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CELEBRATING JOHN HARRIS’ GOLDEN STATE FEATURE STORY

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FEATURES 6 WESTERN GROWERS’ 2022 AWARD OF HONOR RECIPIENT EXEMPLIFIES THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA AGRIBUSINESS Celebrating John Harris’ Golden State 8 The 96 th Western Growers Annual Meeting in Las Vegas Will Hit the Jackpot with Networking, Education and Entertainment 12 ANNUAL MEETING PREVIEW S2G Ventures Teams with WG for Fifth AgSharks ® Competition 22 Death of PAGA Claims Greatly Exaggerated 34 Western Growers Ag Legal Network Directory 38 WGCIT RESIDENT Corigin Utilizing Nutshells to Improve Yields, Environment

DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Notes 13 What’s Trending 14 California Member Profile 16 Advocacy 18 Arizona Legislator Profile 20 Advocacy | California 21 Western Growers Assurance Trust 24 WG Member Welcome & Anniversaries 26 Science 28 Agriculture & the Law 32 Western Growers Insurance Services 40 Update from the WGCIT 44 Connections 45 Contact Us 46 Inside Western Growers

WESTERN GROWER & SHIPPER Published Since 1929 Volume XCIII | Number 5

To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of Western Growers members

Dave Puglia President & CEO Western Growers davep@wga.com

Editor Tim Linden Champ Publishing 925.258.0892 | tlinden@wga.com Contributors Cory Lunde 949.885.2264 | clunde@wga.com Ann Donahue 949.302.7600 | adonahue@wga.com Circulation Marketing 949.885.2248 | marketing@wga.com Advertising Sales Dana Davis 302.750.4662 | dana@tygermarketing.com

42 Western Growers Loses Two Agricultural Pioneers

TOGETHER.

WGA.COM

Western Grower & Shipper ISSN 0043-3799, Copyright © 2022 by the Western Grower & Shipper is published bi-monthly by Western Grower & Shipper Publishing Company, a division of Western Growers Service Corp., 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618. Business and Editorial Offices: 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Western Grower & Shipper, 15525 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine California 92618. Call (949) 863- 1000 to subscribe. Subscription is $18 per year. Foreign subscription is $36 per year. Single copies of recent issues, $1.50. Single copies of issues more than three months old, $2. Periodicals postage is paid in Irvine, California and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Western Grower & Shipper, PO Box 2130, Newport Beach, California 92658.

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Economics Always Wins By Dave Puglia, President and CEO, Western Growers Rhetoric is powerful. Repeated often enough, rhetoric has the power to shape the public consciousness and, in turn, public policy. A recent policy proposal by House Agriculture

the phrase “Too big to fail” in defense of massive taxpayer bailouts for banks and investment firms. What would happen to our local economies and domestic food supply if we were to allow “Big Ag” to collapse? Between a burdensome regulatory system and policies designed to make farming more difficult, that is precisely what it seems California intends. This seems counterintuitive, especially in California, which is home to massive global companies like Apple, Alphabet, Disney, Meta and Visa. Here in California, we celebrate growth and success in some industry sectors, but not others. The luster of the Golden State is wearing thin. Since 2018, 265 companies have left California for other states, with more than 40 percent splitting for Texas— including the recent high profile move of Tesla’s corporate leadership. One of my favorite sayings is: “Economics always wins.” Regardless of political ideology, whenever policymakers (or voters, as is the case in California) attempt to reshape the economy by force of political will, whether through higher taxes, imposition of costly regulatory mandates and rules and other grand public policy designs, the laws of economics always respond in kind. As one example, the agricultural overtime law passed in 2016 has now been fully implemented, and instead of agricultural workers earning more take home pay, many are receiving fewer hours and have seen their earnings potential decline dramatically. Such are the unintended consequences when the government chooses winners and losers. It never goes as they intended; the laws of economics always interfere. Even though California farmers cannot physically pick up their dirt and move it, many have already scaled back production here or elected to expand elsewhere— or a combination of both. It is time to change the rhetoric around Big Ag. Big is not bad. In fact, being big is proof of the very qualities our political class celebrates when it happens in Silicon Valley. We achieve economies of scale to remain competitive in a global marketplace while paying our workers well, adopting new technologies, investing in the sustainability of our farms and feeding a growing worldwide population. All while being one of the last industries still predominantly comprised of family- owned and operated businesses. That’s worth celebrating and protecting. Even if our politicians and regulatory officials can’t bring themselves to confidently acknowledge that Big Ag is good, they should at least quietly accept the reality—as they contemplate yet another legislative mandate or regulatory scheme—that whatever they impose on companies, regardless of size, economics will always win.

