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“None of us grow food so we can throw it away.” Orange County Produce’s Founding Member A.G. Kawamura on Fighting Food Waste
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WESTERN GROWER & SHIPPER Published Since 1929 Volume XCV | Number 2
To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of Western Growers members
Features
Dave Puglia President & CEO Western Growers davep@wga.com
16 “None of us grow food so we can throw it away.” Orange County Produce’s Founding Member A.G. Kawamura on fighting food waste. 20 Groundwater: A Tale of Two States In California and Arizona, 2023 legislation set a new playing field for negotiating the fiery topic of water. 22 My Cross-Border Medical Experience in Mexico, Courtesy of WGAT
Editor Ann Donahue 949.302.7600 | adonahue@wga.com Contributors Cory Lunde 949.885.2264 | clunde@wga.com Julia Nellis 949.885.2270 | jnellis@wga.com Michelle Rivera 949.885.4778 | mrivera@wga.com Kara Timmins 949.885.4786 | kmtimmins@wga.com Circulation Marketing 949.885.2248 | marketing@wga.com Advertising Sales Dana Davis 302.750.4662 | dana@tygermarketing.com
WG’s Michelle Rivera experiences first-hand the top tier care offered to fieldworkers.
Departments
TOGETHER.
4 President’s Notes 6 Advocacy | Arizona 8 Agriculture & the Law 10 Trade & Supply Chain Services 12 Science 14 Member Profile 18 WG Member Welcome & Anniversaries 25 Updates from the WGCIT 28 WG News You Can Use 32 Connections 33 Contact Us 34 Farm Dogs and Barn Cats of Western Growers
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Western Grower & Shipper ISSN 0043-3799, Copyright © 2024 by the Western Grower & Shipper is published bi-monthly by Western Grower & Shipper Publishing Company, a division of Western Growers Service Corp., 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine California 92618. Business and Editorial Offices: 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine, California 92618. Accounting and Circulation Offices: Western Grower & Shipper, 6501 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100, Irvine, California 92618. Call (949) 863-1000 to subscribe. Subscription is $25 per year. Foreign subscription is $50 per year. Single copies of issues, $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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To Be Disfavored by Sacramento By Dave Puglia, President & CEO, Western Growers
Sometimes we might feel that we are alone in California. The state legislature and regulatory agencies— spurred on by myriad special interests on the left, ranging from labor unions to environmental activists and others—moves from one new mandate on agriculture to another without pause and lacking any
interest in the economic consequences to come. But we are not alone, as the Wall Street Journal noted in a recent editorial that spotlighted Chevron’s decision to write down many of its California assets due to “continuing regulatory challenges.” It isn’t a small thing, given the economic output of Chevron and its competitors in California’s energy-rich regions, particularly Kern County. In a comment letter to the California Energy Commission, one of the agencies with regulatory authority over energy production in the state, Andy Walz, President of Chevron’s Products Division, itemized the many state policies that have been layered on top of the state’s energy producers, drawing a conclusion that should be obvious to anyone who passed Economics 101: California’s policies have made Chevron’s investments in its home state riskier than investing in other states, with projects being lower in quality and higher in cost. Chevron alone has reduced spending in California by hundreds of millions of dollars since 2022— California’s policies have made it a difficult place to invest so we have rejected capital projects in the state. Such capital flight reflects the state’s inadequate returns and adversarial business climate. Walz goes on to note that Chevron has rejected and canceled capital projects—job-creating investments— due to “permitting challenges” and emphasizes that while the state’s policymakers may be attempting to drive petroleum production out of the state, its hostile policies will force companies like Chevron to reduce investment across their California portfolio, renewable energy included. That can’t be what Sacramento really wants, but that’s what happens when public policy is disconnected from economic reality. Why would California legislators and regulators consign many thousands of their fellow Californians who work in energy-related industries to a bleak future of job cuts, regional economic stress and community disruption? Again feeling it necessary to memorialize the obvious, Walz writes that California’s “arbitrary attacks on a disfavored industry…signal to every industry, entrepreneur, manufacturer, and employer that California is closed for business.”
