Best Western Growers Podcasts (2024)

1
Cantaloupe 411 with Westside Produce's Garrett Patricio 30:15

5d ago30:15

30:15

Did you know that California farmers produce nearly 75% of all cantaloupes grown in the US? That makes for a total of $300 million in nationwide market sales. In this episode, we slice into everything you wanted to know about melons with Western Growers’ Michelle Rivera and Julia Nellis and special guest Garrett Patricio, President of Westside Prod…

1
Farm to Fork for Real with San Miguel Produce’s Garrett Nishimori 18:07

2M ago18:07

18:07

In this episode, Western Growers Director of Communications, Ann Donahue, talks with Garrett Nishimori, Business Manager at San Miguel Produce. Garrett grew up in a farming family in Oxnard, Calif. He left to attend culinary school, after which he became a chef in a two-star Michelin restaurant in San Francisco. He returned to the family farm 15 ye…

1
Lobato Farms & Mesa Conservation District: Innovations and Inventions to Improve Farmland 27:33

4M ago27:33

27:33

Send us a Text Message. Join us as we talk with Michael Lobato, Lobato Farms, and Holly Stanley, Mesa Conservation District on Colorado’s Western slope about their innovations with applying biochar in a no-till system. Michael has worked to transform what was once part of a large sheep ranch into a thriving 5-acre farm. The 5 acres were split off f…

1
Innovations in Cross-Border Health Care for Ag Workers 28:22

4M ago28:22

28:22

Cross-border health care is growing in popularity as Mexico increasingly provides innovative, technologically advanced medical services at a cost-savings for employers. In fact, close to a million Americans cross the border every year to receive medical care in Mexico. In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Raquel Lugo, SeniorDirector of Client S…

1
The Nuts and Bolts of Almonds with Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing 30:15

5M ago30:15

30:15

Almonds have been cultivated for thousands of years, and as it turns out, California is the largest producer of almonds globally, accounting for more than 80% of the world's almond production. In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing and Chair of the Western Growers Board of Directors, j…

1
Megan Kavanaugh from Bio S.I. Talks About the Amazing World That Exists in the Soil on Voices of the Valley 28:09

5M ago28:09

28:09

A farmland landscape may not make many people think of a place rich in scientific research and discovery, but it should! In this episode of Voices of the Valley MeganKavanaugh, VP of Science and Agronomy at Bio S.I., talks about the fascinating life that exists in the soil with Western Growers Jeana Cadby, Director of Climate and Sustainability, an…

1
What Fresh Produce Does a Food Safety Scientist Buy for Their Kids? 28:18

5M ago28:18

28:18

Western Growers food safety scientists Sonia Salas, Associate Vice President, Science & Technology, and Joelle Mosso, Associate Vice President, Science Programs, discuss their perspective and insight when it comes to buying fresh produce for their children.

1
Las Vegas Livestock: Community-based Solution to Organic Waste 27:30

5M ago27:30

27:30

Send us a Text Message. Sarah Stallard is a 7th generation farmer who came to work with her uncles on a new farm near Las Vegas Nevada raising hogs. The farm is in partnership with the local waste and recycling company Republic Services. They lease the land from Republic Services and use food waste to feed the hogs. She says the partnership was for…

1
Katie Chiapuzio from Braga Fresh on How Bees Benefit Produce 26:17

5M ago26:17

26:17

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Katie Chiapuzio, Director of Environmental Science and Resources at Braga Fresh, joins Western Growers Jeana Cadby, Environment and Climate Director, and Kara Timmins, Communications Manager, to discuss the amazing nature of bees and how they contribute to agriculture.…

1
Eckhart Farms: Increasing Soil Biology and How it Pays 32:30

6M ago32:30

32:30

Send us a Text Message. Join us in this dynamic and wide-ranging conversation with Chris Eckhart about diversifying his farming operation, increasing organic matter, monitoring soil biology, and creating a work-family-life balance, all while remaining profitable. Eckhart Farms is a multi-generational family farm in the heart of Wild Rose Prairie in…

