J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2
“We Matter” WG Chairman Albert Keck on the Opportunity to Tell Ag’s Story
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W E S T E R N G R O W E R & S H I P P E R
6 “We Matter” 2022 WG Chairman Albert Keck on the Urgent Need to Tell Ag’s Story 10 Meet Your WG Women Ambassador – Lacy Litten 12 Steve Mangapit on Driving Operational Excellence in 2022 14 WG Member News 16 WG Annual Meeting Highlights 22 Focus on Philanthropy: The California Farmworker Foundation’s Pillars of Support Serve to Build a Community 37 AGTECH STARTUP SPOTLIGHT: 3Bar Biologics Focused on Delivering Biologicals to the Field 40 A.G. Kawamura reflects on COP26: When will the conference acknowledge the positive role of essential farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishermen? 45 Organic Grower Summit Shines in Monterey
DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Notes 20 Federal Government Affairs 24 WG Member Welcome & Anniversaries 26 Science 27 What’s Trending 28 Legislator Profile 30 California Government Affairs 32 Agriculture & the Law 34 Western Growers Assurance Trust 35 Western Growers Insurance Services 36 Innovation 38 Update from the WGCIT
WESTERN GROWER & SHIPPER Published Since 1929 Volume XCIII | Number 1
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 Stephanie Metzinger 949.885.2256 | smetzinger@wga.com Ann Donahue 949.302.7600 | adonahue@wga.com Production Diane Mendez 949.885.2372 | dmendez@wga.com Circulation Marketing 949.885.2248 | marketing@wga.com Advertising Sales Dana Davis 302.750.4662 | dana.davis@wga.com
43 Contact Us 44 Connections
TOGETHER.
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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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The Case for Optimism By Dave Puglia, President and CEO, Western Growers How do we keep our spirits up in times like this? How does one find reasons for optimism when so much is going wrong?
Over the course of my nearly 17 years at Western Growers, I have learned that being around farmers long enough will temper even the most cynical minds, and as someone who has spent decades working in politics it is fair to say that I am especially vulnerable to bouts with cynicism. But as we embark on a new year and who-knows- what-crap the world will throw at us in 2022, I am optimistic. Through all the political, legal and industry challenges we confronted together in 2021, our industry persevered thanks to the common and defining characteristics of the people in it: integrity, honesty, morality, sacrifice, charity. At a time in which government actions and policies directed toward the agriculture industry are adversarial beyond any historic comparison, the men and women of the Western U.S. fresh produce industry keep finding ways to do right and to do better than anywhere else. That can’t be the work of pessimists; only an optimist can get out of bed every day, knowing the nonsensical and expensive headaches that await that only detract from growing healthy food. As advocates for Western Growers members, that unacceptable reality drives me and everyone on the WG team every day. We must keep advocating in the halls of governments, and fighting for our interests in political campaigns, to restore balance and common sense in public policy. The successes are too infrequent, yet the people of this industry rise every day with an optimism that defies the Powers That Be. What is the source of this optimism? How does it persist? In 2021, I spent a good amount of time on the road, visiting longtime WG members who provide the greatest support to our association. I sought out members who do not sit on the WG Board and thus have less interaction with the WG team. It is an understatement to say that I was inspired and energized by their confidence, faith, and determination in the face of so many troubles. An especially striking moment occurred during a visit with Joe Colace of Five Crowns Marketing in Brawley. Joe has been off the WG Board for many years now, so it was wonderful to catch up. At one point as we compared notes on the never-ending attacks on our industry by the California Legislature and the state’s regulatory agencies, I said something about how sad it is that so many people in the industry are looking to other states and countries to
expand and invest. Right on cue, Joe replied that Five Crowns was putting the finishing touches on a large new cooling facility in…California! “Why the ( bleep ) would you do that?” I asked. Joe confidently smiled and said that he and his team have such strong partners throughout the state, they knew they could make it work. In so many words, Joe said that through hard work, excellence in all they do, and a commitment to the highest business values and ethics, they could grow their business— even in California. That was not what I was expecting to hear. Then, as if to bookend the year, in December I moderated a panel discussion at the Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, featuring three “next generation” organic leaders: Keith Barnard (Mission Produce, Oxnard, Calif.); Bianca Kaprielian (Fruit World, Reedley, Calif.); and Michael Valpredo (Country Sweet Produce, Bakersfield, Calif.). All three grew up in farm families; two were urged by their fathers not to stay in the business. All three came of age, professionally, just as California’s public policy apparatus careened further and further away from common sense. Yet two of them left their initial careers outside of ag to return to the farm business, the third stayed in the family business, and all three have succeeded in launching new businesses or growing existing ones. I asked whether they would encourage the next generation to work in this industry and they lit up with enthusiasm about the healthy food they provide through incredibly hard work. Bianca advised the next generation: “Don’t be jaded…For all the challenges we experience, there’s innovation to combat that, and there’s so much opportunity.” An iconic leader of our industry invests in a major new facility in California. Younger professionals with many career options double down on an industry and a place they all describe as challenging and frustrating, but also exciting and rewarding. Winston Churchill remarked, “For myself, I am an optimist—it does not seem to be much use being anything else.” That’s certainly practical, but I still think there is an individual choice to be made. For the 400-plus people who chose Western Growers as their employer, our members fuel our optimism and energize the hard work we undertake. Here’s to a new year of challenges and opportunities. Cynicism be damned.
