California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: Vegetables West Magazine

  • Duncan Family Farms Announces Two Key Additions to Executive Team

    Duncan Family Farms, a leading family-owned, multi-regional grower of over 7,000 acres of certified organic produce, Ryan-Borer-CFO-Duncan-Family-Farmsannounced that Will Feliz has returned to the firm as president and Ryan Borer has joined as chief financial officer.

    Arnott Duncan, co-founder and CEO, said the appointments will accelerate the company’s growth and help it achieve its strategic objectives. “Will and Ryan bring significant experience and talent to the Duncan team and will help lead us in achieving our goal to improve our triple bottom line—profit, people and planet.”

    Feliz is a veteran of the produce industry, with over 30 years working for small, mid and Fortune 500-size produce companies. He originally joined Duncan Family Farms in 2009 and was promoted to president in January 2016. In November 2017, Feliz became CEO of Wawona Packing, and was responsible for their strategic growth initiatives. Now back at Duncan Family Farms, his focus is on guiding the strategic plan, developing new business channels and exemplifying the company’s defining values to employees, customers and stakeholders.

    “I’m very excited to return to Duncan Family Farms,” said Feliz. “The culture and environment here are invigorating, epitomized by our vision, which is to be the best farming company with a soul, where people are proud to work and our partners and neighbors are quick to embrace.”Will-Feliz-President-Duncan-Family-Farms

    Borer brings more than a dozen years of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, and financial planning & analysis (FP&A) as Duncan’s new chief financial officer. Most recently, Borer was senior manager, corporate accounting for Shamrock Foods.

    “Duncan Family Farms has the perfect blend of solid strategic and financial growth plans, combined with a culture that is taking positive actions to develop our people, contribute to our community and protect our environment,” explains Borer, “I’m excited to get to come to work every day with this group of quality, caring people.”

    “As Duncan Family Farms has grown into one of the largest 100% organic farming operations in the country, with operations in Arizona, California, Oregon and New York, we have proven you can build a successful business operation while producing clean, life-giving food and making strong contributions to an improved environment and the communities we serve. Adding Will and Ryan to our executive team will enable us to continue on this trajectory,” concluded Duncan.

    About Duncan Family Farms:
    Duncan Family Farms is a family-owned, multi-regional grower of over 7,000 acres of certified organic produce, specializing in baby lettuces, greens, kales and herbs using sustainable, state-of-the-art farming practices. Founded in 1985 by Arnott and Kathleen Duncan, the company is one of the largest growers of organic produce, nationally recognized for their environmentally-sensitive farming techniques and premium-quality fresh vegetables. To learn more, visit duncanfamilyfarms.com.

  • Polyploidy – or how do we get seedless fruit?

    Having an odd number of chromosomes can produce sterile – and seedless fruit.

    Spitting out watermelon seeds can be a summertime rite of passage for some folks. Others like their watermelons seedless. How did those seedless watermelons (and other plants) come about? The May 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains the topic of polyploidy.

    “Plants can have multiple sets of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables are polyploids,” says blogger and plant scientist, Christine Bradish, Ashland, Inc. “Polyploidy can occur naturally, where wild species ‘add together’ their DNA.  Two good examples of this are wheat and strawberries.”

    But, plant breeders can also develop work to develop crops without seeds – like seedless watermelons. Even bananas are seedless.

    “Polyploidy is one more tool that scientists can use to learn about the genetics of crop plants,” says Bradish. To read the complete blog, visit Sustainable, Secure Food at https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2019/05/07/polyploidy-or-how-do-we-get-seedless-fruit

  • Western Growers Statement on California DPR Ban on Chlorpyrifos

    In response to yesterday’s announcement that the California Department of Pesticide Residue (DPR) is acting to ban the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

    “California farmers are universally committed to the safety of their food, the health of their workers and communities, and the sustainability of their land. At every turn, they strive to achieve efficiencies in their use of resources like water, fertilizer and pesticides, and seek to minimize both the human and environmental impacts of these inputs.”

    “California farmers also face the most stringent regulatory environment in the world, one that often limits their access to many of the tools still available to farmers elsewhere in the U.S. and in foreign countries, including certain types of pesticides. Indeed, over the last 20 years, California regulatory actions have removed several of the most important crop protection tools farmers rely on to fight pests and diseases.”

    “With yesterday’s announcement that DPR will initiate the cancellation of chlorpyrifos, one of the most widely studied and globally approved insecticides, California farmers now stand to lose yet another arrow in their quiver – without effective and ready replacement tools – making their quest to grow the safest, healthiest and most abundant food supply in the world even more difficult.”