What struck me as I read all of this was the fact that without too much creative editing, one could easily swap out the words “Chevron” and “energy” and insert “farming” and “agriculture.” The result would be an accurate reflection of the truth of the indictment of California’s hostile policies “on a disfavored industry,” as Walz put it. As with the energy industry, California presents natural advantages that attracted investment from the earliest days of our state’s history. That might lead policymakers in Sacramento to believe that because the land can’t move and the state’s Mediterranean climate exists nowhere else in the U.S., farming won’t leave. But the capital it takes to operate in California can be deployed elsewhere, and we’ve been seeing that increasingly in recent years. With advancing plant breeding technologies, what is grown fresh in California can often be grown fresh in other states and countries and delivered to consumers with little or no difference in appearance, freshness and quality. And other places in the world present a very attractive offer: Ample water, labor and land along with national and regional governments that welcome agriculture investments and the jobs they create. It is probably a safe bet that agriculture will continue to be a substantial contributor to California’s economy for now and perhaps for many years to come. The question is whether that contribution will increase or decrease, and if a decrease, what that means to real people in places like the Central Valley, the Central Coast and the desert regions. We are left to posit two questions to California’s public policymakers: Is agriculture “disfavored” as a matter of public policy, and if so, why on earth would any government do that, and, do you understand the consequences you are forcing onto millions of Californians who are directly and indirectly intertwined with agriculture? It’s not too late to turn this around. All it takes are elected leaders with the courage to reset their party’s relationship with the Californians who produce healthy foods for the world.
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Tracking Progress: The 2024 Arizona Legislative Session
By Robert Medler, Arizona Government Affairs Manager As we approach the midway point of the 2024 Arizona Legislative session, numerous key policy debates are occurring. The session started with a renewed focus on addressing issues that impact the state and its residents. From education and healthcare to economic development and environmental concerns, Arizona’s legislators have had a challenging session. policy issues such as expanding Medicaid coverage,
Water: As was expected, Legislators are working to address several crucial policy issues related to water management in the state. With Arizona facing ongoing challenges of water scarcity and drought, policymakers will likely focus on implementing sustainable strategies to ensure the long-term availability of this vital resource. Policy discussions have included the allocation of water rights, conservation measures and the development of innovative technologies for water treatment and reuse. As I write this (mid-February), a counter proposal to the Governor’s Water Council recommendation has been heard in committee. The outcome of this bill is far from certain, as stakeholders and experts anticipate a robust debate on these matters as Arizona seeks to secure its water future. It is crucial for legislators to engage in thoughtful and inclusive discussions, considering the diverse needs and perspectives of Arizona’s population. Education: Education is a top priority during the 2024 legislative session. Lawmakers will likely continue to focus on improving funding for public schools, expanding access to quality early childhood education and addressing the teacher shortage issue. Additionally, discussions around school choice, charter schools and educational equity have taken center stage. Healthcare: Access to affordable and quality healthcare remains a pressing concern for many Arizonans. The session is likely to address healthcare
improving mental health services and finding innovative solutions to reduce healthcare costs. The various long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may also influence discussions on public health infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Economic Development: Arizona’s economic growth and development will be a key area of focus during the 2024 legislative session. Lawmakers will likely explore ways to attract new businesses, promote entrepreneurship and support existing industries. Discussions on tax incentives, workforce development and infrastructure investments are expected to shape the economic agenda. Criminal Justice Reform: After gaining significant attention in recent years, lawmakers may focus on issues, such as reducing recidivism rates, addressing sentencing disparities and improving rehabilitation programs. Discussions on police accountability and community policing strategies may also take place. Immigration: Given Arizona’s proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration policy is likely to be a prominent topic during the legislative session. Lawmakers may engage in discussions on border security, immigration enforcement and pathways to citizenship. Striking a balance between national security and compassionate immigration policies will be a complex challenge. The 2024 Arizona Legislative Session holds great significance for the state and its residents. With a wide range of policy issues on the agenda, lawmakers will have the opportunity to shape the future of education, healthcare, economic development, the environment, criminal justice and immigration. It is crucial for legislators to engage in thoughtful and inclusive discussions, considering the diverse needs and perspectives of Arizona’s population. By addressing these policy issues effectively, the state can strive toward a brighter and more prosperous future for all its residents. Know that Western Growers will be watching and engaging, ensuring the Specialty Crop industry will thrive for years to come.
