Farms has long been a supporter of industry organizations, and has been actively involved in organic specific associations. Mabs said the attraction to Western Growers is fueled by its member services. “Western Growers is extremely strong in the member services it provides. The organization provides practical, real-life help in many different areas. The specific training and educational opportunities are great.”

WESTERN GROWERS OFFICERS – 2022 ALBERT KECK, Chairman STUART WOOLF, Senior Vice Chair ROB YRACEBURU, Vice Chair NEILL CALLIS, Treasurer DON CAMERON, Executive Secretary DAVE PUGLIA, President & CEO DIRECTORS – 2022 GEORGE J. ADAM Innovative Produce, Santa Maria, California ALEXANDRA ALLEN Main Street Produce, Santa Maria, California KEVIN S. ANDREW Illume Agriculture, Bakersfield, California ROBERT K. BARKLEY Barkley Ag Enterprises LLP, Yuma, Arizona STEPHEN J. BARNARD Mission Produce, Inc., Oxnard, California BARDIN E. BENGARD Bengard Ranch, Salinas, California LOREN BOOTH Booth Ranches, Orange Cove, California GEORGE BOSKOVICH III Boskovich Farms, Oxnard, California RODNEY BRAGA Braga Ranch, Soledad, California NEILL CALLIS Turlock Fruit Company, Turlock, California DON CAMERON Terranova Ranch, Inc., Helm, California EDWIN A. CAMP D. M. Camp & Sons, Bakersfield, California CAROL CHANDLER Chandler Farms LP, Selma, California LAWRENCE W. COX Lawrence Cox Ranches, Brawley, California STEPHEN F. DANNA Danna Farms, Inc., Yuba City, California JOHN C. D’ARRIGO D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, California THOMAS DEARDORFF II Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, California SAMUEL D. DUDA Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., Salinas, California CATHERINE A. FANUCCHI Tri-Fanucchi Farms Inc., Bakersfield, California DAVID L. GILL Rio Farms, King City, California BRANDON A. GRIMM Grimmway Farms, Arvin, California JOHN JACKSON Beachside Produce, LLC, Nipomo, California A. G. KAWAMURA Orange County Produce, LLC, Irvine, California ALBERT KECK Hadley Date Gardens, Thermal, California J.P. LABRUCHERIE LaBrucherie Produce, El Centro, California FRANK MACONACHY Ramsay Highlander, Inc., Gonzales, California JOHN S. MANFRE Frank Capurro and Son, Moss Landing, California STEPHEN MARTORI III Martori Farms, Scottsdale, Arizona HAROLD MCCLARTY HMC Farms, Kingsburg, California TOM MULHOLLAND Mulholland Citrus, Orange Cove, California ALEXANDER T. MULLER Pasquinelli Produce Co., Yuma, Arizona DOMINIC J. MUZZI Muzzi Family Farms, LLC, Moss Landing, California MARK NICKERSON Prime Time International, Coachella, California THOMAS M. NUNES The Nunes Company, Inc., Salinas, California STEPHEN F. PATRICIO Westside Produce, Firebaugh, California RON RATTO Ratto Bros. Inc., Modesto, California CRAIG A. READE Bonipak Produce, Inc., Santa Maria, California ERIC T. REITER Reiter Affiliated Companies, Oxnard, California JOSEPH A. RODRIGUEZ The Growers Company, Inc., Somerton, Arizona WILL ROUSSEAU Rousseau Farming Company, Tolleson, Arizona VICTOR SMITH JV Smith Companies, Yuma, Arizona RYAN TALLEY Talley Farms, Arroyo Grande, California BRUCE C. TAYLOR Taylor Farms California, Salinas, California STUART WOOLF Woolf Farming & Processing, Fresno, California ROB YRACEBURU Wonderful Orchards, Shafter, California

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