    “California farmers are resilient, but the long-term viability of our farms in California depends on proper support from the Administration and renewed cooperation of the state’s regulatory agencies, especially in light of the many other unique and expensive regulations that place California farmers at a growing competitive disadvantage.”

    About Western Growers:

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

  • Food Safety Issues Carry Increasingly High Risks for Suppliers

    The financial risks and costs associated with food safety are increasing and food suppliers will face continued increases in food safety costs over the coming years. Until there is reliable traceability throughout the food supply chain, the advanced technology that enables faster identification of food safety issues is also increasing the likelihood of more broad-based food advisories being issued.

    A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division explains why the stakes are rising for food suppliers in a landscape of continuously evolving food safety challenges, technologies and regulations.

    “Contrary to media reports and trending social media, there has not been an increase in food related outbreaks in recent years. This is particularly noteworthy given technology developments, which allow us to better detect food safety issues,” said Crystal Carpenter, senior economist of specialty crops at CoBank.

    While our ability to detect food related outbreaks has increased, until traceability improves, this improved detection increases the risk of future advisories, such as the romaine lettuce advisories in 2018.

    An advisory is issued when consumers are cautioned not to consume a particular type of product due to a food safety concern, but a specific company or brand is not identified as it would be in a product recall.  Carpenter said the unfortunate aspect of an advisory is that it casts a shadow of doubt on all suppliers of a product.

    “The total impact of an advisory is much greater than a recall and reaches far beyond the company at the source of the contamination,” said Carpenter. “The entire industry can be negatively affected by an advisory.”

    An increasingly complex food chain with many touch points and value-added products has increased the potential points of contact and opportunities for contamination. It has also increased the complexity of traceability. Within the produce supply chain specifically, the greatest challenge in traceability is often in the last mile as product gets closer to the consumer.

    “Understanding the risks of food safety incidents, the costs associated with them, and risk mitigation strategies is becoming increasingly critical for profitability and long-term economic sustainability,” said Carpenter. “The financial and reputational implications of a food safety incident can be enormous, and the risk is rising.”

    A brief video synopsis and the full report, “Food Safety Trends and Regulations – The Stakes are Rising for Food Suppliers,” are available at cobank.com.

  • America’s Onion Industry helps sustain a healthy planet!

    Onion logo

    The National Onion Association’s membership works hard to keep their operations sustainable. From use of onion as a raw “onion power” to power up facilities to protecting workers and the land, America’s onion farmers work hard every day to create the most sustainable programs possible.  It’s not only right for the country, but their families as they continue to feed America.  This Earth Day, remember the onion farmer, and his/her contributions, to keeping the Earth healthy, while they help feed America.

    Here are some great examples of sustainable practices in the onion world:

    “Onion Power”

    Ten years ago, Gills Onions in California created a system whereby it uses onion remains (tops, skins, stems and tops) to create energy, a system that now has generated more than 25 gigawatt hours of electricity — enough power to supply a year’s worth of power to 460 residential homes. The Advanced Energy Recovery System provides 100 percent of the base electrical load of Gills’ processing plant in Oxnard, Calif. Gills to this day is working to achieve greater efficiency and energy independence.

    “It’s hard to do business in California, but also it challenges us to think outside of the box. So, onion juice power was (owner Steve Gill) thinking outside of the box. He created a program that did not exist in the world.”

    Source: Gills Onions. Contact: Megan Jacobsen, 805-240-1983.)

    Using all of the onion

    Our farmers continue to close in on the idea of zero waste. There are continually new ways of using all of the onions.  From the tops and stems in production facilities, to the “culls” left over in the field being used for sheep feed, and shredded for cattle crazing.

    • Sakata Farms in Colorado routinely trucks its culls to area sheep farms.

    • Fashion designers in New York are using onion skins as natural dyes for their fabrics. A group of students working with the Fragmentario studio in New York City will unveil its onion fabrics during NY Textile Month in September. (Contact: Maria Elena Pombo, Fragementario Studio, https://fragmentario.co/)

    • Gumz Farms in Endeavor, Wis., has installed a high-tech, humidity and temperature controlled circulation system, which allows it to store onions longer, reducing waste. Gumz also is a member of the Healthy Grown program in Wisconsin, which ensures their commitment to sustainability.

    Coveting the land

    America’s onion farmers work diligently to keep soils healthy to grow the best products to put on the table. They follow researchers from around the world to implement the best practices.