1
Do You Really Know Where Your Food Comes From? 21:58

7M ago21:58

21:58

In this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley, we’re breaking through misconceptions in agriculture with Coachella Valley farmer Celeste Alonzo. Alongside her family, Celeste grows bell peppers and corn at Junior Enterprises. She joins Julia Nellis, Social Media Manager at Western Growers, to answer questions WG received on social media about farm…

1
2024 Look Ahead: Agriculture’s Biggest Challenges 26:42

8M ago26:42

26:42

Learn where your food really comes from. In the newseason of the Voices of the Valley podcast, you’ll hear about the successes and challenges the agricultural industry experiences every day to get the best food to you and your family. We’ll explore everything from agriculture misinformation, women changing the industry, fieldworkers’ stories, scien…

1
Westwind Farms and UC Davis: Using Almond Hulls and Shells to Build Organic Matter 43:54

1y ago43:54

43:54

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we talk with Kirk Pumphrey, owner of Westwind Farms in Woodland CA, and Sat Darshan Khalsa, Assistant Professional Researcher at the University of CA Davis about their work integrating almond shells and hulls as organic matter in orchards. As Kirk says, “it’s a learning experience for all of us.” It’s a lear…

1
How Bayer’s Dr. Frank Wong Overcame His Skepticism About Biologicals 47:53

1y ago47:53

47:53

Dr. Frank Wong, one of Bayer's Industry Affairs Directors, discusses his shift in opinion about biological solutions on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley. “I would say that [during] the last two decades of my career, I’ve always been really cynical about biologics,” Frank says. In this episode, he discusses how and why he’s a recent conve…

1
Asking the Right Questions with Josh Ruiz, Senior Director of Ag Technology and Innovation, on Voices of the Valley 45:58

1y ago45:58

45:58

Josh Ruiz, Senior Director of Ag Technology and Innovation at Duda Farm Fresh Foods, shares how he views challenges and opportunities in his role to be an actor of change in agriculture on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley.

1
Rabo Research's David Magaña on a Global Approach to Consumer Desires 44:02

1+ y ago44:02

44:02

David Magaña is Vice President and Senior Analyst of Rabo Research in North America for fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, and he shares his global perspective on the present challenges in agriculture on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley. Together with hosts Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson, David discusses the global factors of water, l…

1
Farmers are Entrepreneurs: Citi’s Adam Bergman Talks Agtech 45:08

1+ y ago45:08

45:08

Adam Bergman ─ Managing Director, Clean Energy Transition Group and the Global Head of AgTech at Investment Banking, Citi ─ joins DennisDonohue and Candace Wilson on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley. The topic of agtech and cleantech to address issues like climate change is a global endeavor, Adam says. Countries like Israel, Brazil and …

1
Sweet Hollow Farm: Connecting People to Food and Farming 24:07

1+ y ago24:07

24:07

Send us a Text Message. In today’s episode we speak with Jonah Sloven, from Sweet Hollow Farm, a diversified organic farm in Victor, Idaho. Sweet Hollow Farm serves the neighboring Teton Valley community through their CSA, farm stand, and farmer’s market. Jonah discusses how his travels from his environmental studies ultimately directed him to smal…

1
Alex Cochran Discusses the Value of Biologicals in Agriculture 46:14

1+ y ago46:14

46:14

Alex Cochran, Chief Technology Officer at DPH Biologicals joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this week’s episode of Voices of theValley to discuss the realities and possibilities of utilizing biological solutions in agriculture. In this episode, Alex shares his insight into how to optimize the benefits of biologicals, which, he says, starts…

1
Christine Birdsong, Undersecretary for the CDFA, Talks Sustainable Pest Management Solutions on This Week’s Voices of the Valley 43:25

1+ y ago43:25

43:25

Undersecretary for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Christine Birdsong joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilsonon this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley to discuss her role and initiatives to support California agriculture on key points like sustainable pest management, water (whether drought or flood), supply chain diff…