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California’s Ag Overtime Law Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences By Jason Resnick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel The enactment of AB 1066 in 2019, expanding overtime pay for agricultural workers in California, was celebrated by Labor as a progressive step toward equity in the labor market. However, the nuances and complexities of agricultural economics have rendered the law’s impact less straightforward and, in many cases, counterproductive. In her article, California’s Overtime Law for
While these strategies may address labor costs, they also introduce new challenges, including capital investment requirements for mechanization and building or otherwise providing free housing for H-2A employees. Moreover, the broader economic context cannot be ignored. California’s agricultural sector is not only competing domestically but also on a global scale, where producers often face lower wage and regulatory burdens. This global competition puts additional pressure on California farmers to maintain cost competitiveness, further exacerbating the challenges posed by AB 1066. As a result, many farmers are either moving their operations to other states and countries, or shutting down their operations, rather than saddling the next generation with an unsustainable burden of high labor costs and regulatory constraints that undermine the farm’s economic viability and the traditional family farming way of life.
Agricultural Workers: What Happened to Worker Hours and Pay? 1 , Dr. Alexandra E. Hill, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at U.C. Berkeley, has provided empirical evidence supporting what many in the agricultural community anticipated: a reduction in weekly working hours and earnings for crop workers. This outcome underscores a fundamental misalignment between the legislation’s intentions and the realities of agricultural operations. Western Growers, alongside myriad voices within the agricultural community, sounded the clarion call, warning of the repercussions that such legislation might engender. We explained that agriculture, unlike many other industries, is inherently tied to the rhythms of nature and the seasons. Factors such as weather variability, pest pressures and the perishable nature of crops dictate work schedules that are often incompatible with
While AB 1066 was rooted in a well-intentioned desire to improve conditions for agricultural workers, its real-world implementation has resulted in precisely the opposite effect.
standard overtime regulations. Additionally, the labor-intensive nature of many agricultural tasks during peak seasons means that working hours can be long and unpredictable, necessitating a flexibility that AB 1066 does not afford. Before AB 1066, California farmworkers were entitled to overtime pay after working 10 hours in a day or 60 hours in a week. The increased labor costs resulting from the law have prompted many producers, particularly small family farmers, to seek alternatives. This has led to a surge in mechanization and reliance on the H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers.
The implementation of AB 1066 has had profound effects on farmworkers, impacting not just their work life but also their personal and family well- being. The reduction in hours and earnings means more than just smaller paychecks; it translates into real hardships for individuals and families reliant on these wages. Workers face increased financial stress, struggling to cover basic living expenses such as housing, food, fuel and health care. A July 2023 NPR piece says it all: “ These farmworkers thought a new overtime law would help them. Now they want it gone.” That piece tells how reduced hours
1 ( ARE Update 27(1): 1–4. U.C. Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics)
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caused by new overtime laws has cut take- home pay and forced farmworkers to work two jobs instead of one, resulting in new economic pressure and a reduced quality of life. The ripple effects extend into local communities, where decreased spending by agricultural workers results in less business for local shops and services, further straining rural economies. This cycle of economic contraction exacerbates the vulnerabilities of already struggling communities, underscoring the need for legislation that truly reflects the realities of agricultural labor and supports the well- being of workers and their families. What, then, is the path forward? The findings from Dr. Hill’s study and the lived experiences of California’s agricultural community point to the need for a more tailored approach to labor legislation in the sector. This approach
providing potential models for refining California’s approach to agricultural labor laws. While AB 1066 was rooted in a well- intentioned desire to improve conditions for agricultural workers, its real-world implementation has resulted in precisely the opposite effect. It has painted in stark relief the complexity of applying one- size-fits-all solutions to the agricultural sector. Moving forward requires nuanced, collaborative efforts that not only respect the unique characteristics of agricultural work and strive for fairness for agricultural employees, but also recognize the vital role of California’s specialty crop industry in feeding the nation and the economic realities of producing food in a state that leads the nation in agricultural innovation but faces unparalleled regulatory and cost pressures.