Committee Chairman Rep. David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, illustrates a trend in rhetoric that’s been bothering me for some time. Entitled the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act , Chairman Scott’s bill includes subsidies for small farmers and ranchers and targets the loss of small producers in the cattle industry. With the introduction of this bill, Chairman Scott adds his voice to a growing chorus of policymakers advocating for additional funding and resources for small-scale farming operations. A quick search of USDA’s website pulls up nearly two dozen programs and funding opportunities specifically designed for small- and mid-sized producers. And frequently, you’ll hear U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announce actions USDA is taking “to ensure that all can benefit from our programs and services.” To be clear: Vilsack is right to ensure that USDA services are accessible to all. Smaller operations often lack the internal staff and resources that larger operations must have. And on a much deeper level, the ugly history of discrimination that denied Black farmers from accessing USDA programs is finally being acknowledged and steps are being taken by Vilsack to try to right those wrongs. Western Growers is rooted in family farmers. We represent growers of all sizes, from small, beginning farmers to large, multi-generational, multi-national businesses. Indeed, many of our association services are geared toward small- and mid-sized operations that do not have the resources to bring such activities in-house. But as policymakers promote actions they undertake to help small farming operations, there is a subtle implication that large farming companies are inherently “bad,” or undeserving of consideration in public policy. This is misguided. Larger farming enterprises are the economic engines of rural communities across the country. Often, big agricultural operations suffer the same challenges facing their smaller counterparts, and the economic fallout of their potential failure is exponentially greater; many smaller agricultural companies depend on partners with greater scale and capability. Their fates are interconnected. In California, the food and agriculture industry is responsible for 2.8 million jobs and $370 billion in direct economic output, much larger than the $50 billion farm gate value that is typically used to quantify the size of our industry. None of this accounts for the fact that California produces one-fifth of the nation’s food supply, including more than 60 percent of all fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. That type of food security is priceless. During the global financial crisis in 2007 and 2008, we heard Wall Street and Washington insiders elevate

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WESTERN GROWERS’ 2022 AWARD OF HONOR RECIPIENT EXEMPLIFIES THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA AGRIBUSINESS Celebrating John Harris’ Golden State By Ann Donahue I n “East of Eden,” Nobel Prize-winning writer John Steinbeck wrote the following: “And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.”

“East of Eden” is a sprawling multi- generational tale of agricultural families in California, a re-telling of Cain and Abel amid the fields in the Salinas Valley. The novel and the resulting film adaptation starring James Dean helped established California in American culture as a place of agricultural risk and reward, and the place where opportunity can exist for individuals who dare to choose their own path. It is, of course, a work of fiction, and one that is frequently brutal and jarring. But its themes of resilience and ultimate faith in the Golden State’s opportunity create an easy throughline to agricultural icon John