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2022 WG CHAIRMAN ALBERT KECK ON THE URGENT NEED TO TELL AG’S STORY “We Matter”
By Ann Donahue T here is—perpetually, it seems—an extensive menu of issues that face the agriculture industry. There are problems that can be ordered up at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even for a midnight snack when sleep doesn’t come easy: water, labor, regulations, immigration, pesticides, shipping, transportation, COVID. And then maybe you can have something like climate change for dessert?
For Albert Keck, the newly-appointed 2022 Western Growers Chairman of the Board of Directors, a major concern of ag can’t be chewed over, and can be summed up in two words. White noise. Keck, the President of Hadley Date Gardens, Inc. in Thermal, Calif., and a third-generation farmer, is concerned that the laundry list of issues that have faced ag for decades is receding into the background,
becoming an ominous perpetual hum that accompanies every business decision but never actually gets silenced. It’s time, Keck said, for that to change. “It’s like, what’s new in the last 20 years?” Keck asked. “Labor and water are never-ending. They’ve always been there. It’s bad because it seems like they are becoming white noise. But coming out of this COVID time in our country, we're starting to realize how vulnerable we all
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are in our industry and our individual businesses. All of our jobs are kind of in this precarious position where if you don’t get a truckload of a key component in, you can’t get a harvest out the door. That’s interesting, because we used to take that for granted, and now I think people are starting to realize just how critical that is to our existence.” The white noise that existed up to and through the pandemic needs to become more of a progressive drumbeat, one that those in the agriculture industry can follow to unite and rally into creating concrete, real-world solutions. “Yeah, I guess we always have a self-centered view of life, but it certainly seems like things are really bad right now,” Keck said. “But I’m confident we will rise to meet those challenges and continue the fight. I’m looking forward to my time in the hot seat.” It’s a response born of optimism and motivation that comes from Keck’s years at the forefront of the business. A lifelong native of the Coachella Valley, Keck is Chairman of the California Date Administrative Committee and the California Date Commission. He was elected to the Western Growers board in 2015, and previously served as Senior Vice Chairman. Outgoing Western Growers Chairman Ryan Talley passed the gavel to Keck during the Western Growers Annual Meeting in November 2021 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego. “Our industry is grappling with issues and challenges more daunting than ever,
and it seems the perfect time for a happy warrior to step into the role of Chairman of the Western Growers Board of Directors,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “Albert Keck is indeed a happy warrior, always looking to get after the toughest industry issues with a limitless supply of creative energy and imagination. I look forward to working with him to press forward against, or around, the obstacles confronting our members.” “I know it’ll be a lot of work, but one thing I think is that all of us who are on the Board—especially once we get into a slot on the Executive Committee—there’s no lack of passion for the cause,” Keck said. “We are pumped up. The more time I spend at Western Growers with all the people there, our leaders and our staff, the more impressed I am and the more grateful I am for what they are doing. I know I’m not alone. I occupy that Chair, but it really is the entire Board and the leadership at Western Growers that is at work. I am excited about that, and I’m looking forward to being in the position to participate in a much more focused and intensive level even than I have in the past few years.” Besides Keck, the other newly-installed members of the 2022 Western Growers Executive Committee are: Puglia; Senior Vice Chairman Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing; Vice Chairman Rob Yraceburu, President of Wonderful Orchards; Treasurer Neill Callis, General Manager of Turlock Fruit Company; Executive Secretary Don
