This is Ag!

In this podcast episode, join me as I chat with Dean Callender, Senior Vice President at Pan American and a fourth-generation farmer with a diverse career spanning leadership in transplanting crews and custom designing benefits programs. Dean shares his wealth of experience and passion for agriculture, delving into the profound impacts of industry changes and regulations on health insurance. He un...

In episode 23, I sit down with Ashli Sturgill, Health and Safety Manager at TheZenith , to dive into the vital safety and health concerns in the agriculture industry. Ashli's role is all about making the workplace safer, and she emphasizes that prioritizing safety isn't just about the well-being of employees but also has significant financial implications for businesses, even though it may initial...

In this month's episode, I sat down with Gary Thiara, general manager and partner of Empire Nut Company. Throughout our conversation, we spoke about the humble beginnings of the family-owned business, the public perception of the agriculture industry, and how partnering with UnitedAg has strengthened the Thiara family’s relationship with their employees. Empire Nut Company started as a small orcha...

On this month’s episode, I join Ray Rumiano in Willows, California, home to Rumiano Cheese Company . Ray has a profound appreciation for the challenges faced by agriculture workers; his commitment to the family business is grounded in the connections between animals, farmers, and customers. This holistic perspective emphasizes the importance of sustainability and longevity which, in turn, produces...

In Episode 20 of This is Ag Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha C. Taylor, the talented assistant winemaker for Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles. Samantha's remarkable journey into the world of winemaking began with a strong desire to pursue her passion for wine. Little did she know that this decision would lead her down a rewarding and inspiring path. Samantha's story serves as a...

In episode 19 of This is Ag Podcast, I had the honor of speaking with Jeff Lundberg, the face of Babe Farms, a family-owned and operated company that has been working with UnitedAg for over 25 years. It is truly remarkable to see how Jeff has taken over the business from his mother, Judy, and maintained its amazing culture for over 40 years. Babe Farms is a leader in the gourmet produce industry,...

In this captivating podcast episode, I had the privilege of interviewing David, a seasoned broker with over 38 years of experience in the Insurance Industry. Together with his wife and business partner, Mary, they established Nikssarian Insurance Services, Inc. in 2003, showcasing an unwavering dedication to excellence. During our conversation, David shared his personal story, growing up in Fresno...

My guest Frank Chavez , CEO of Agrofruits and AgroCoCo is no stranger to the agriculture industry. As a child, Frank spent summers on his family farm in Mexico, and his time there instilled him with a strong work ethic. By 2023, Frank has not only founded two of his own businesses, AgroCoco and AgroFruits, but also partners with PATROMEX, Nutra Fruits Int ., and Coconutworld Exports. He has valued...

My guest Rodney Braga is the President and CEO of Braga Fresh Family Farms . For three generations, the Braga Farms has been at the forefront of the fresh produce industry, growing, packing, and shipping the highest quality fresh vegetables all over the world. Rodney's visionary leadership, which is centered on people and their well-being, the health of the soil, building strong and sustainable co...

My guest Richard Plato is the Director of Human Resources at Christopher Ranch.   In this episode Richard talks about the impact of a mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in July 2019 and how the company, Christopher Ranch and UnitedAg were both proactive in providing mental health support for the employees. He also shares his views on the importance of human connection in the workplace and...

My guest Dr. Rosemary Ku is the Chief Medical Officer of UnitedAg. Rosemary is a practicing physician with dual-board certification in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. She majored in Molecular Biology with a Certificate in Neuroscience at Princeton University and went on to obtain her MD/MBA from Columbia University and Masters in Public Health in Health Policy and Management from UC Ber...

My guest is Alex Van Wingerden is the owner and CEO of Westland Floral, Gallup & Stribling Orchids and Alexander Ranch .   Westland Floral traces its roots to the 17th century and the Cornelis Van Wingerden family of the Westland region of the Netherlands. For fifteen generations, the knowledge and passion for cultivating flowers, fruits, and vegetables under glasshouses have passed from one gener...

My guest Brent Eastman is the owner and CEO of BEI, Brent Eastman Insurance Services , the largest employee benefit brokerage firms in the Central Coast area. BEI currently manages over $26 million in annual employee benefit program expenditures.   My conversation with Brent highlights the power of human relationships in sales and growth. We talk about building communities, increasing access to th...

My guest Ellen Brokaw is the President and Owner of Brokaw Nursery , one of the largest subtropical tree suppler located in Ventura County, California. Sixty years ago, Hank and Ellen Brokaw began the nursery as an avocation. With hard work and innovation, they built Brokaw Nursery into one of California’s largest suppliers of subtropical orchard trees. Brokaw currently produces over 300,000 plant...

My guest is Shannon Valladarez, General Manager at Monterey Wine Company. Shannon and I talk about the importance of emotional connections, the power of relationships, our responsibility to the next generation of women leaders, setting an example for the next generation of girls coming behind us, Girls Inc, giving back to the community and much more. Monterey Wine Company is a custom wine producti...

My guest Thomas Amaro is a 4th generation family based agribusiness professional. Tom and his son Marcos Amaro cultivate and grow top quality hemp CBD in Visalia California. The family’s goal is to provide consumers with the finest quality CBD products. Tom and I talk about the history of California agriculture and the present state of affairs in agriculture. Please enjoy the episode.  Here are th...

My guest Steve Church is the Co-Chairman of Church Brothers/True Leaf Farms . Steve Church has been a part of the produce industry for more than 50 years. In 1999,Steve and his brother Tom formed what is now known as Church Brothers Farms, a fully integrated farming, agribusiness from seed to salad bowl. He is also a partner in the grower-owned fresh vegetable processing plant, True Leaf Farms.  S...

My guest   Brenda Allison is the CEO of Coast General Insurance Brokers , an insurance brokerage entirely dedicated to business owners. Her story of how her family came to America, the impact her grandmother had on Brenda's leadership style, the importance of giving back and importance of human connections is  encouraging and inspiring for all business leaders no matter where they are in their lea...

My guest is Glenn Miller, CEO, Saticoy Lemon Association, an agricultural cooperative that provides the finest quality lemons to the world and maximum return to the growers since 1933. Glenn Miller is the past Chair of UnitedAg’s Board of Directors and currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Saticoy Lemon Association  website - https://saticoylemon.com  Glenn Miller is the Past Cha...

My guest is A.J. Cisney, General Manager at Rancho Guadalupe, a family-owned grower of fresh produce based in Santa Maria Valley, California. In this episode we discuss the importance of paying attention to mental health, having difficult conversations in a constructive way, true leadership, proactive vs reactive approach to decision making, listening for the sake of truly understanding, first und...

True responsibility is not just defining and acting on the minimal legal requirement, but outlining the maximum possible actions you could have taken.  It's not happening to you, it's happening for you. Eric Bream's conversation reminded me of Michael Schur's interview with Tim Ferris. Michael Schur is the creator of the hit Netflix series, The Good Place  and written a book called, 'How to be per...

My guest Lee Cohen is the General Manager of Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc . based in Terra Bella, California. Setton Pistachio is one of America's largest pistachio grower and processors with ownership of pistachios orchards and facilities on over 130 acres. Setton's pistachios are widely regarded as "America's Best Tasting Pistachios" because of their great taste and superior quality.  Hi...

My guest Steve Nelson is the President and CEO of Plant Sciences , a premier agricultural research company with emphasis on plant breeding and propagation of berry crops for the global marketplace. His story of how California strawberries got to Jordan, it's connection to his dad's doctor at the Stanford hospital shows the power of human connections in business. We discuss how to maintain an entre...