    Says Dylan Dembeck of Minkus Family Farms in New York:

    “Many people think commercial agriculture hurts the land, but they don’t realize it is in our best interest to keep the land as fertile as possible to continue to produce high quality produce  for generations to come.  Not only are sustainable farming techniques good the for environment it is also very good for farmers.  We are able to achieve higher yields, better quality product, and decrease our overall chemical applications.  These things are all better for the environment and they help farmers increase their bottom line to ensure they can continue to farm for many years to come.”

    • At Potandon Produce in Idaho, soil ph and nutrient levels are constantly monitored to reduce fertilizer use.

    Reducing footprints

    • Minkus Family Farms in New York has installed solar panels to reduce its footprint; it has built 62 skylights in their warehouse, almost completely eliminating the need for lighting in tis warehouse. Use exclusively LED lights. It also uses 10 large 20-foot fans to reduce building temperature, to avoid as much air conditioning as possible.

    (Contact: https://freshonions.com/wholesale-onion-farm/)

    • Potandon Produce in Idaho also recycles fresh water in an overall water management plan, uses poly bags printed with water-based inks and uses only recycled materials in its master containers. Corrugated and cardboard containers are sourced from suppliers that are part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program.

    • Grimmway Farms in California has a 4.75 megawatt solar from to help power its facilities, along with a multifaceted sustainability program to reduce its footprint.Water management and soil protection

    • Fagerberg Farms in Eaton, Colo., uses subsurface drip irrigation, an innovative watering practice that requires less water, fewer chemicals and more efficient applications. Fagerberg has been recognized in the farming industry for its sustainable farming practices.

    (Source: Fagerberg Farms,https://fagerbergproduce.com/)

    • In Glennville, Ga., G&R Farms constantly monitors its varieties to get the best yields with the greatest efficiencies. Part of that is water management.“On the field side, we try to be very protective of the water, and make sure we don’t have any washing in the field or erosion. We put in cover corps in the off season to protect the till for the soil. Our goal is to use less and less fertilizer,” said Cliff Riner of G&R Farms. “We have to stay on top of the curve to provide the best product we can.”

    The National Onion Association was incorporated in 1913 and represents more than 500 onion growers, shippers, packers and suppliers throughout the United States.

     

  • Heat illness prevention alert!

    Summer is coming, and temperatures are rising to levels of concern for heat illness for farm employees.  “Weather forecasts are looking at highly increased temperatures in the coming weeks,” shared Manuel Cunha, Jr., President of Nisei Farmers League.  “In some areas, an increase of more than 20 degrees than what we are used to at this time of the year.  Please follow the important rules for being sure your employees are safe.”

    Cunha emphasized the need for adequate shade and rest, water, training and an emergency plan.  It’s also critical to know and comply with recent changes to regulations regarding heat illness prevention, as follows:

    Ø  Acclimatization:

    o      Plan for new hires who will be exposed to heat to which the employee’s and body hasn’t yet adjusted.

    o      New employees must be closely observed for their first two weeks on the job.

    o      Allow employees to properly acclimate to high heat temperatures.

    o   Supervisors must be extra vigilant with new employees and stay alert to the presence of heat related symptoms.

    o   New employees will be assigned a buddy to closely watch for discomfort or symptoms of heat illness.

    Ø  Shade:

    o   Must be made available to 100% of the employees on rest breaks or meal periods when temperatures equal or exceed 80 degrees (NFL recommends to have shade available at the start of the day)

    o   May be provided by any natural or artificial means (ex: trees or vines that allow for workers to sit under comfortably is sufficient)

    o   If providing shade tents, shade tents should provide enough shade so that a person can sit in a normal posture fully in shade without being in physical contact with another worker.

    Ø  Water:

    o   Must be fresh, pure, and suitably cool.

    o   Shall be located as close as practicable to the area where employees are working.  (NFL recommends you provide a water station at shade area)

    o   Have a replenishment plan in writing.

    Ø  High Heat Procedures (triggered at 95 degrees):

    o   Encourage employees to take rest periods.

    o   Monitor employees during recovery and develop a buddy system

    o   Be sure crews are manageable (ex: 20 workers per crew)

    o   If possible, change work schedule to adjust to the temperature.

    o   You will be required to take a 10 minute paid break every two hours.  You will need to record all breaks.