WESTERN GROWERS OFFICERS – 2022 ALBERT KECK, Chairman STUART WOOLF, Senior Vice Chair ROB YRACEBURU, Vice Chair NEILL CALLIS, Treasurer DON CAMERON, Executive Secretary DAVE PUGLIA, President & CEO DIRECTORS – 2022 GEORGE J. ADAM Innovative Produce, Santa Maria, California ALEXANDRA ALLEN Main Street Produce, Santa Maria, California KEVIN S. ANDREW Illume Agriculture, Bakersfield, California ROBERT K. BARKLEY Barkley Ag Enterprises LLP, Yuma, Arizona STEPHEN J. BARNARD Mission Produce, Inc., Oxnard, California BARDIN E. BENGARD Bengard Ranch, Salinas, California LOREN BOOTH Booth Ranches, Orange Cove, California GEORGE BOSKOVICH III Boskovich Farms, Oxnard, California RODNEY BRAGA Braga Ranch, Soledad, California NEILL CALLIS Turlock Fruit Company, Turlock, California DON CAMERON Terranova Ranch, Inc., Helm, California EDWIN A. CAMP D. M. Camp & Sons, Bakersfield, California CAROL CHANDLER Chandler Farms LP, Selma, California LAWRENCE W. COX Lawrence Cox Ranches, Brawley, California STEPHEN F. DANNA Danna Farms, Inc., Yuba City, California JOHN C. D’ARRIGO D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, California THOMAS DEARDORFF II Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, California SAMUEL D. DUDA Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., Salinas, California CATHERINE A. FANUCCHI Tri-Fanucchi Farms Inc., Bakersfield, California DAVID L. GILL Rio Farms, King City, California BRANDON A. GRIMM Grimmway Farms, Arvin, California JOHN JACKSON Beachside Produce, LLC, Nipomo, California A. G. KAWAMURA Orange County Produce, LLC, Irvine, California ALBERT KECK Hadley Date Gardens, Thermal, California J.P. LABRUCHERIE LaBrucherie Produce, El Centro, California FRANK MACONACHY Ramsay Highlander, Inc., Gonzales, California JOHN S. MANFRE Frank Capurro and Son, Moss Landing, California STEPHEN MARTORI III Martori Farms, Scottsdale, Arizona HAROLD MCCLARTY HMC Farms, Kingsburg, California TOM MULHOLLAND Mulholland Citrus, Orange Cove, California ALEXANDER T. MULLER Pasquinelli Produce Co., Yuma, Arizona DOMINIC J. MUZZI Muzzi Family Farms, LLC, Moss Landing, California MARK NICKERSON Prime Time International, Coachella, California THOMAS M. NUNES The Nunes Company, Inc., Salinas, California STEPHEN F. PATRICIO Westside Produce, Firebaugh, California RON RATTO Ratto Bros. Inc., Modesto, California CRAIG A. READE Bonipak Produce, Inc., Santa Maria, California ERIC T. REITER Reiter Affiliated Companies, Oxnard, California JOSEPH A. RODRIGUEZ The Growers Company, Inc., Somerton, Arizona WILL ROUSSEAU Rousseau Farming Company, Tolleson, Arizona VICTOR SMITH JV Smith Companies, Yuma, Arizona RYAN TALLEY Talley Farms, Arroyo Grande, California BRUCE C. TAYLOR Taylor Farms California, Salinas, California STUART WOOLF Woolf Farming & Processing, Fresno, California ROB YRACEBURU Wonderful Orchards, Shafter, California
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Cameron, Vice President of Terranova Ranch; Talley, in his role as Past Chairman and Ron Ratto, President of Ratto Bros. in his role as Past Past Chairman. “I have been fortunate beyond words to serve my first two years in this position alongside Ryan Talley, who led us as Chairman through a historic pandemic with calm confidence and wise counsel,” Puglia said. “As the only person to serve two years as WG’s Chairman, Ryan has given far more time and effort for the greater good than could be anticipated. We are enormously grateful to him and to his family.” “It’s certainly daunting to assume the Chairmanship of Western Growers,” Keck said. “The litany of people that have gone before me—it’s just crazy.” Keck hopes that as we evolve from the frantic pandemic stage of COVID to a managed endemic stage, we can create a new productive reality. “We’ve been in this surreal spin cycle for going on two years. It’s nice to think we’re coming out of this malaise that we’re in. That’s our hope, but we’ve had these false starts plenty this past year, right?” he said. “I refuse to accept this new normal as the new reality—no, it’s not. It’s still surreal and dystopic. It’s not our new normal. It’s messed up, and we are desperately needing to get out of it. That being said, the challenges we face are no less than what they’ve always been.”
The key to that, he said, is being clear, concise, and forthright in spreading the message to the public about the real- world needs of the grower and shipper community. “I think we have a good story to tell, and I think people are becoming much more aware of the essentials in their lives,” Keck said. “I think the opportunities that we’re going to have through these challenges are something we really need to key into in our messaging. I think it will open some doors to a lot of real good discussions, and, hopefully, policies that help ensure our future.” Counterintuitively, it may just be that the horrors and sadness of the COVID crisis provided a turning point towards good. For the first time, Americans became aware of the complexities involved in getting food to the table and commodities on shelves. “I think we’re supplying them with an essential need in food, and I think there is a huge opportunity there that is going to elevate our message that we matter,” he said. “We are a key part of everyone’s lives, and there are a lot of vulnerabilities in the supply chain that can affect everyone here in our country. There’s going to be some interesting things that come from that, and that may be a shifting of our awareness as a society and as a culture. I think Western Growers is in a good position to capitalize on that.”