Harris, who has grasped the entirety of the state’s bounty and turned it into a thriving business legacy. In November at the 96 th Western Growers Annual Meeting, the association’s membership will honor Harris with the 2022 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community. With more than 50 years’ experience in ranching, farming, hospitality and thoroughbred horse racing, Harris embodies the diversity of California

agribusiness. The Harris Farms Group includes Harris Fresh and the Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division, in addition to the landmark property known to all Californians on the I-5. “Like his iconic Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, which stands as an oasis alongside a remote stretch of road, John is a pillar in California agriculture and the broader Western fresh produce industry,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “It is safe to say that no one in this industry is more recognized and admired, and not just among his peers but also by community and political leaders throughout California. John’s vision can be seen in all his enterprises, from his ranching and farming businesses to his championship horse racing operations. Beyond his business endeavors, John is a powerful voice for farmers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and has dedicated his life’s work to the advancement of California agriculture and the rural communities our industry supports. John is most deserving of the Western Growers Award of Honor, and we are excited to present him with our highest recognition at our Annual Meeting in November.” Managing the diversity of his business enterprises over the years required a nimble, methodical approach, according to Harris. “I went into it with the idea that things were always going to be changing—and they were,” Harris said. “I didn’t have any false illusions that it was going to be an easy deal. Then again, I wasn’t really afraid of any problem, because I started with the idea that any problem would be solvable.”

The Annual Meeting 2022 Award of Honor recipient John Harris

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Harris was born to a farm family whose operations in California extend back more than a century. He graduated with a degree in agricultural production from the University of California, Davis and then served two years in the U.S. Army. “I was proud to have gone to a good university at Davis and expanded my knowledge there,” Harris said. “And I was in the Army for a couple of years as a commander of a Nike Hercules site and that gave me some leadership experience that was memorable.” During his tenure as CEO and sole shareholder of Harris Farms and his 11 years on the Western Growers Board of Directors, Harris certainly experienced a saga of upheavals and changes in rural life and the agriculture industry. “It’s sort of evolved, this area of farming,” Harris said. “Most people were diversified, to some extent, because they had water wells they needed to keep operating…. well, we can’t do that anymore. Now we’re trying to diversify because you’re trying to hit all the highs and avoid the lows.” But farming and ranching and hospitality aren’t Harris’ only endeavors that have brought him acclaim. In addition, Harris served five terms as president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and in the summer you can find him by the ocean—not as your stereotypical retiree, but watching his prospects at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club just north of San Diego. “I got into it, I guess, because my father was into it,” Harris said. “The whole scene, it kind of grabs you. I like it for the same reason I like farming: I like the people and the variety and the challenge.” The Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division produced California Chrome, the winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. “I’ve been involved with John not only in horses, but in many agricultural enterprises,” said Don Valpredo, President of Donald Valpredo Farming and horse racing legend. “He’s a tireless worker—he uncovers every stone… he’s about as involved and as fair in everything that he does as anyone I’ve ever been involved with.” Valpredo continued: “I read some place the other day about a person who is as successful as Mr. Harris. ‘If you see a turtle sitting on a fence, he didn't get there alone.’ Right? And John has always employed very good people and

partnered with very good people.” It is a point of pride for Harris. “One of the things we do that is kind of unique is that we have a larger year-round workforce because we have a variety of crops,” he said. “I like to use people who have been here a long time because they have a good job and stability, and we like to capitalize on that.” And this innate sense of team building has paid off not only in the success of Harris’ enterprises, but with the regard he is held in by the agricultural community. “I was very flattered to be recognized by my peers,” Harris said of being named the recipient of the Award of Honor for 2022. “I was pleased and proud that they felt like I deserved it.” The Award of Honor will join numerous other significant awards Harris has received; in 1988 he was named Livestock Man of the Year by his peers in the ranching industry, and in 2014 he received the Agriculturalist of the Year award from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the California State University at Fresno in 2019.

Looking back on Harris’ career, it is fitting to return to Steinbeck and “East of Eden”: “But the Hebrew word, the word timshel — ‘Thou mayest’—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open.” Harris mayest, and he did. Harris’ achievements will be celebrated at the Award of Honor Dinner Gala at the Western Growers 2022 Annual Meeting at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be held from Nov. 2-5, 2022. For more information about

registration or to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities, please contact Assistant Vice President, Membership Kim Sherman at ksherman@wga.com.