should account for the unique demands of agricultural production, offering flexibility to accommodate peak seasons while not incentivizing the reduction of hours offered. Other states have adopted varied strategies to address the implications of overtime laws for farmworkers. For example, New York offers a tax credit to offset the additional costs farmers incur from overtime premiums, as part of a gradual rollout of its overtime legislation over several years. Colorado, on the other hand, has set a higher overtime threshold for small farms and seasonal work, allowing for a more flexible application of overtime pay rules to accommodate the specific needs of the agricultural sector. These approaches reflect an attempt to balance the protection of farmworkers with the operational realities of farming,
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Carrying the Dispute Resolution Corporation Torch By Bryan Nickerson, Commodity & Supply Chain Services Director The implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 revolutionized the North American fresh produce industry, creating a unified marketplace and opening significant cross- border trade and investment opportunities. Despite its advertised benefits, however, this transformation also amplified the potential for disputes, contract breaches and related issues that invariably arise in fresh produce transactions.
While the U.S. already had a dispute resolution system in place under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Canada’s regulatory framework proved ineffective in resolving most disputes, and Mexico lacked an international dispute settlement mechanism entirely. Consequently, U.S. and Canadian produce companies often resorted to costly court proceedings. Recognizing this gap in member protection, WG played a pivotal role in creating the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) in February 2000, providing a non-profit, membership-based dispute resolution body to support the North American fruit and vegetable industry. The DRC offers its members harmonized standards, procedures and services that help them avoid (and mediate, if necessary) disputes. Crucial to the establishment and early successes of this tri-national dispute resolution system was long-time WG legend Matt McInerney, who guided the DRC as chair its first 17 years. (In another notable, related accomplishment, McInerney was also instrumental in securing passage of the PACA Trust amendment in 1984, granting domestic produce suppliers first-priority creditor status in buyer bankruptcies.) After an illustrious 43-year career serving the fresh produce industry, McInerney retired in his role as Senior Executive Vice President in March 2019. As a third-generation agriculturalist and McInerney protégé, I hope to continue his legacy in my position as Commodity & Supply Chain Services Director. Over the last decade, I have supported the WG membership in various capacities and now serve as the association’s expert in PACA and dispute resolution matters. After a several-year WG absence following McInerney’s retirement, I was honored to have the WG torch passed to me in December 2023 when my nomination to serve on the DRC board was approved by its current directors. Once again, WG will be at the table in setting the policies and trading standards of the DRC, which is governed by a board of 14 directors representing Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Chile. In particular, I am committed to monitoring Canadian issues impacting the domestic fresh produce industry and upholding the legacy of
collaboration in addressing the North American trade challenges faced by our members. One immediate area of focus is the Canadian legislative bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, which was passed in the House of Commons with all-party support on October 25, 2023. If passed by the Canadian Senate, Bill C-280 would establish a trust mechanism for fresh produce growers and sellers in Canada, similar to the PACA Trust for U.S. producers, to ensure payment in the event of buyer bankruptcy. The establishment of a PACA-inspired system in Canada has been a longstanding objective for the DRC, WG and the wider North American fresh fruit and vegetable sector. The progress of this Canadian bill underscores the ongoing significance of the DRC in safeguarding WG members and highlights the pivotal role our association can fulfill in ensuring its sustained efficacy. Thanks to his mentorship and the early influence he had on my career at WG, I am confident that my approach will closely mirror the legacy of the McInerney tradition.
Bryan Nickerson (center), photographed with DRC Staff, at the Semi-Annual Board Meeting in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
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The Power of Modeling and Data Sharing By Gustavo Reyes, Food Safety Manager
In the evolving landscape of agriculture, ensuring the food safety of produce is a top priority for growers. As the industry experiences technological advancements, the integration of modeling and data- sharing can be a vital and powerful tool to assess and mitigate risk in growing, packing, processing and shipping produce. A collaborative approach must be adopted to create a sense of community and foster community-driven responsibility as food safety challenges are tackled.