Albert Keck receives the Chairman's gavel from Ryan Talley at the 2021 Annual Meeting
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MEET YOUR WG WOMEN AMBASSADOR
Lacy Litten Teixeira Farms, Santa Maria, Calif.
Lacy initially started her career in agriculture as a human resources manager. Hungry to learn more about the industry, she quickly added on responsibilities in safety and food safety, and eventually was selected to head up food safety at Innovative Produce. Today, she serves as a “jack of all trades” at Teixeira Farms, bringing new and groundbreaking ideas to improve efficiencies in the cooler and on the farm. Lacy has formed a deep passion for the industry throughout the years and continually strives to demonstrate the importance of agriculture as No. 1 economic driver in California and
re-connect consumers to the dedicated farmers that grow their food. Using her degree in mass communication and media studies, she launched “Facts from Farmers”—a digital initiative that showcases all the good farmers do beyond providing nutritious foods. In addition to her role at Teixeira Farms, Lacy is also active in local community and agricultural organizations including Leadership Santa Maria Valley, Coalition of Labor and Agricultural Businesses, Santa Maria Pioneer Association and the Allan Hancock College Ag Advisory Committee. She is also an advocate for the advancement of women in agriculture and previously served as the president of California Women for Agriculture (Santa Maria Chapter), founded Good Ol’ Girls Club and signed on as an early ambassador of the WG Women Program.
Journey with Lacy through the images below as she shares a little bit more about her life.
“ The WG Women Program provided a safe and supportive place to connect with women on personal and professional levels—women who understand the difficulty and importance of balancing our personal and professional lives in a male-dominated and demanding industry. Establishing relationships with these women whom I respect and admire has been one of the greatest rewards. ”
Lacy is among the first women to complete WG Women, a leadership program that provides pathways for women to achieve the highest levels of leadership within the agriculture industry.
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“ If I ever end up competing in any type of rodeo event, it will be because of my horse, Kali. She loves working cows and will bend around a barrel without slowing down. A competitive spirit is definitely bred into her. ”
“ I’m happy to carry on the tradition of hunting in my family—just like my dad, grandpa and great-grandpa. Here, my dad and I are in New Zealand, which provided a once-in- a-lifetime bucket list-worthy hunting experience. ”
“ Agriculture provides more legs for communities to stand on besides just gross value and employment. We need to educate people on those, which is why I started the Facts from Farmers web and social media sites. ”
“ I’m so grateful for my experience in United Fresh’s Produce Industry Leadership Program (Class 24). It fueled my passion for leadership, inspiring me to pursue a Masters in Organizational Leadership. ”
“ I enjoy speaking with legislators and advocating for agriculture. People underestimate how important it is to build relationships with the ones elected to serve us. ”
Wmen W ESTERN G ROWERS Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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Steve Mangapit on Driving Operational Excellence in 2022
Name: Steve Mangapit Title: Chief Operating Officer
Family: Married to my wife, Chau, with 2 children: Audrey (5 years old) and Thomas (8 months old). Favorite TV Show: Succession. It’s a good example of the company culture you don’t want to have. Preferred Podcast: The Rewatchables (a podcast discussing must-see movies) Hobbies: Basketball. Golf. Hiking. Spending time with family. Favorite App: Twitter Role Model: My Grandfather. I always admired how he treats people, his attitude toward life and how he puts family first. Weekend Getaway: We have a cabin in Big Bear and go there regularly in the winter and spring. Proudest Home Project: I dabble in woodworking projects, and the coolest thing I’ve built has been a massive pegboard wall with movable shelves. Fun Fact: I’m a big fan of “The Office” and won a charity raffle to have actor Steve Carell do my son’s baby announcement and gender reveal.
W ielding more than 20 years of experience, business mogul Steve Mangapit steps in as Western Growers (WG) first Chief Operating Officer. He focuses on advancing and elevating operational efficiencies, improvements and innovations throughout the Western Growers Family of Companies. Can you share a snapshot of your professional background? When I was younger, I was a hotshot with data and analytics. I started in the business back when I lived in Las Vegas, cutting my teeth on reporting and financial reporting. I was very adept with the technical side of things. As I have gotten older and grown in my career, my strength has become in operations, strategy, leadership and communications. Q A
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Looking back at your career collectively, what are you most proud of? I am most proud of the people that I have mentored and helped further their careers—those who I have seen develop, get promoted and grow into leadership positions. Throughout my career, I’ve won big contracts, achieved goals and earned bonuses, but at the end of the day, what really excites me is seeing people be successful. This is the flashlight of my accomplishments. What are your priorities this first year? I started on January 1 and plan on focusing on two priorities in 2022: 1. Strengthening WG Assurance Trust (WGAT) by bringing in more efficiencies, making sure its competitive and innovating new processes to further bring value to customers. 2. Enhancing our own team by ensuring we have the right tools and training for all of our staff to efficiently help customers.