1
Amazon Web Services’ Elizabeth Fastiggi on Guiding the Industry to be More Predictive with Agtech Innovation 42:34

1+ y ago42:34

42:34

Elizabeth Fastiggi, Head of Worldwide Business Development for Amazon Web Services, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this episode of Voices of the Valley to discuss the role she has in supporting innovation to connect all areas along the agricultural supply chain. “That’s what our company at AWS is doing, helping customers innovate more q…

1
Hernan Hernandez on Working to Give Farmworkers a Voice in Politics and Policy 39:20

1+ y ago39:20

39:20

On this episode of Voices of the Valley, Hernan Hernandez, Executive Director of the California Farmworker Foundation, shares his background about growing up in a farm community to becoming a voice and force for policy change.

1
Wyoming Heritage Grains: Improving the Land, Community, and Health 41:19

1+ y ago41:19

41:19

Send us a Text Message. In today’s episode, we talk with Sara Wood of Wyoming Heritage Grains and Wyoming High Desert Malt, near Ralston Wyoming. Sara is a fifth-generation regenerative farmer and the operator of the state’s only commercial flour mill. Located in the dry high mountain desert east of Yellowstone, Sara’s and her family’s operation ha…

1
Ian LeMay, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association, on how Agtech Bolsters Ag Labor 37:25

1+ y ago37:25

37:25

Ian LeMay, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this episode of Voices of the Valley to discuss navigating current challenges in fresh produce agriculture to reach a bright and exciting future. LeMay shares his thoughts about the two biggest challenges that fresh fruit farmers in California…

1
Bountiful Founder and CEO Megan Nunes Wants to Use Satellites to Revolutionize Farming 38:18

1+ y ago38:18

38:18

Most people don’t think of the study of agriculture and the study of space as being related to each other, but this week’s Voices of the Valley guest, Megan Nunes, shares with hosts Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson how space and agricultural technology work together. Nunes is the founder and CEO of Bountiful— a company that uses satellite imagery …

1
Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Science Initiative, Talks About the Exciting Rise of Automated Farm Equipment 37:37

1+ y ago37:37

37:37

It’s a pivotal time for ag tech and automated farm equipment. This week’s Voices of the Valley episode addresses the growth of ag tech in recent years in a conversation between hosts Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson and guest Adrian Percy, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Science Initiative. “I’ve been in this business for a long…

1
The Future of Sustainable Desalination 39:43

1+ y ago39:43

39:43

University of Notre Dame professors Dr. Brandon Ashfeld and Dr. Tengfei Luo and farmer J.P. LaBrucherie join the podcast this week; the trio is part of a research project focused on using technology to make desalination a sustainable water solution for all areas of American life, including agriculture. It’s no secret that desalination is a much-stu…

1
Radicle Growth CEO and Managing Partner Kirk Haney on the Secret to Successful Agtech Investing 41:51

1+ y ago41:51

41:51

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Kirk Haney, CEO and Managing Partner of Radicle Growth, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson to share some of the expertise he has gained from launching multiple startups and a deep portfolio of agtech investments. “You learn a lot from every investment you make and every company you run,” Haney says. Han…

1
Tom Mulholland and the Bottom Line of Agriculture – Productivity 41:41

1+ y ago41:41

41:41

Tom Mulholland sees California agriculture through the wide lens of his multigenerational farm. As a fourth-generation citrus grower, Mulholland knows his lifetime commitment to Mulholland Citrus is one part of the whole that belongs to his family. “Generational pass-downs are remarkable," Tom says. "The fact of it is that you have to have somethin…

1
Stuart Woolf: Agtech from Apple Computers to Almonds 39:25

1+ y ago39:25

39:25

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Stuart Woolf, President and CEO of Woolf Farming Company, shares his interest, knowledge and utilization of agtech, which started in 1982 with his first Apple computer computations. Woolf is the second generation of growers who keeps his feet grounded in the present while looking the future: “One thing my Da…