Simulations and predictive models are processes that attempt to replicate behaviors of real-world scenarios or use historical data to forecast outcomes. These models have proven to be indispensable tools for nearly every single aspect of our day-to-day lives, from weather to sports and social media to data. In the field of agriculture and food safety, these models can be valuable tools. Simulation models of leafy green supply chains have highlighted the importance of controlling and monitoring wash water chemistry to prevent cross-contamination and controlling temperature during transportation and retail to prevent microbial growth 1, 2 . Agent-based simulation models have highlighted the contamination dynamics, risks and best corrective actions for processing facility equipment surfaces for Listeria monocytogenes 3, 4 . New Center for Produce Safety (CPS)-funded projects, such as one being conducted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Cornell University, are looking to build a flexible model that the industry can use to assess best practices and guide food safety investments. 5 Data sharing is the concept of making data available for others to access, use, and in some cases, distribute. Data sharing involves the intentional and controlled use of data for analysis and collaborative research. Like simulations and predictive models, data-sharing has shown to be very beneficial. In healthcare, data-sharing initiatives have embraced data-sharing related to treatment and diagnosis to achieve better medical outcomes. In transportation, 1 Mokhtari, A., et al., Evaluation of Potential Impacts of Free Chlorine during Washing of Fresh‐Cut Leafy Greens on Escherichia coli O157:H7 Cross-Contamination and Risk of Illness. Risk Analysis, 2021. 42 (5): p. 966-988. 2 Pang, H., et al., Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Fresh-Cut Lettuce. Journal of Food Protection, 2017. 80 (2): p. 302-311. 3 Barnett-Neefs, C., et al., Using agent-based modeling to compare corrective actions for Listeria contamination in produce packinghouses. Plos one, 2022. 17 (3): p. e0265251. 4 Zoellner, C., et al., EnABLe: An agent-based model to understand Listeria dynamics in food processing facilities. Scientific reports, 2019. 9 (1): p. 495. 5 CPS Center for Produce Safety. Flexible risk process models to quantify residual risks and the impact of interventions . 2023 [cited 2024 Jan 25th ]; Available from: https://www. centerforproducesafety.org/researchproject/491/awards/Flexible_ risk_process_models_to_quantify_residual_risks_and_the_ impact_of_interventions.html.
companies such as Uber are sharing aggregated and anonymized data to better understand traffic patterns for more efficient urban planning. In the produce industry, modeling and data sharing can have a tremendous impact. Data-sharing platforms such as GreenLink® operate as central hubs, enabling growers to contribute their testing and observational data for further analysis. These analyses can help areas such as parametrization, the process of defining variables to describe how something works or behaves, for predictive models as uncertain parameters. This includes in-field contamination prevalence and levels that can be optimized by analyzing aggregated data. Decision-making and guidance documents can take a dynamic approach, where insights from time series analysis guide practices such as increased monitoring during riskier seasons. Association analysis, the task of finding interesting datasets, can be leveraged to prioritize practices based on risk. Finally, data sharing can allow the industry to anticipate food safety issues, to proactively create and provide timely resources to growers, packers, processors and shippers. These collaborative approaches are fundamental to getting us closer to tasking smarter data-based decisions. While data-sharing and modeling offer many benefits, challenges and risks, such as data privacy, security and data quality exist. To address these challenges, data-sharing platforms such as GreenLink® have instituted data-sharing policies and data-sharing agreements to address privacy concerns. Data is aggregated, anonymized and access- controlled to address security risks. Data standards, quality checks and data validation is conducted to control the quality of the data. In conclusion, collaborative simulation models paired with data-sharing platforms are a pivotal advancement to proactively advance food safety. As agriculture and data become more present in day-to-day operations, the path forward should focus on building a connected future where growers collaboratively shape produce safety and increase the amount of usable data for researchers to continue developing these modeling tools.
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Gless Ranch Member since 1982 The Farmer’s Bet that Bloomed By Michelle Rivera, Communications Manager More than 60 years ago, third-generation farmer John J. Gless, owner of Gless Ranch, took on a unique challenge. A friend and fellow Orange County farmer bet him $100, saying that it would be impossible for Gless to successfully cultivate citrus in the Woodcrest area of Riverside.