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Q A
From 2010 to 2014, you worked at WG with WGAT/Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc. before accepting another position in Los Angeles. Why did you decide to return to the WG Family of Companies? My initial tenure at WG was a great opportunity for me to take on challenges and have some wins. There was a lot of cross-functional efforts across different departments which resulted in many successes and the huge win of earning the Covered California contract. Coming back, I’m excited about the opportunity and challenge. I’m not looking for a “feet on the desk” type of job; I’m looking for something that is exciting where I can build and enhance the team and win. I like winning.
What are you most looking forward to in your role as WG’s very first COO? Making a difference and improving the lives of both our members and employees. This includes helping our customers save money and provide better benefits to their team as well as guiding our own team in growing their careers. Stephanie Metzinger conducted this interview. Q A
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WG MEMBER NEWS
L ongtime Pasquinelli Produce Company Owner and CEO Gary Pasquinelli was named the 2021 Arizona Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year, an honor that recognizes his standout achievements as a farmer, leader, innovator and advocate for the vegetable industry. The award from the Arizona Farm Bureau comes in tandem with the news that Pasquinelli will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Arizona. Pasquinelli Produce Company, which has been a grower-shipper for more than 70 years, farms 9,000 acres of winter vegetables, seedless watermelons and rotational crops in Yuma County. Pasquinelli was the longest-serving member of the Western Growers Board of Directors when he stepped down in 2019 after 45 years; he received the Award of Honor, WG’s highest tribute, in 2014. His son-in-law, Alex Muller, now serves on the board and is Pasquinelli Produce Company’s President. “I believe that the strongest part of my company is the folks out there working in the fields,” Pasquinelli, who was ordained a Gary Pasquinelli Named Arizona Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year
deacon in the Diocese of Tucson in 1991, said on his company’s website. “Without them, we couldn’t do what we do. They are entrusted to me to take care of. They are God’s children just like I am. They are brothers and sisters, so I have a duty to take care of those folks. My motto has always been: ‘On the face of a dollar bill, you have the image of Washington. On the face of a farm worker, you have God’s image.’”
Gary Pasquinelli was honored for his 45 years of service on Western Growers’ Board of Directors several years ago.
John D’Arrigo Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Arizona C EO and Chairman of the Board for D’Arrigo California John D’Arrigo recently received the prestigious Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Arizona for his leadership and service to the agricultural community and U of A’s Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA). In 2013, D’Arrigo was one of the founding members of YCEDA, an innovative public-private partnership that connects top scientists with the agricultural industry. Among the issues tackled by the center are increasing production efficiencies through disease and water management, food safety, crop yield maximization and advanced agtech. “I am honored and humbled to have received the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award,” D’Arrigo said. “My experience working with University of Arizona and YCEDA
Shane Burgess (left) presents John D'Arrigo (right) with the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award
has been one of the most productive and rewarding public-private partnerships to date. YCEDA is an excellent example of effective and efficient public-private partnership bringing scientific research and the produce industry together to solve real-time agricultural issues experienced in the desert growing regions.” The award was established in 2011 and is presented to an individual who demonstrates superior performance in activities reflected in the mission of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at U of A. “We are honored to present John D’Arrigo the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Shane C. Burgess, Vice President for the Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension for the University of Arizona. “John is one of the true leaders of agriculture in the United States and an invaluable partner to the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture.”
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Free Survey Results Report (A $2,500 value!) Participants will receive a free copy of the 2022 survey results for each module submitted. Exclusivity This is the only compensation survey specific to the California and Arizona specialty crop industry and available exclusively to Western Growers members. COMPENSATION & HR PRACTICES SURVEY The Data You Need to Help You Attract the Best Employees in Agriculture
At Western Growers, we remain committed to providing you with the assets that you need to maintain your operations and grow moving forward. As we continue our commitment to offering you exclusive resources and continuing education, we are proud to announce that our 2022 Compensation and HR Practices survey is open for participation. While we are focused on the current state of our global health and safety, we also strive to provide you with access to the valuable insights that the Compensation and HR Practices Survey provides. The survey includes analytics and pay data for 90 jobs vital to keeping compensation, human resource practices, and employee programs current and competitive. We’ve added a new feature to the HR Practices survey, collecting data on COVID-19 workforce measures. And most importantly, this type of survey data is unprecedented in our industry. The recruitment and retention of work-ready, strategic, and forward-thinking employees are of the utmost importance. The competition for the best of the best exists today. The survey will provide you with data to help you make informed business decisions in the areas of recruitment, retention, and employment- related budget, and plan a competitive total reward strategy.