    For more information, visit Cal/OSHA website: http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/ESPHIP.pdf

  • Western Growers Launches AgTech Innovation Directory

    Western Growers has officially launched an interactive directory that acts as a marketplace for agricultural technology (agtech) startups. Found at https://www.agtechpages.com, the Western Growers AgTech Innovation Directory allows users to identify, research and connect with start-up companies who are developing technologies and innovations to solve the biggest issues facing the agriculture industry. These startups are specializing in everything from automation and traceability to data management and aerial imagery.

    “As the agtech industry grows and the number of startups continue to increase, farm operators do not necessarily have the time to vet each startup to determine if a partnership is viable,” said Hank Giclas, Western Growers’ senior vice president, strategic planning, science & technology. “The vision of Western Growers AgTech Innovation Directory is to streamline that process, saving farmers time and money by allowing them to easily search for the startup and technology that meets their most immediate needs.”
    The directory enables users to learn details about each startup including team size, years in business and product/service descriptions. It also provides access to metrics such as acres deployed, community ratings, funding raised and business reviews.
    The advanced search function of the directory allows users to quickly find desired startups. Filter categories include the following:
    • Location
    • Issues Addressed (food safety, labor availability, water supply/quality, compliance costs, data management, planning & optimization, etc.)
    • Solutions Offered (automation/mechanization, pest management, imagery & mapping, traceability, water treatment, irrigation hardware/software, predictive analytics, etc.)
    • Crops/Commodities
    In addition to serving farmers, the directory will provide agtech start-up companies with the ability to connect directly with growers and potential clients, as well as provide venture capitalists with the opportunity to explore a startup’s progress prior to investing. The directory is open to the public; however, only Western Growers and Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (Center) members will be able to post comments and reviews.
    The launch of the Western Growers AgTech Innovation Directory is part of the Center’s efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of agricultural technologies. Today, the Center houses 50 startups that are inventing solutions to allow farmers to continue feeding the nation and world.

    About Western Growers

    AgTech directory

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

  • State of the California Tomato Industry with Bruce Rominger

    California processing tomato growers had a disappointing season in 2018, not because of their crop (they had a great crop), but because of the low returns due to a less than ideal market. Watch this brief interview with Bruce Rominger, Chairman of the California Tomato Growers Association, as he shares the current State of the Tomato industry, and read more in the coming issue of Vegetables West Magazine. Don’t currently receive Vegetables West? Subscribe for free at https://malcolmmedia.com/vegetables-west-magazine-subscriptions/

  • California Tomato Growers Association Perspective on Industry’s Future

    Processing tomato growers gathered in Modesto recently for the California Tomato Growers Association (CTGA) Annual Meeting. It was a great opportunity for the industry to get together between seasons and discuss current needs and challenges of the industry moving forward. Watch this brief interview with CTGA President Mike Montna as he shares association insights and future prospects for the industry. Read the full proceedings of the annual meeting in the coming issue of Vegetables West Magazine.

  • Western Growers Testifies Before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration

    On April 3rd, Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif detailed the critical labor shortages facing American agriculture and laid out the case for agricultural immigration reform before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

    In his testimony, Nassif stated that experienced workers are aging out of the agricultural workforce with few Americans lining up to take their place, despite wages well above state and federal minimums. Farmers in all sectors of U.S. agriculture, especially in the labor-intensive fruit and vegetable industries, are experiencing chronic labor shortages, which have been exacerbated by recent interior immigration enforcement and tighter border security policies. As a result of the uncertain agricultural labor market, Nassif noted that many American farmers are either shifting toward more mechanized crops or moving their operations to other countries.

    “The simple fact is this,” Nassif articulated, “fruits and vegetables that are eaten in the United States will be harvested by foreign hands.” He continued: “The simple question for you, as members of Congress, is do you want those foreign hands harvesting your fruits and vegetables to be on farms here in the United States or do you want to see production continue to shift to farms in foreign countries?”

    After touching on the existing, flawed H-2A agricultural guest worker program, rife with burdensome regulatory red tape, Nassif outlined a two-pronged proposal for agricultural immigration reform that jointly provides a pathway to legalization for existing farmworkers and their immediate families and creates a more flexible, efficient and market-based agricultural worker visa program to ensure a sufficient future flow of labor.

    Nassif concluded that while “immigration can be among the most divisive and difficult to resolve in Washington,” this issue is decidedly non-partisan, as agricultural immigration reform is really about securing the future of American agriculture and, by extension, long-term U.S. food security.

    Western Growers appreciates the efforts of Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren and Ranking Member Ken Buck to elevate the dialogue around this vital issue, and we look forward to working across the aisle to advance bipartisan legislation that provides our country and farmers with a legal, stable and reliable source of agricultural labor.

    About Western Growers:
    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.