SHOP TALK: The Behind-the-Scenes Champions Driving Ag Evolution
By Stephanie Metzinger N ike and its iconic swoosh. Jeff Bezos and his trillion-dollar Amazon. McDonald’s and those famous golden arches. When thinking of successful companies, their logos, taglines, owners’ names and key products are the first to spring to mind. Often understated, however, are the hardworking individuals who quietly work backstage to innovate new products, cultivate relationships with customers and develop streamlined procedures to ensure that the business runs efficiently day in and day out. In 2019, 22.2 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors across the United States. Direct on-farm employment accounted for about 2.6 million of these
jobs. Among these millions are the behind-the-scenes champions of the family farms that produce safe, nutritious and high-quality food for the nation and world. They are the scientists who think outside the box to develop new seed varieties. They are the farm managers who implement groundbreaking ideas to increase operational efficiency. They are the technologists who launch new ventures to keep the farm at the forefront of innovation. Here are a few of the faces—with their inside industry knowledge, business savvy, talent for achieving greatness, drive for going above and beyond and leadership in mentoring others—that make success possible at farms across California, Arizona and Colorado. 50-Year Leader: John Burton Company: Peter Rabbit Farms (Coachella, California) Role: General Manager of Sales and Cooler (retired) Snapshot: From loading railcars with 75-pound bags of carrots to running the third-largest fresh carrot packing facility in the nation, John Burton’s 50-plus year career at Peter Rabbit Farms is a true demonstration of his unwavering loyalty and devotion to the company and industry. Burton retired from Peter Rabbit Farms at the end of January 2021. John’s Greatest Accomplishment: “After 30 years in the plant, John Powell Sr. asked me in 1999 to come work in the sales office. This was a big change for me and my family, and, as it turned out, the best decision I ever made. The change allowed me to learn a new area of the produce business and meet many new and wonderful people.”
John, in the mid-1970s, fast asleep during a fishing trip out of San Diego with a young Steve Powell.
Food Safety Genius: Cynthia DeNardo Company: Petrocco Farms (Brighton, Colorado) Title: Director of Food Safety
Snapshot: Joining the Petrocco Farms team in late 2018, Cynthia plays a key role in leading the company’s food safety initiatives. She takes tremendous pride in helping Petrocco Farms deliver quality, fresh and safe products, and her expertise has guided the farm through food safety rules and stringent compliance rules. The Latest on Cynthia: “I am proud to be serving as a board member for Salud Family Health Centers to support migrant
farmworkers and the underserved in our community. I am also currently pursuing a doctor of management degree with a concentration in environmental and social sustainability.” Cynthia’s Favorite Part About the Job: “There are always new challenges and new opportunities for learning, and I have amazing coworkers!”
10
MAY | JUNE 2 021
Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator