Voices of the Valley

Latest Episodes:

Agtech’s Field of Dreams in Salinas Jul 07, 2025

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In this Voices of the Valley episode, Western Growers Senior Vice President, Innovation, Walt Duflock and The Reservoir CEO Danny Bernstein introduce Reservoir Farms, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Salinas, Calif., where agtech startups can work with growers to do field trials of their technologies. In tandem with endeavors from the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, Reservoir is trying to solve one of ag’s biggest problems: there is simply not enough labor to get crops out of the field and onto dinner tables. “We have a big and growing line-item expense challenge with growers in California,” Duflock says. “The best and maybe only realistic scalable solution for that is robots.”

The 411 on H-2A Apr 21, 2025

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Curious to know how America’s farms fill the jobs that are essential for our food supply?

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, we dive into the H-2A program, a vital but often misunderstood part of our agricultural workforce, with Western Growers Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel, Jason Resnick.

Whether you’re new to the topic or looking to better understand the legal and operational ins and outs of the H-2A program, this conversation breaks it all down. Tune in to get some insight on how the program really works, what growers need to know and why it’s more important than ever.

The Canyon House - A Sanctuary for Draft Horses Mar 04, 2025

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In this Voices of the Valley episode, Sarah Rodriguez of Legacy Cooling shares the story of The Canyon House, a sanctuary where draft horses, once used for intense farm labor and carriage rides and now cast aside and destined for tragedy—can spend their days in peace. "Every horse that comes here is going to die at some point," Sarah said. "But here, they get to live their last years with dignity."

Agritourism: From Goat Yoga to Pumpkin Patches Feb 19, 2025

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In this episode we’re joined by Bailey Myers, the Director of Marketing at Owyhee Produce in Parma, Idaho, to talk about the extensive agritourism offerings she’s set up at her farm. She’s hopeful that her agritourism events - including on-farm AirBnB stays, tours, commodity festivals and farm-to-fork dinners - can help build consumer confidence in how food gets to their table. Much of the American population is now four or five generations removed from the farm, she says, and it’s imperative for growers to educate people in order to bridge that knowledge gap. "People trust farmers, but they don’t trust farming,” Bailey says, as she talks about her goal of giving people a “lightbulb moment” when they visit Owyhee.

Connecting Community to Farms and Fields Jan 14, 2025

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In this episode, we talk to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) and explore how the organization inspires a deeper connection to the agricultural industry by promoting a greater understanding of how food gets from farm to table.

SEEAG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between farmers and the community by educating students and the public about the origins of their food. Through interactive programs, farm tours and hands-on activities, SEEAG connects participants with local agriculture, fostering an appreciation for the farmers who grow and harvest the fresh produce that nourishes us.

The Connection Between Farming, Food and Wellness Jan 02, 2025

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In this episode, we explore the powerful connection between the food we eat, provided by the farmers who grow our food, and our overall health and wellness.

From fueling our bodies and preventing disease to supporting a balanced lifestyle, we discuss how nutrient-rich crops play a crucial role in our well-being with insights from our health and wellness expert, Beth Sims.

The Next Generation of Ag Leaders Oct 14, 2024

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The next generation of ag leaders are playing an important role in shaping the future of farming.

California is one of the most vital agricultural regions in the world, and these emerging voices are navigating an industry influenced by climate change and the need for sustainability, water and labor shortages and advancements in agtech.

We explore the California Agricultural Leadership Program and discussing the challenges and opportunities our future leaders are facing in the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture.

Featuring: Abby-Taylor Silva, Executive VP of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation; Bryan Nickerson, Commodity and Supply Chain Services Director for Western Growers; and Cory Lunde, VP of External Affairs for Western Growers.

Sniffing Out Pests with Agriculture Detector Dogs Oct 03, 2024

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You may have never given today’s topic much consideration, but this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode, Western Growers' Kara Timmins and Jeana Cadby talk with CDFA entomologist Dr. Jason Leathers and canine handler Michelle King to explore the exciting world of agricultural pest detection.

They’ll share why it’s so important travelers don’t pack a pest and how we can all participate in protecting agriculture. We’ll even get to meet agriculture detector K9 Kernul, an eight-year-old chocolate lab who helps protect California agriculture by using his nose to sniff out unwanted pests in unmarked packages.

Peeling Back the Farmer's Curtain with Chelsea Ketelsen Sep 06, 2024

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Did you know that California produces more than 80% of the nation’s stone fruits? For those of you unfamiliar with the term, stone fruits are named after the large stone in their centers, or what we know as the seed or pit. These types of fruits include peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries and mangos. In this week’s episode, Western Growers’ Julia Nellis and Michelle Rivera talk to special guest Chelsea Ketelsen, Vice President of Marketing from HMC Farms.

Based out of Kingsburg, California, HMC Farms is a leading grower, packer and shipper of stone fruit and table grapes.

Tune in this week as we peel back the farmer’s curtain. We uncover surprising facts and stories about your favorite fruits, tracing their fascinating journey from farm to table—and explaining why your nectarine might taste a little different each week.

Olive Oil Unfiltered with Vincent Ricchiuti from Enzo Olive Oil Company Aug 26, 2024

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When you think of olive oil, you may think of places like Spain, Italy and Greece. But did you know that California produces some of the finest olive oil?

In this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley, we pour over everything you wanted to know about olives and olive oil with Western Growers’ Michelle Rivera and Julia Nellis and special guest Vincent Ricchiuti from Enzo Olive Oil Company.

Based out of Central San Joaquin Valley, Enzo Olive Oil Company’s mill is home to the award-winning, 100 percent estate-grown organic extra virgin olive oil.

Join us as we uncover the difference between virgin and extra virgin olive oil, proper packaging and storage and an olive’s journey from farm to table. You’ll also find out what things you should consider before purchasing olive oil at the store.

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