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FEATURE STORY The 96 th Western Growers Annual Meeting in Las Vegas Will Hit the Jackpot with Networking, Education and Entertainment By Ann Donahue

W e can’t hold our cards too close to our vest anymore: You are invited to join the full house for the Western Growers Annual Meeting, which will be held at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas from Nov. 2-5, 2022. (Fine, fine. We’ll stop with Vegas puns now.) This will be the 96th WG Annual Meeting, and like every year before it, it provides an opportunity for our membership to gather for camaraderie and learning at the premiere event in Western agriculture. In 2022 the lineup of speakers, panels and social events is top-notch. The event opens on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, with all-day registration at The Venetian and a Welcome Reception that will start at 5:30 p.m. On Nov. 3, the Board of Directors will meet in the morning, and the PAC Lunch will begin at noon. The Western Growers Political

In the afternoon of Thursday Nov. 3, the Annual Meeting will offer its first Featured Session: “When Family Farms Give Way to Outsiders.” This session will focus on the increasing number of family farmers who have decided to accept an offer from private equity investors. What factors are motivating multigenerational family farmers to seek the exits? What does the increasing presence of private equity newcomers mean for the culture and fabric of the Western produce industry and thousands of rural communities? At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, we’ll host the much-anticipated Party with the Partners—it’s always a rollicking good time, and for this year it will feature some special Vegas flair! “A Toast to the Rat Pack & Marilyn” takes the audience on a musical journey through the greatest hits of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Marilyn

Action Committee (PAC) provides strategic campaign support to elected officials and candidates. Proceeds from our annual PAC lunch help amplify our members’ voices in political contests across Arizona, California and elsewhere. Tickets to the PAC Lunch are $195 and available to purchase during online registration. This year’s speaker is Karl Rove, the former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush. Before the White House, he ran Rove + Co., a Texas-based public affairs firm that consulted on more than 75 GOP campaigns for Senator, Governor, Congress and statewide offices in 24 states. Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, appears frequently on the Fox News Channel and is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Courage and Consequence.” His latest book is “The Triumph of William McKinley.”

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Monroe. These legends will be brought to life by the performers as they sing their classics, including: “I Want to be Loved by You,” “Come Fly With Me,” “That’s Amore” and “The Candy Man.” You’ll experience the glitz and glamour of 1960s Las Vegas in this fun, energetic showcase of Rat Pack standards. The next day kicks off with AgSharks®, one of the highlights of the Annual Meeting. Starting at 9:30 a.m., watch as three entrepreneurial finalists in the agtech sector vie for investment to help bring their technologies to market. During this year’s competition, three finalists will be able to pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop growers, shippers and processors to potentially win a $250,000 minimum investment. A judging panel of growers and venture capitalists from WG partner S2G Ventures will make the final decision as to which of the finalists are eligible to receive the funding. The Chair’s Luncheon and Keynote will take place on Friday, Nov. 4. The keynote will be delivered by Admiral William McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral. He is a recognized national authority on U.S. foreign policy and has advised Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and other leaders on defense issues. During his time in the military, McRaven commanded special operations forces at every level, eventually taking charge of the U.S. Special Operations Command. His career included combat during Desert Storm and both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He commanded the troops that captured Saddam Hussein and rescued Captain Richard Phillips. McRaven also is credited with developing the plan and leading the Osama bin Laden mission in 2011. In addition, McRaven served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System. McRaven oversaw 14 institutions that educated 220,000 students and employed 20,000 faculty and more than 80,000 health care professionals, researchers and staff. He currently serves on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the National Football Foundation and the Board of Directors of CoconoPhilips. McRaven is the author of four books, including “SPEC OPS: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare” and “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can

Change Your Life and Maybe the World,” based on his 2014 University of Texas Commencement Speech that received worldwide attention. His third book, “Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations,” released in 2019, is a remarkable memoir full of inspiring and action-packed stories from McRaven’s life in the special operations world. His most recent book, “The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived,” released in April 2021, is a tribute to the real, everyday heroes from battlefields to hospitals to college campuses, who are doing their part to save the world.

