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1. Team Taylor and their Families Had Fun at the 2017 Relay for Life and Raised Over $65,000!

   June 8, 2020 7:45 pm

   For more than 15 years, Taylor Farms has been able to support the American Cancer Society through its Relay for Life, and this year was no different! Through fun fundraising events like Yoga at the Taylor Gym, our Farmers Market, and the Relay for Life walks, which took place in Salinas, CA and Tracy, CA earlier this month, Team Taylor was able to raise and contribute over $65,000 to ACS.

   

   Team Taylor at this year’s Relay for Life

   Each year Taylor Farms participates in the Relay for Life because it is an important event and is central to our commitment to making a difference in our local communities and beyond. This event also holds a special place in our hearts.

   “I formed the Taylor Farms Pacific Relay for Life team back in 2005 when my father was battling cancer,” says Robin Lopez, Admin/Special Projects at Taylor Farms Pacific. “I knew other employees had been touched by cancer in some way as well, so I thought it would be a way for us to join together and support each other. 13 years later our team has raised approximately $250,000! The money we raise helps the ongoing efforts by the American Cancer Society to provide needed services for those diagnosed with this terrible disease.”

   

   “When the sun goes down at Relay, the track is lined with luminarias with photos of loved ones battling cancer or have lost their battle,” says Lopez. “There is a slideshow of loved ones lost at the end of the event… I lost my Dad in 2010 and I still get tears each year when I see his photo up on the screen.”

   

   

    

   Thank you to all community members and Taylor Farms team members who helped make Relay for Life 2017 such a success!

2. Taylor Farms Works with Mother Nature to Provide Fresh Produce for the Holidays

   7:40 pm

   A lot goes into making sure Taylor Farms distributes the quality produce consumers expect from us. We especially like to work closely with Mother Nature each season to make sure we can always grow, process, and ship the freshest products available.

   

   We identify and collaborate with farm suppliers in several regions around the country and in Mexico that have the right growing climates at various times in the year to ensure a steady supply of a quality product by Mother Nature.

   To make this happen, we transition our entire production facility — between Salinas, California and Yuma, Arizona — twice a year, as our desired crops transition between growing regions.

   When the season ends in the Salinas Valley and begins in the Yuma area, 200 people break down all 1,400 tons of production equipment, load it onto 72 trucks, transport it 571 miles, and rebuild it — all in just 56 hours; completely cleaned, sterilized, and ready to process crops. When the Yuma season winds down, we do it all over again and move it back to Salinas. Watch the process in this video:

3. Taylor Farms Welcomes Labor of Love Program to Salinas

   7:35 pm

   Taylor Farms is pleased to welcome Labor of Love to Salinas. This program, which started in Yuma, Arizona, honors and recognizes the thousands of hardworking people who work in the fields to bring food to our tables.

   Our first participation with Labor of Love came this week when we visited an automated romaine harvesting crew of 34 people to surprise them with breakfast at their 8 a.m. break. They also received thank you letters from Taylor Farms along with $20  Walmart gift cards enclosed.

   

   

   Christina Barnard (left) and Sydney Burlison (right) with Juan Luis Ramos (center) an Automated Harvester Operator at Taylor Farms

   

   “At Taylor Farms people are the key to our success,” said Christina Barnard, director of marketing Taylor Farms Retail. “Showing appreciation and support for their dedication and hard work is the foundation of our family culture.”

   

   The hands-on effort, launched by the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association (YFVA), already reaches millions of people in surrounding communities to highlight the program’s activities, let people know about the important contributions of farm workers to our industry, and learn how to share the love with workers.

   In addition to “Breakfast at the Farm” activities like ours this week, Labor of Love promotes random acts of kindness throughout the growing and harvesting season and features crew member profiles on its website, in the media and via social media.

   The program was created in response to numerous community members in Yuma who wanted to know how they could show support for the farm worker, according to Steve Alameda, president of the YFVA.

   Labor of Love is another great way to show our tremendous respect and appreciation for the hardworking people who plant and harvest in our delicious, nutritious high quality produce.

   See complete video highlight here:

4. Taylor Farms Team Members Participate In PMA Women’s Fresh Perspective Conference

   7:25 pm

   Members of the Taylor Farms family had the opportunity to attend the recent Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Women’s Fresh Perspective Conference recently. Hosted in San Diego, the event provided an opportunity to gather insights and information about the role of women leaders in advancing our industry.

   Taylor Farms attendees included Vicky St. Geme, Lisa Hearne, Raquel Estrada, Courteney Nelson and Christina Barnard, representing a cross-section of Taylor Farms’ sales and marketing teams.

   

    

   “I was most impressed by the increase in women within the industry and the determination to build successful careers through passion and work ethic,” said Lisa Hearne. “It was a great opportunity to network within the produce industry and to understand how success was achieved through different paths.”

   The fourth annual event, sponsored by the PMA Center for Growing Talent and themed “Women Are Good for Business”, focused on women in the fresh produce and floral industry at all career stages, providing leadership development and inspiration for growth and advancement.The conference agenda included concurrent workshops for Emerging Leaders, Mid-Level Leaders, and Executive Leaders, covering a range of in-depth topics.  Groundbreaking women speakers addressed the importance of leaders with values and ethics, the importance of taking leadership initiative, harnessing communications skills and many others.

   Between strolling dinner receptions and networking activities, attendees discussed the issues and challenges most important to them, while creating new relationships and growing friendships.

   Taylor Farms strongly supports the goal of this PMA Fresh Perspective conference to bring women in our industry together to educate, encourage and propel these professionals forward and upward. We strive to empower women in our company and to offer opportunities to meet and learn new capabilities from other successful women in leadership. When they bring that knowledge back with them, it makes Taylor Farms an even better company.

   

5. Taylor Farms Team Showcases New Chopped Salads At Annual FPFC Northern California Expo

   7:12 pm

   Taylor Farms west coast sales team members showcased a variety of our fresh, healthy and convenient products at the recent Fresh Produce and Floral Council (FPFC) Northern California Expo. The event, which took place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA, attracts more than 1,500 attendees each year.

   

   Tricia Seduski and Tracy Lenz of Taylor Farms

   Micah Shea, Vicky St. Geme, Tricia Seduski and Tracy Lenz attended the event on Taylor Farms’ behalf, providing samples and spotlighting our newest chopped salad inspirations – Mediterranean Crunch and Greek – for major players from across our industry.

   FPFC is a dynamic community of professionals across all sectors of the fresh produce and floral industry doing business in California and the western region. The Council is dedicated to providing members with convenient opportunities to build productive relationships, access timely market information, enhance their business skills, and pool their efforts to promote and advance the industry.

   The annual FPFC Expo gives Taylor Farms an opportunity to connect directly with retailers and suppliers in attendance.