1
Belinda Clarke and the Many Ways Science Can Help Growers Adapt 41:40

1+ y ago41:40

41:40

Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-techE, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this week’s Voices of the Valley to share her knowledge about the many ways science works with growers to adapt and respond to environmental and political changes. Clarke describes the work that Agri-techE does as creating “an innovation ecosystem for agtech bringing…

1
Seana Day: How Farmers Can Use Technology to Make Financially Sound Decisions 43:59

1+ y ago43:59

43:59

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Seana Day, Partner with Culterra Capital and Venture Partner with Better Food Ventures, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson to share her perspective about the need for digital systems to better utilize farmers’ time, information and resources. “When we think about the role of technology and optimizing ou…

1
Simon Pearson from The Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology Talks Agtech Solutions on a Global Scale 36:42

1+ y ago36:42

36:42

On this episode of Voices of the Valley, Simon Pearson, Founding Director of The Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology, shares insight into how aiming for lofty heights gives a better perspective on potential solutions to agriculture’s workforce challenges. “We started with the hard problem - a bit like a moonshot - and then as we actually did …

1
Farm from a Box’s Brandi DeCarli on Creating Local Food Access Through Entrepreneurship 40:30

1+ y ago40:30

40:30

Brandi DeCarli, CEO and Founding Partner of Farm from a Box, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson to discuss the dynamic and sustainable future of agriculture. A listening experience that’s the perfect start to the new year, DeCarli shares a palpable excitement for the coming years in ag, and sees challenges as opportunities. Whether it’s entrep…

1
Central Valley Foundation CEO and Former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin: Focused on a Better Future 38:32

1+ y ago38:32

38:32

“Food is culture. Culture is people. People are stories.” So says Ashley Swearengin, the CEO of the Central Valley Foundation and former mayor of Fresno, who joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this episode of Voices of the Valley to share her visions, goals and accomplishments about building a bridge to a brighter future. Whether the goal i…

1
Netafim’s President and CEO Mike Hemman Discusses How Growers Can Respond to California’s Record Drought 42:06

1+ y ago42:06

42:06

Mike Hemman, President and CEO of Netafim, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley to discuss the short- and long-term strategies for adapting to the nuanced water needs growers have amid the ongoing California drought. “I think that the opportunity to deliver water in a more efficient manner has never…

1
Eurofins U.S. Chief Science Officer Joelle Mosso on Why Testing Can't Solve Food Safety Problems 41:25

1+ y ago41:25

41:25

On this episode of Voices of the Valley, Joelle Mosso, Chief Science Officer of Eurofins U.S., discusses her expertise in microbiology and food science and how it relates to food safety. Mosso shares her thoughts on the complexities and challenges of working with a rapidly evolving biological environment. When asked about how food safety has change…

1
Carl Casale of Ospraie Ag Science on Doing More With Less 42:33

1+ y ago42:33

42:33

Carl Casale, Senior Agricultural Partner at Ospraie Ag Science, joins the podcast to talk about his company's overarching goal in venture capital: to produce more high-quality food with less impact on the environment. "By 2030, half the world's population is going to be middle class or wealthy and the other half of the population is going to have t…

1
Trimble's Mike Dentinger on Strategies to Reach the Finish Line with Global Harvest Automation 41:17

1+ y ago41:17

41:17

As the data for the next edition of Western Growers' Global Harvest Automation Report are being crunched, Mike Dentinger, the Director of AG OEM Development at Trimble, joins the podcast to discuss the potential of automated harvest becoming a day-to-day reality soon. "It's a really tough equation," he says. "How many carrot harvesters does Califor…

1
The Produce Moms' Lori Taylor on Educating Consumers About Food and Farming 45:28

2y ago45:28

45:28

Lori Taylor, Founder and CEO of The Produce Moms, joins Voices of the Valley this week to talk about how she uses her multimedia platform to pull back the veil for the general public about the process of produce farming. "Our mission is to simple: To get more fruits and vegetables on every table," she says. "We want fruits and vegetables to be the …