experts from the plant genetics industry, growers and retail/food service executives to assess the viability—economic, regulatory, and consumer/social—of cutting-edge breeding techniques. These technologies present opportunities in terms of enhanced flavors and eating experiences, as well as a potential solution to multiple challenges facing the produce industry, from pest and disease vulnerabilities to the need to enable automation and more. The events of Nov. 4 will close with the Award of Honor Reception and Dinner honoring John C. Harris, the President and Chair of the Board, Harris Farms. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community. With more than 50 years’ experience in ranching, farming, hospitality and thoroughbred horse racing, Harris embodies the diversity of California agribusiness. The Harris Farms Group includes Harris Fresh and the Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division, in addition to the landmark property known to all Californians on the I-5. The Award of Honor will join numerous other significant awards Harris has received; in 1988 he was named Livestock Man of the Year by his peers in the ranching industry, and in 2014 he received the Agriculturalist of the Year award from the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the California State University at Fresno in 2019. The Annual Meeting will close on Saturday, Nov. 5, with the traditional Western Growers Golf Tournament. This year’s event will take place at the Revere Golf Course, with registration and breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. There will be a Shotgun Start at 8 a.m., and the event will wrap up with awards and lunch at 12:30 p.m. Transportation to and from The Venetian will be provided. Cash in your chips and join us today by registering at wgannualmeeting.com. (We had to get one more Las Vegas pun in here, sorry!) For more information about registration or to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities, please contact Assistant Vice President, Membership Kim Sherman at ksherman@wga.com.

PAC Lunch Speaker Karl Rove

Keynote Speaker Adm. William McRaven

McRaven graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a degree in journalism and received his master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey in 1991. He met his wife, Georgeann, while they were students at UT Austin, and they have three grown children. After the keynote, the Annual Meeting will offer another Featured Session: “The Promises and Challenges of New Breeding Technologies.” This session will feature

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FEATURE STORY

ANNUAL MEETING PREVIEW S2G Ventures Teams with WG for Fifth AgSharks ® Competition By Ann Donahue

T here is competition, and then there is competition with a quarter of a million dollars on the line in front of a live audience filled with people hanging on your every word. We’re referring, of course, to the AgSharks® Competition, which will return to the 2022 Western Growers Annual Meeting. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas from Nov. 2-5, 2022. It’s the fifth year of the successful— and exciting!—AgSharks partnership between WG and S2G Ventures, the direct investment arm of Builders Vision, a platform that partners with entrepreneurs who seek solutions to the world’s challenges in the food, agriculture, oceans and clean energy markets. “AgSharks leads as the only pitch competition that offers agtech startups an audience with the biggest agricultural companies across the globe,” said Audre Kapacinskas, Principal at S2G Ventures.

“The combination of exclusive access to hundreds of industry leaders, plus investment capital to fuel growth, are two elements that are crucial for a startup’s success in this industry.” AgSharks was first held in 2017, and through the competition, past winners Hazel Technologies and Burro have since brought their products from development to market. Hazel Technologies has raised about $88 million in funding over six rounds and is advancing the industry with sachets that extend the shelf life of fresh produce by as much as three times. Burro raised a $10.9 million 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. The company’s 2018 AgSharks win came after also participating in the competition the prior year.

“We’ve been very persistent,” said CEO Charlie Andersen at the time his company won. “We pitched last year and didn’t win. Since then, we’ve assembled the world's best team, found initial customers and have been through a whirlwind of progress. We believe that we are the best play in the world in which to deploy capital into agtech robotics, and I’m glad that we won the judges over this year.” It’s a success story that very well could happen again in 2022. “With a proven track record of rewarding cutting-edge agtech innovators and enabling them to grow their businesses, we look forward to this year’s competitors engaging in a live, spirited back-and-forth with our members on how best to use technology to solve the most pressing needs of our industry,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “With its real-world financial stakes for the start-ups and the potential long-term benefits for our members, the AgSharks Competition is one of the highlights of our Annual Meeting.” During this year’s competition, three finalists will be able to pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop growers, shippers and processors to potentially win a $250,000 minimum investment. A judging panel of growers and venture capitalists will make the final decision as to which of the finalists are eligible to receive the funding. In addition to potential investment capital, the winner(s) will receive international recognition, mentoring from S2G and WG, potential access to farm acreage to pilot their technologies and access to WG’s expansive network of leading fresh produce companies.