Easy Completion Survey participation is fast and easy with efficient online or spreadsheet options that can be completed at your convenience. Field Worker Data The field worker jobs module of the Compensation Survey includes base pay, incentives, and piece rate earnings for 23 hourly and professional level jobs. The field worker section of the HR Practices survey reports data on H-2A visa programs, field housing, eligibility for fringe benefits, and special incentive programs. Participate Now for a chance to win a 13” Apple MacBook Air! All members who participate in the 2022 Western Growers Compensation and HR Practices Survey will be automatically entered to win a 13” Apple MacBook Air! At the close of the survey period one lucky winner will be chosen to receive this amazing laptop, courtesy of Western Growers!
Go to: www.agsalary.com for more information!
A SOLID WORKFORCE.
Not a Western Growers member? Join now for exclusive benefits, such as the 2022 HR Comp Survey. For more information on membership and how Western Growers can help you, please visit www.wga.com/join or contact Kim Sherman, Senior Director of Membership at 949.885.2265 or by email at ksherman@wga.com
A SOLID WORKFORCE.
Western Growers Annual Meeting Highlights
By Cory Lunde W ith the cancellation of the Western Growers Annual Meeting in 2020, its return in 2021 represented an opportunity to celebrate the resiliency of the Western fresh produce industry. Amid a global pandemic, Western Growers members have rallied to continue providing a healthy, abundant supply of fruits, vegetables and tree nuts to consumers across the country and world. More than ever, the value of common association was demonstrated by strong participation from members and industry allies, and substantial support from recurring and new sponsors. Attendees of all stripes were treated to the first-class social events, educational sessions, speakers and entertainment that have become the hallmarks of the Western Growers Annual Meeting. The Welcome Reception, hosted on the Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s Aria Lawn Sunday evening, provided the first opportunity for Annual Meeting attendees to network and build both personal and professional relationships. Conversations spilled over into planned and impromptu dinners at the fine dining establishments on property, where bonds were further deepened. Monday morning commenced with the Annual Meeting Board Meeting, which highlighted the service of Western Growers legend Hank Giclas and honored the extraordinary two-year tenure of outgoing Chairman Ryan Talley of Talley Farms. During the traditional passing of the gavel ceremony, Talley turned the 2022 chairmanship over to Albert Keck of Hadley Date Gardens. Coinciding with the board meeting was the inaugural Kickoff Keynote featuring Magatte Wade, a remarkable Senegal-born entrepreneur, visionary business leader and inspirational speaker. Her passion for creating positive change in Africa captivated the audience. Lawyer, author, columnist and television commentator Gordon Chang headlined the PAC Lunch, where his extensive expertise on China was on full display. Chang used his remarks to discuss current geopolitical trends in China and forecast the future of U.S.-China relations.
From left: WG President Dave Puglia, 2021 Chairman Ryan Talley and 2019 Chairman Ron Ratto
The topic of the packed afternoon featured session was water and agriculture in the West. Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia moderated a riveting, and sometimes sobering,
Above: Chairman Ryan Talley (left) and WG President Dave Puglia present Carol Chandler with the WG Award of Honor Left: attendees enjoy a firepit at the Del Mar venue
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panel on the ways in which climate change, more frequent and severe droughts, and existing and potential regulatory policies will impact the future of fruit, vegetable and tree nut production in the Western U.S. Monday evening began with the VIP Sponsor Reception, an intimate event recognizing the premier sponsors of the Annual Meeting at the Diamond, Platinum and Gold levels, and providing them with dedicated access to the Western Growers Board of Directors and Executive Staff. Rounding out the evening was the main Annual Meeting social event, a beach ball-themed Party with the Partners, complete with lawn games, s’mores and the good company of Western Growers friends and family. Delicious gourmet barbeque food and cocktails were consumed long into the night. Tuesday started with an emerging fan-favorite tradition, the 3 rd Annual Diamond Breakfast in honor of our five Diamond Sponsors: alliantgroup, Bayer, Farm Credit, Kincannon & Reed and RDO Equipment. Hosted by Puglia, each Diamond Sponsor presented a corporate video and shared remarks in front of an audience of Western Growers Board Members and Executive Staff. The event concluded with a special trophy presentation in recognition of the generous contributions of each Diamond Sponsor. The morning got rolling with the 4 th Annual Western Growers/S2G Ventures AgSharks® Competition, which provided the requisite drama as five start-ups
vied for $250,000 in investment capital to support the growth of their business. Ultimately, 3Bar Biologics walked away with the coveted prize as its living agricultural microbe products captured the judges’ imaginations (and S2G Ventures’ pocketbook). During his outgoing Chairman’s Speech at the Chairman’s Luncheon and Keynote, Talley provided an earnest case for the importance of fathers in building strong homes and communities. What followed was an equally passionate keynote from Constitutional scholar and lawyer Timothy Sandefur in which he examined the concept of a permission society and illustrated how the freedoms of Americans are increasingly being treated as privileges by the government. Another hot topic was explored Tuesday afternoon during the final featured session on vertical farming, or controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Western Growers Vice President of Innovation Walt Duflock moderated a high- profile panel that covered the grower, retailer and investor perspectives on the future of CEA in the fresh produce industry. During the capstone event, the Award of Honor Dinner, trailblazing agricultural advocate Carol Chandler was recognized for her lifetime of service to Western Growers and the fresh produce industry. Emphasis was placed on Chandler’s enduring legacy of building a future generation of women leaders in agriculture. Capping off the magical evening was a nuanced, masterful comedy performance by The Greatest Average American , Nate Bargatze. WG provided attendees with an exceptional experience that exceeded expectations and looks forward to setting the bar even higher next year at the 96 th Western Growers Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.