According to Gless, the acreage in Riverside was deemed unsuitable for farming by many because the land consisted primarily of decomposed granite. “Farmers weren’t interested in this land at that time,” he said. “But I knew that Metropolitan Water was bringing water to the area for those who were willing to invest in the line installation, and land in the area was available for a very reasonable price.” Newly married and ready to venture out on his own, Gless developed a plan with the help of researchers at UC Riverside to make the soil viable for citrus. It was a huge gamble, but Gless and his wife Janet secured a loan and purchased their first 20 acres. “We took the risk and planted the first grove in the Woodcrest area of Riverside in 1961,” he said. Gless himself embarked on the labor-intensive task of planting this first grove, which would come to be
known as Number 1. The venture was challenging, but shortly thereafter, orange groves Number 2 and Number 3 followed. Needless to say, Gless ended up winning that $100 bet, which would have translated to a little more than $1,000 in current value. Gless’s connection to citrus stretches back to 1907 when his grandfather, Juan Pedro Gless, tended to five acres of oranges, alongside his sheepherding duties, on the rangelands of El Toro in Orange County. Following in his father’s footsteps, John J. Gless’s father, John Pierre Gless, farmed 40 acres of Valencias and lemons before selling his land to developers in 1960. “I was raised in a citrus grove in El Toro and had been farming alongside my dad through high school and college,” Gless said. It was the sale of his father’s ranch that prompted him to start a business of his own and scout locations in the Woodcrest area.
John and Janet Gless
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More than 60 years later, Gless Ranch farms nearly 10,000 acres across multiple regions in California, including Riverside, Coachella Valley and Kern County. Gless also farms the California Citrus State Historic Park and the orange trees lining scenic Victoria Avenue in Riverside. “We grow oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, limes and avocados in Riverside, and oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines in Kern County. In the Coachella Valley, in addition to citrus, we farm dates and raise citrus and avocado trees in a state- of-the-art nursery,” Gless said. And then there’s the Gless Ranch Farmer’s Market in Riverside, which offers customers a diverse selection of fresh citrus, locally grown fruits and vegetables, local artisan foods and gifts, craft beer, wine and specialty items. Gless credits his work ethic to his father and his success to his hard work and his dedicated family. His wife, all four children, and several grandchildren, have either contributed or are actively contributing to the farming and overall operation of Gless Ranch. Like many farms in California, one of Gless Ranch’s biggest challenges has been water. Fortunately, his luck didn’t run dry last year. “Last year’s rain saved much of California’s farming as many were letting groves die because of the severe water shortage,” he said. Despite the obstacles, Gless emphasized his profound appreciation for the joy and rewards of farming. “People ask me why I haven’t retired. I’m still at it because I enjoy it, and I love the challenge.”
Top: John Gless, 1980 Bottom: Planting of the California Citrus State Historic Park circa 1992
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COVER STORY
“None of us grow food so we can throw it away.” Orange County Produce’s Founding Member A.G. Kawamura on fighting food waste.
By Kara Timmins, Communications Manager T here are many reasons a person becomes a farmer. But there is a throughline to their motivation: whatever farmers grow, they don’t want to waste it. The issue of food waste is one that is growing in importance in the mind of the consumer. This goes beyond the “clean your plate!” orders from mothers throughout time to include an increased desire from the public to know about how much food goes from the field into productive use. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food waste is estimated to impact between 30–40 percent of the food supply. As such, preventing food waste is a “we challenge” in that it requires everyone’s participation—from consumers to growers. For Western Growers members, it means they often think of the best way to use as much of their product as they can. For A.G. Kawamura, owner/partner of Orange County Produce, utilizing all the produce he grows has been a point of pride for a long time. “None of us grow food so that we can throw it away,” Kawamura said. “There’s been some wonderful opportunities that aligns itself with our processing industry that can take a strawberry that’s not that great looking and turn it into delicious juice—cut it up and put it into a mash that’s ready for a smoothie.” Buyers, on behalf of their consumers, are seeking the best looking, most-uniform produce available to stock their shelves, but that’s not always what comes out of the ground or off a tree limb. These measurements of visual or size value doesn’t correlate to a less healthful or tasty product. While this concept of using the produce that doesn’t fit the mold may be new to some consumers, it isn’t new to growers. For many, they have been finding a place for these products that “have a face for
radio” in frozen dinners, produce delivery services or chopped bagged lettuce. Bolthouse has a line of juices made from their perfectly imperfect carrots, which is certified through the Upcycled Food initiative to help consumers easily identify it on the shelves. On top of finding ways to get food into stores and homes, there are also pathways to get parts of produce that are deemed not fit for human consumption as animal feed. Parts like leafy carrot tops or woody asparagus bottoms may find themselves on a cow’s menu. Another avenue for preventing food waste is getting it to people who need food support. SunTerra’s Steve Brazeel, motivated to action amid the Covid-19
pandemic, started Project Food Box. Project Food Box moved to solve two problems by creating a bridge: allow farmers to get their products out of the field and get it to the people who need it the most. That bridge required strategic planning, hard work and industry insight, and it is still going strong to deliver this much-needed produce to food banks. But Brazeel didn’t set out without guidance, and one of the people who shared insight with him at the outset was Kawamura. When it comes to connecting people with their food, Kawamura and Orange Country Produce put resolving hunger and nutrition problems in their community as a key feature of the company’s philosophy.