2021 AgSharks presentation

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Why Ag Stories Can Still Make an Impact During a Contentious News Cycle By Ann Donahue, Media Relations Manager We’ve all been guilty of it, especially during the last six months: Doomscrolling. With a near-constant grind of weighty, difficult

photography wire service, which means the article and accompanying photos were used by hundreds of outlets digitally, on TV and in print around the world. • A segment released in May 2022 to CNN’s global syndicate—so not just available to CNN in the U.S., but also its affiliated stations in more than 200 countries—delved into the stories of women in agriculture and featured interviews with WG Members Heather Mulholland of Mulholland Citrus and Alexandra Allen of Main Street Produce. So that’s it, right? Slam dunk! Everybody knows about ag! We’re done! It’s wine o’clock! Well, not quite. Because as much as we play offense in getting our story out there, there are times when we need to play defense. There is still an immense amount of misinformation in the digital sphere about agriculture, food safety and our supply chain. Those 5 billion eyeballs that we reached in the first six months of 2022 are surpassed by an army of what I like to call “zombie facts”—unchecked citations about food and agriculture that unquestioningly get passed along. I don’t think this is done maliciously—if it was, I probably wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning to do my job—but it is the result of an underinformed, harried base of reporters, editors and news producers. We need to use the media as wisely—and as frequently—as possible to educate and set the record straight in front of as big of an audience as we can get. Because, as we well know, people gotta eat. The interest in our story is inherently there. Our job now is to make sure people understand beyond a doubt where that food comes from.

news stories available 24-7 on your nearest screen, it’s easy to zone out as the grim parade of current events passes in front of us: politics, economic upheaval, pandemics, natural disasters and war. With all this competition for eyeballs, how can we break through the doom and gloom to tell ag’s story in a way that resonates? It may be easier than you think, and it comes down to an irrefutable fact that I tell many of WG’s members when I talk to them about doing interviews with the media. People gotta eat. All those attention-grabbing, stomach-sinking headlines happen in the background of this simple human truth. And because of that, there is still a rich opportunity to tell our story to a wide audience. In fact, during the first six months of 2022, news and interviews about Western Growers and its membership reached a potential audience of more than 5.4 billion. That’s more than three times the potential audience we reached during the last six months of 2021. Among the pieces that recently have resonated: • A May 2022 New York Times article on immigration and the labor shortage featured WG members Sabor Farms, Turlock Fruit Company, WG President & CEO Dave Puglia, WG VP of Innovation Walt Duflock and the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology’s Global Harvest Automation Report. It was printed on the front page of the paper’s business section as well as appearing online. • An April 2022 Associated Press article entitled “Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies” included an interview with and photographs of WG member Will Terry of Terry Farms. The AP is a global news and

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Bee Sweet Citrus Member since 1998 Bee Sweet Citrus Continues to Thrive By Tim Linden Bee Sweet Citrus President Jim Marderosian first opened the doors of the company in 1987 as an independent packer and shipper of California oranges. As time progressed and consumer needs shifted, the citrus line expanded to include approximately 10 different varieties.