Top: Cheryl Hall and Dana Davis at the registration desk. Middle: Keynote Kickoff speaker Magatte Wade. Bottom: Board of Directors meeting
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New Federal Funds to Help Alleviate the Western Water Crisis By Dennis Nuxoll, Vice President, Federal Government Affairs As I type this column, it is the wet season across much of the West. Snow is falling or rain is being dumped on the landscape. At this time of year, for the unknowing, water concerns seem far away but farmers in the West know better. They know that we have seen historic drought conditions impact farms and communities throughout the West. We know that even one very wet rainy season probably will not break the cycle of water shortages we have seen recently.
Most farmers know that water infrastructure investments are essential to prepare for changing Western hydrological conditions, expanding populations, pressing environmental needs and other challenges. Farmers have long pointed out that our water infrastructure is old—in many cases as old if not older than the national highway system—and it needs to be modernized. Indeed, without immediate action to ensure adequate and well-functioning infrastructure, future droughts will result in increasingly devastating impacts. This inevitably will threaten the ability of existing systems to provide reliable water to our Western cities, farms and rural communities, many of which are already bearing economic, health, and environmental burdens. In early November, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law. The focus of that bill is to modernize and upgrade the infrastructure of our country—something politicians have been talking about for years and years. Critically for us, the bill includes billions of dollars for Western water infrastructure. The package includes an “all of the above” approach to Western water. Rather than dictate projects to local jurisdiction, the bill adds significant resources across a broad variety of water-related accounts. This should allow local circumstances to dictate the types of projects that will be built. Solutions to the water crisis in Arizona are different than solutions in Washington, which are different than what Colorado needs. Billions of dollars will flow to repair, rebuild or replace existing infrastructure that is crumbling. Billions will go toward water recycling and desalination. Significant resources will be added for water conservation as well as dam safety and repair. In addition, money will help restore ecosystems and forest health, which in turn can help improve water quality. In total the infrastructure bill allocates $8 billion specifically for Western water infrastructure projects across a wide array of project types so solutions can be customized. While these projects may not help with next year’s problems, if there are any, they will be critical to help build a more resilient water system to make sure that today’s farms survive for decades and decades.
Securing these resources did not happen by accident. Since before the 2020 election, Western Growers has been working on this issue. With infrastructure as the topic, we believed that there would be a major opportunity to work with politicians on both sides of the aisle. So we first helped to put together a coalition from every Western state to ensure that water was included in any infrastructure package that would move during 2021. For many elected leaders, especially those east of the Rockies, when you say water infrastructure you only mean lead pipes or maybe flood control. Water shortage and water quantity issues rarely come up. More than 250 organizations—agricultural groups, rural water districts and urban water providers— joined the coalition focused on pushing Western Congressional and Senate leaders who are concerned about water scarcity. Our goal was to ensure that significant dollars were allocated to repair existing infrastructure that is crumbling, to conserve water, to build new water conveyance, to create green infrastructure and to construct conventional steel and concrete storage. After organizing the coalition, we engaged Congress through direct action with member offices as well as a focused public communication campaign in which we engaged the press across the West to bring the issue to the forefront. With the ever-present drought throughout the West during 2021, linking our solution to this ongoing problem was a winning strategy. Months, and in many cases years, of hard work paid off as Western Growers and our coalition partners were able to secure $8 billion in funding for Western water priorities as part of the bipartisan reconciliation package. That package contains most of the priorities our coalition put forward. Western Growers is not done, however. We, and our coalition partners, will now be working with the Biden Administration to make sure these funds become available as quickly as possible. We want projects built to help our communities as fast as we can to ensure our future. These projects often have the added benefit of creating good paying jobs for our rural communities.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TAILORED TO THE AG INDUSTRY.
