West

California report puts drought losses in the billions

Losses to California’s ag industry this year have topped $1 billion as the state’s drought stretched into a third straight year, according to a report from the University of California-Merced’s School of Engineering and the Public Policy Institute... more »

Colorado launches ag lending program

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has launched a program that offers financing to farmers, ranchers and businesses that support agriculture in an effort to make access more equitable. The Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program... more »

Fruit and vegetable veteran Tom Tjerandsen dies

Tom Tjerandsen, a California and Chilean produce industry icon, has died. Tjerandsen, 80, was influential in California fruit exports and Southern Hemisphere imports. He was based in Sonoma, California, where he died Nov. 8. Tjerandsen... more »

Partnership to help UC Davis expand food tech markets

In a partnership with a food and heath startup, University of California, Davis, plans to identify new markets for food tech. UC Davis’ Graduate School of Management at the and the UC Davis Innovation Institute... more »

PickTrace labor management expands services

A labor management company that offers fresh produce industry growers a digital solution for time, attendance and productivity tracking of employees has expanded services to ease hiring and payment processes. PickTrace, Glendale, California, first offered... more »

Marvin Davis, south Texas produce vet, dies

Marvin Davis, the founder of Tex-Mex Sales LLC, of Weslaco, died Oct. 31. The longtime produce industry veteran worked other produce companies and founded Tex-Mex, a grower-shipper of onions, vegetables and melons. Davis, 84, passed... more »

$50M pledge to benefit UC Davis sustainability research

The University of California, Davis, has received a $50 million pledge to support the school’s commitment to address pressing challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability. The pledge – from philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners... more »

West Coast technical field reps join BASF

BASF Agricultural Solutions has added two technical field representatives to its agronomic team. Both members will cover the California and Arizona regions. Jessica Salmer will cover California’s Central Valley while... more »