Now a successful year-round operation, Bee Sweet ships throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Rim countries, including Japan. “We offer customers a 12-month citrus program and still offer personal customer service and a heartfelt commitment to each of our growers and buyers,” said Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications & Compliance. Bee Sweet Citrus has experienced steady growth during its 35 years in operation and is particularly proud of a handful of accomplishments realized over the last half-dozen years or so. A few recent highlights include: 2015: Bee Sweet Citrus donates $1 million to Valley Children’s Pediatric Center in Fowler, Calif. 2015: Bee Sweet Citrus installs solar panels on its packing facility to offset its use of electricity 2017: Bee Sweet Citrus begins to utilize an innovative automatic palletization system 2019: Bee Sweet Citrus donates a state-of-the-art pack line to the students of California State University, Fresno 2020: Bee Sweet Citrus builds a new wash line in Nipomo, Calif. 2021: Bee Sweet Citrus revamps its label to reflect a new, modernized brand 2022: Bee Sweet Citrus begins construction on a new, state-of-the-art mandarin facility.

“When Bee Sweet Citrus first opened its doors, we only worked with oranges. As citrus became more of a household staple for many families, however, we expanded our citrus line to include lemons, mandarins and specialty citrus varieties during California’s citrus domestic season,” said Bienvenue. “Now, we offer our customers a 12-month citrus program to meet the needs of families year-round, and supplement our citrus line with Chilean product during the summer months when domestic fruit is unavailable or scarce.” As a family owned and operated company, Bee Sweet sees its value proposition as understanding how important it is to provide families with fresh citrus year-round. “Our employees work hard to make sure that every piece of fruit that leaves our facility not only meets, but exceeds, our expectations in taste and quality, and customer service remains top priority for our team,” she said.

A new 200,000 square foot packing facility is under construction in Fowler

The facility will include pre-sort and pack lines, cold storage and a shipping dock

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022

Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com

Bee Sweet also touts its one-stop shop as a major selling point. “All our customers can also conveniently pick up our varieties at one central location off California Highway 99 and can rely on our sales team for timely information regarding field and shipping updates,” Bienvenue reported. She noted that one of the company’s newest initiatives is the recent revamping of its label to give it a more modernized feel. With decorative citrus slices displayed on the packaging of each variety and a dashed lined that draws the eye to the company logo, the label was strategically designed to educate shoppers about the varieties in each package, and to remind customers about Bee Sweet’s ability to grow, pack and ship numerous varieties year-round.

Another initiative is the expansion of the packing facility in Fowler, to include a state-of-the-art mandarin line. At more than 200,000 square feet, this new facility will include best-in-class pre-sort and pack lines, cold storage and a shipping dock. As Bee Sweet looks down the road, the company expects the California citrus crop to maintain its current role in the industry with mandarins continuing to gain sales. “While we don’t anticipate too much changing, we do believe that the mandarin variety will continue to grow as a class, domestically,” Bienvenue said. “Over the last few years, the popularity of mandarins has skyrocketed, and we anticipate that trend to continue as parents continue to invest in the health of their families.” Of course, like other California farmers, Bee Sweet must contend with several challenges, but the citrus producer does so with a sense that the glass is half full. “Finding skilled, experienced labor remains a challenge, as well as adhering to constant changes to laws and regulations,” she said. “Nonetheless, we always adapt and remain optimistic for the future.” As a member of Western Growers for much of those three-plus decades, Bee Sweet appreciates the organization’s commitment to agriculture. “Western Growers is a premier industry organization, and we are proud to be a member,” Bienvenue said. “The amount of professional resources that are available for members is outstanding, and we utilize many of them regularly.”

WESTERN GROWERS OFFICERS – 2022 ALBERT KECK, Chair STUART WOOLF, 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, Fullerton, 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, JR. Muzzi Family Farms, LLC, Moss Landing, California THOMAS M. NUNES The Nunes Company, Inc., Salinas, California STEPHEN F. PATRICIO Westside Produce, Firebaugh, California JOHN POWELL JR. Peter Rabbit Farms, Coachella, 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 RYAN TALLEY Talley Farms, Arroyo Grande, California BRUCE C. TAYLOR Taylor Farms California, Salinas, California MIKE WAY Prime Time International, Coachella, California STUART WOOLF Woolf Farming & Processing, Fresno, California ROB YRACEBURU Wonderful Orchards, Shafter, California

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022

Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com

Crisis on the Colorado By Dennis Nuxoll, Gail Delihant and Robert Medler

Farmers throughout the West know it is dry this year and water supplies are sparse. Scientists who study such things tell us that the West is suffering through its most severe drought in more than 1,000 years. The Colorado River Basin, with its two historic dams, is not immune to this situation. Indeed, both Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at critical junctures. Both reservoirs are near “deadpool” status—the point at which water can’t flow downstream. If both dams go below deadpool, not only will there be no water flowing downstream but electricity generation will cease, which will mean many parts of the West will return to the days of candlelight.