As a Western Growers member, you have access to quality professional education, both in person and online, tailored to the unique needs of the ag industry. The Western Growers University has developed multiple learning paths including Online Trainings, Live Webinars, Onsite Trainings and Private Trainings to engage your workforce with meaningful education to attract and retain talent, grow stronger leaders and equip your supervisors with essential knowledge that will help them manage the employee lifecycle legally and effectively. Because we understand you, our member, we offer special pricing, as well as group discounts, to better drive your business forward and enhance your profitability.
WEBINARS
DATE MODEL
TIME
COURSE
1-Feb
Virtual
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Emp (Span)
1-Feb
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Mgr (Span)
2-Feb
Virtual
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Emp (Eng)
2-Feb
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Mgr (Eng)
15-Feb
Virtual
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Management 101: The Essentials (Span)
15-Feb
Virtual
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Management 101: The Essentials (Eng)
23-Feb
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Wage & Hour: What You Need to Know to be Compliant
9-Mar
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Guide to Federal & State Leave Law Mandates
16-Mar
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Building Trust in the Workplace
23-Mar
Virtual
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Writing Effective Job Descriptions
Attendees are also eligible for SHRM credits at the end of each session. To take advantage of the special pricing, register at Western Growers University 2022 Workplace Webinars and sign-up today!
TO VISIT WESTERN GROWERS UNIVERSITY 2022 WORKPLACE WEBINARS SCAN THE QR CODE OR GO TO WWW.WGA.COM/SERVICES/UNIVERSITY
Have any questions? Contact Anna Bilderbach at (949) 439-9740 or email WesternGrowersUniversity@wga.com.
FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY: The California Farmworker Foundation’s Pillars of Support Serve to Build a Community
By Ann Donahue F or Hernan Hernandez, everything begins and ends with family. As the Executive Director of the California Farmworker Foundation, he understands that family comes in two forms: the one you’re born into, and the one you choose. “I grew up in a town called Richgrove, California, population 3,000,” he said. “I grew up to farmworker parents, immigrants, who came to this country seeking a better future, who worked in the table grape industry throughout their lifetime. Me, all of my siblings, we all worked for the same company. We grew up in the fields. Whenever there was time, in the summers, in the winters, in the evenings or on the weekends, we were in the fields where our parents were working.” Hernandez said his parents wanted their children to witness their labor, not
just to see how they were able to support the family, but so they understood what it meant to be self-sufficient. “The perfect example of how you evaluate the importance of education was by working in the fields—so you can see a better future,” he said. “That was their philosophy.” Hernandez took the lessons to heart. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the California State University, Bakersfield, then worked in politics for several years, managing campaigns and advocating for ballot measures. It was during this time, working at what he thought would be his dream job, that he had a realization. “You know, the Salinas Valley is nice—it reminded me a lot of home,” he said. “But it wasn’t home.” He returned to the Central Valley, and then in 2016 he got a call that
would change his life. He was asked to join what would become the non-profit California Farmworker Foundation, an organization that was founded to give back to farmworkers and to empower them to have a voice so they can be advocates for themselves. “I didn’t think twice,” Hernandez said about taking the job. The CFF works to provide what Hernandez called the five pillars of support to farmworkers: education, workforce development, health & wellness, immigration services and community engagement. After starting operations in the Coachella Valley, the organization has grown to include service centers in Fresno, Delano, and, in 2022, an expansion into Santa Maria with a total of more than 35 staffers. In 10 years, he hopes the CFF will have services available statewide. The CFF has partnered with numerous Western Growers members, including Grimmway Farms and Mountain View Fruit Sales, with Hernandez stating the engagement with growers and shippers is vital to the non-profit organization’s success. Driven by data and surveys conducted in the field, CFF has an Ambassador Program, which allows agriculture companies to learn from key, respected decision-making farmworkers as to what programs, services and professional development can best serve to improve the quality of life of their skilled workforce. “We said: ‘We want to be held accountable, we want to hold you accountable—how can we work together?’” Hernandez said. There is no doubt that the work being done by CFF is vital. In a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, Hernandez and CFF Outreach Specialist Arnaldo Gonzalez spoke about their work dispelling social
Hernan Hernandez (right) with Mike Thurlow of Mountain View Fruit Sales
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