demands a different kind of toughness and humility. They’re systems thinkers, and they know they can’t build in a vacuum.” Salinas is just about an hour from Silicon Valley. Most teams will relocate or maintain a strong local presence during their time at Reservoir Farms: some may choose to fully move, others may come down multiple times a week. The economic impact for Salinas is obvious, and a proud full-circle moment for Bernstein given his early interest in California’s rural economics with regard to investment. “Founders stay in town, eat locally and spend time in the community. We see Reservoir as a long-term economic contributor, not an isolated tech campus. Over time, we believe dozens of new agtech companies will establish themselves in rural regions like Salinas, bringing hundreds of millions in investment and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. This is about startup success, as well as regional transformation, where innovation becomes a driver of economic vitality across the Central Coast and beyond,” Bernstein said. With Reservoir Farms’ groundbreaking set for Aug. 27, 2025, excitement continues to grow. Looking ahead, Reservoir Farms is laying the groundwork for expansion: plans are developing for locations in Merced County and Sonoma County. Bernstein gives great credit to his right-hand powerhouse COO Jillian Heisman, Marketing Manager Grace Wodecki, and mentions the invaluable contributions of Reservoir friends and advisors, including Jason Sedano and Josh Roberts, Joshua Ruiz, Nishan Moutafian and Dr. Matthew Hoffman, and Henry Guerrero and Dr. Hillary Q. Thomas-Sanchez of Taylor
Farms, Duda, Driscoll’s and Naturipe Berry Growers, respectively. WG member Randy Pura was a critical early thought partner as well. Of Western Growers’ Duflock, Bernstein likes to say, “No matter what, I always answer the phone for three people: my wife, my mom and Walt.” There appears to be a strong element of civic mindedness with Bernstein, the one-time Political Science major, as he boldly and unhesitatingly moved his career away from the “Googleplex” to an area that really needs it—and needs it most desperately. Bernstein is grounded by the beauty of the “real California” he once quested for, and has in him the good instinct to slow down and observe the meaning inherent to agriculture: that which can be found in a single clamshell. “I keep coming back to strawberries. When you see firsthand how skilled and fast that labor has to be—how much of it is done by feel and instinct—it becomes clear why automation here is both incredibly challenging and incredibly important. Watching the precision, pace and care of a harvest crew completely changed my understanding of what goes into a single clamshell. It’s humbling. And it makes the tech stakes feel very real.” Amid his day-to-day obligations and leadership at the Reservoir, Danny Bernstein conducts himself with the humility of a grower; with significant appreciation for his partners and the support of the community, and a reverence for California agriculture— his office at the historic and iconic corner of Highway 68 and Hitchcock Road in Salinas now lit by the California sun.
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19 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com July | August 2025
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