In Senate testimony during June, Camille Touton, the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, highlighted just how dire the situation is for the region. She noted the severity of the drought and indicated immediate action was needed, saying that existing plans were not adequate to meet the challenges of the problem. During her testimony, the Commissioner reported that all Colorado River Basin states had been told to draw up voluntary plans to contribute toward conserving 2-4 million- acre feet of water to prevent the two reservoirs from hitting deadpool. Touton told the states she wanted agreements by mid-August or the federal government would step in. Upon hearing this dramatic and unusual public push by the Bureau, Western Growers federal and state affairs teams engaged by contacting all our members who farm in the Colorado River Basin who are connected with water districts and have technical expertise on the topic. We needed to understand what plans were being contemplated and the challenges those plans might present, as well as what community impacts could arise in Arizona, California and Colorado. Since tension exists between the upper and lower basin, as well as between California and Arizona irrigation districts, WG staff has been focused on working with our members to form a unified position that we can push forward to state and federal authorities. After tribes, farmers often have the oldest water rights in the West because they were among the first settlers to come to the area, occupy it and claim their water rights. This was long before cities developed or ski resorts and golf courses were built. In fact, agriculture has rights to, and uses, more than half the water in the Colorado River Basin. As such, it is clear agriculture water cuts would be seen as a primary vehicle to achieve cuts of the magnitude that the Bureau laid out. Farmers are being seen as the primary source for cuts, and our ag community wants to be compensated for water rights not used. Lost farm revenue, changes to the environment, including the Salton Sea, and the impact on communities if agriculture’s footprint shrinks continue to be part of the conversation. After engaging across the Lower Basin, WG staff quickly realized that additional resources were going

to be needed to address all these concerns. Western Growers reached out to our agricultural and water allies to push for more federal funds to address the immediate crisis. Western Growers worked with these same groups to secure money for Western water in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed last November. The $8 billion in funding that was secured in that bill was designed to finance projects in the medium- and long-term, not to help in this more immediate crisis. Fortunately for us, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is from one of the most impacted states and is engaged on this issue. Sen. Sinema was able to work with other U.S. senators from Basin states, including fellow Arizonan Mark Kelly and Colorado’s Michael Bennet, to secure an additional $4 billion in funds to help with this immediate crisis. Will those funds solve all problems? No, but they are a critical element for the near-term. State governments also need to step forward to provide funding for short, medium and long-term needs. Coordination within Arizona, especially among Colorado River communities, was quick to occur following Commissioner Touton’s comments. WG has engaged heavily with Yuma County growers and irrigation districts, the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Central Arizona Project. Working collaboratively, staff identified an outside agency to help the growing coalition in the Lower Basin to communicate the substantial economic harm water cuts will have to communities, as well as the need for fair compensation. WG’s California staff has met with administration officials responsible for overseeing the Colorado River Basin and Salton Sea, as well as legislators and water agencies several times. There is universal understanding of the severity of the situation and the need to protect agriculture and communities, and to mitigate problems at the Salton Sea as less water flows into it. Your Western Growers teams at the state and federal level view the effort to secure water in the face of ongoing drought as one of our most important priorities and we will continue to push at the state and federal levels.

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022

Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com

November 30 – December 1 2022 Hyatt Regency Hotel & Spa Monterey, California

Connecting Organic Growers and Producers with Supply Chain and Service Providers

Exhibitor Booth Registration Now Open! General Attendee Registration Now Open!