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As a fellow grower, he understands the value of what they make: “What we’re seeing is when we are working these wonderful programs with the food banks is that everything has a good use and opportunity,” he said. “Things with a little bit of damage on them—it might be sunburn or crookedness on a squash or bell pepper, a super-small cabbage instead of a basketball sized cabbage—it can be used.” With the increased consumer awareness around food waste, a layer of complexity is added to the conversation. If growers are doing everything they can, what amount of culpability falls on the consumer? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions from human activities in the United States…an estimated 58 percent of the fugitive methane emissions (i.e., those released to the atmosphere) from municipal solid waste landfills are from landfilled food waste.” There are some positive signs that consumers are willing to take action. According to the consumer report Mintel, 70 percent of consumers say they believe buying and using canned/frozen produce is a good way to prevent food waste thanks to its longer shelf life. In the same report, 60 percent of consumers say they would try unfamiliar types of produce if they knew how to cook/prepare them. This indicates that there’s an industry opportunity to expand a consumer’s produce interests and consumption with an education campaign. In California, S.B. 1383, which was signed into law in September 2014 by Gov. Jerry Brown and went into effect in January 2022, requires households and businesses to separate all compostables instead of throwing them in the trash. Though some might be uncomfortable with the new step, Kawamura shared that this is a good opportunity for consumers, growers and government to work together to achieve the long- discussed circular economy. “Landscapers can’t take green waste and dump it in the dump anymore,” he said. “You have to turn it into compost or a mulch. We’ve had an agreement with a local Southern California company called Agromin that’s been around for a long time that has developed a more straight line. We get to take the green waste after it’s chopped up and ground up and turned into almost a compost and then we bring it in and then we turn it into compost
on our property. That’s a great soil amendment for us .” Food waste is just another example of how growers approach a challenge with a multi-pronged solution. And though there’s still much work to be done by everyone, grower solutions are limited only by their creativity and resourcefulness
and those fields of possibility are palatial. Fortunately, some growers are already looking ahead at that terrain. “These are the long-standing actions and activities that we’ve all been trying to do,” Kawamura said. “And now with new technologies, we have even better opportunities.”