1
Stout CEO Brent Shedd Explores Artificial Intelligence in Ag 34:54

2y ago34:54

34:54

Brent Shedd, CEO of Stout Industrial Technology, Inc., joins Voices of the Valley to examine Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the agriculture industry. Brent joined Stout with a background in technology and tends to approach farming issues through this lens. The decision for Stout to build its own hardware and software was based around Brent’s backg…

1
Global Competition Requires Urgent Supply Chain Tech Innovation 38:44

2y ago38:44

38:44

On this week’s Voices of the Valley podcast, Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson interview Gary Loh, the CEO of DiMuto and the Executive Chairman of First Alverstone Group, and Claire Pribula, the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Yield Lab Asia Pacific. Gary and Claire discuss the changes in the marketplace that have resulted in an urgent need for…

1
Jack Vessey on the Pressing Need to Implement Technology in Desert Agriculture 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

For Jack Vessey, President of Imperial Valley-based Vessey & Co., one fact of desert agriculture never changes: You have to do more with less. “We have to be proactive with trying things,” he said, noting that the pressures of labor, irrigation and crop protection lead him to always explore new technologies in his operations. The front of mind of t…

1
Linking Small Farmers and Scientists on the International Stage 38:01

2y ago38:01

38:01

Dr. Eugenia Saini, the Executive Secretary of Fontagro, joins the podcast to talk about her objective of strengthening public and private strategic alliances that enhance international cooperation between scientists and farmers. It's a goal that requires boundless curiosity and big picture thinking; Eugenia has three degrees from the University of …

1
Genius Beehives with Dick Rogers, Entomologist at Bayer Crop Science 30:30

2y ago30:30

30:30

In this week's episode of Voices of the Valley, Dick Rogers, Entomologist at Bayer Crop Science, discusses the need to meld nature and technology to create and monitor healthy honeybee colonies. Dick wants to move towards the creation of a "genius hive," which would use data to ensure the right conditions exist for thriving bee populations. Recentl…

1
Hank Giclas Tribute, Part Two 40:52

2y ago40:52

40:52

In this episode, Voices of the Valley continues to honor Hank Giclas, the produce industry veteran who passed away in August. Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms; Edwin Camp, President of D.M. Camp & Sons; Joe Pezzini, Sr. Director of Ag Operations at Taylor Farms and Peter Wren-Hilton, Founder of Wharf42 Ltd., all join the podcast to ce…

1
Remembering Hank Giclas, Part One 45:43

2y ago45:43

45:43

This is the first episode in a special two-part Voices of the Valley that is dedicated to the memory of produce industry stalwart Hank Giclas, the former Senior Vice President of Science, Technology & Strategic Planning at Western Growers, who passed away in August. Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia, Secretary of the California Department…

1
Sun World CEO David Marguleas Explains the Successful Strategies Behind a New Product Launch 33:43

2y ago33:43

33:43

From watermelon to stone fruit to table grapes, Sun World CEO David Marguleas has decades of experience in bringing vibrant new products to the consumer market. He visits the podcast this week to talk about how his company has made critical new hires and brought breeding in-house to stay at the forefront of molecular technologies. "In the middle of…

1
New Zealand Forecasts the Future of Agriculture Amid Climate Change 38:32

2y ago38:32

38:32

Peter Wren-Hilton, the Founder of Wharf42 Limited and the mastermind behind the upcoming 2035 Agri-Food-Tech Oceania Summit, joins the podcast to discuss how New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands are responding to the threat of climate change. "Climate change is real, it's happening, and it's happening much faster than we thought," he says…

1
En Solucion and Seeking the Food Safety Holy Grail 34:33

2y ago34:33

34:33

What do you do when you can't afford to make a mistake - but at the same time, you know you can't get risk to zero? In advance of the AgTechX Food Safety event on Aug. 18 at Reedley College, En Solucion CEO and Founder Alex Athey joins the podcast to discuss the potential of technology to mitigate the risks in food safety. A member of Western Growe…

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