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FEATURE STORY
Groundwater: A Tale of Two States In California and Arizona, 2023 legislation sets a new playing field for negotiating the fiery topic of water. By Kara Timmins, Communications Manager E very grower’s water story is unique, but just like water, everything is intrinsically connected. With new groundwater basin classification and a rain response executive order in California alongside a newly-formed council tasked with groundwater management in Arizona, the water terrain for these two states in 2024 is shaping up to be turbulent. Below, Western Growers provides an update of the recent legislative movement around groundwater in these two states. California 2023 Overview
some of the constraints that were hindering groundwater recharge by expediting permitting. Though the Executive Order was a move in the right direction, aligning with growers and investing in ways to support a large-scale recharge is a way forward to meet Newsom’s goal to increase average annual groundwater recharge by about 500,000 acre-feet. Some of that support could come through weaving of the new designation of groundwater reservoirs as natural infrastructures with a climate resilience general obligation bond that could potentially land on the November 2024 ballot. Agriculture and water agencies across California are advocating for a $7.85 billion bond investment in water infrastructure that focuses on a number of critical water issues, including recycled water, groundwater recharge, storage, flood protection, dam safety, conveyance, storage, safe drinking water, water quality, regional watershed resilience, State Water Project improvements and water conservation. Arizona 2023 Overview Though the complexities of groundwater resources change from one basin to the next, the chain of difference does not live on a gradient. One stark line is drawn in the arid sand: the California and Arizona border. The story of Arizona groundwater has its own arc, and one of the current key players is Gov. Katie Hobbs. After one year into her term as governor, she has made it clear that water use is a focus of her administration. In January 2023, she also issued an Executive Order to modernize Arizona’s groundwater management by establishing
Those in California who rely on the rain, rivers and groundwater resources to grow food and fiber for an expanding population know that weather and the precipitation it brings isn’t reliably cyclical. Yet the conversations around water management and the regulatory measures that result from that discussion don’t recognize that reality, instead moving at a glacial pace. The concept seems simple enough: when the rain comes, be ready to capture it. And if accounting metaphors apply, saving for a non-rainy day means the groundwater basins are one of the options for a savings account. Early 2023 brought heavy rain to California after a long and difficult stretch of drought years. And with the influx, the water showed the holes in California’s system. In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued executive order N-3-23. In this Executive Order, he recognized that “the frequency of hydrologic extremes experienced in the State is indicative of an overarching need to continually re-examine policies to promote resiliency in a changing climate.” The Executive Order also states that “groundwater use accounts for 41 percent of the State’s total water supply on an average annual basis but as much as 58 percent in a critically dry year, and approximately 85 percent of public water systems rely on groundwater as their primary supply; and capturing and storing storm and snowpack runoff underground to recharge aquifers is an important strategy to help regions stabilize water supplies in the face of hydrologic extremes.” To meet the stated aims, the Executive Order alleviated
A drone provides an aerial view of the California Department of Water Resources first 2024 water release from the Lake Oroville flood control gates
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the Governor’s Water Policy Council to update the Arizona Groundwater Management Act. She also put a hard stop for any development of subdivisions reliant on groundwater. (She has since revised this, stating in January 2024 that communities will be allowed to use some groundwater with approval from the state water department.) True to her word about groundwater transparency, she’s clear that her attention isn’t limited to new housing developments and that her agenda includes creating a new framework to allow for groundwater management in rural parts of the states. Bruce Babbitt, the former Arizona governor who was responsible for Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act, has made his stance public and clear: Rural areas need local groundwater control. In November 2023, the Water Policy Council—a council that was set up by Hobbs when she started her term— submitted the “Rural Groundwater Management Area” Framework Proposal. This proposal states that the director of Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) has the option to designate a “Rural Groundwater Management Area,” which will include a hearing process. The expanded use of groundwater is paused during this process. Each of the management areas will be given a goal that is tied to the needs and conditions of the local area. This goal is designated by the Council, which is made up of five-to-nine individuals from the area and comprises those who represent water use sectors within the area like agricultural, industrial and municipal users. The designation of the management area is to be reviewed every 10 years. The Governor’s proposal has yet to be heard in a legislative committee. Instead, a counterproposal was drafted by Arizona State Sen. Sine Kerr, and was passed in a Senate committee on a party-line vote in early February 2024. “At this point of the Legislative session, it is very unclear as to what policy changes impacting rural groundwater use are going happen. There are two strong proposals, with significant support and opposition for each,” says Robert Medler, Western Growers Manager for State Government Affairs in Arizona. “A Legislative solution is important though, as Executive action would not be the preferred way to address this issue facing rural Arizona.” Whether the groundwater site is
in California or Arizona, there is one looming force that affects the situation, and that’s the Colorado River. Last year, California, Arizona and Nevada all agreed to cut water use from the Colorado River by 10 percent, which equates to about 3-million acre feet of water, through 2026. The cuts to municipalities, tribes and agriculture results in reverberating water effects, some of which will influence groundwater use throughout 2024. As a geological force, water is a juggernaut of power. It cuts through mountains and
shapes deserts. The influence it has on nature is matched in the tenacity needed to manage human interests related to this resource. Contact Western Growers for more information and ways to engage with current and future water issues. Gail Delihant, Senior Director of Government Affairs in California, can be reached at gdelihant@wga.com and Robert Medler, Manager of Government Affairs in Arizona, can be reached at rmedler@wga.com .
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