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1. Technological Innovations in the Fields Help Transform the Ag Workforce

   June 10, 2020 3:41 pm

   California’s agriculture industry has been experiencing numerous industry challenges fueled by a tighter regulatory environment in CA, widespread labor shortages, and increased costs of doing business. However, we know for every challenge, there is a creative solution, and our solution hinges on accelerating innovation in our farming and processing practices.

   We continue to develop and invest in advanced field technologies, like our automated harvesters, which increase efficiency and provide an improved ergonomic environment for harvest crew employees. Our automated machines eliminate the need for bent over, hand harvest, and create jobs where employees are sorting, selecting, and packaging while standing upright under shaded canopies.

   

   Taylor Farms’ Automated Romaine Harvester

   

   Taylor Farms’ Automated Celery Harvester

   To make these technological innovations a reality, we began developing automated field machines seven years ago. Two years later, we introduced our revolutionary Automated Romaine Harvester which utilizes a water jet knife technology to cut the romaine, our first step in eliminating the need for traditional hand harvest.   Within the past two years, we have also introduced an Automated Celery Harvester and now, our newest mechanical marvel, an Automated Cabbage Harvester!

   Watch the automated cabbage harvester in action here:

   This technology is very new, but we know it will be beneficial to both our company and our employees. Additionally, we’re happy to report that over the past three years we have seen a growing number of new workers in their 20’s and 30’s, specifically for our automated machine crews!

   

   Taylor Farms’ Automated Cabbage Harvester

   Interested in joining Team Taylor and being on the cutting edge of agricultural innovation? Check out the careers and internships we have available.

    

2. Team Taylor Wins Best Vendor Display at “World of Whole Foods Market” Holiday Food Show

   3:29 pm

   Team Taylor was at last week’s “World of Whole Foods Market” holiday food show, an internal-only showcase of the best new products for Whole Foods employees. Located at the Whole Foods Global Office in Austin, Texas, selected grocery vendors brought something new and delicious to the show for the employees to view and sample.

   We brought along our new Organic Chopped Salads, and we’re happy to say that among the 40 other vendors, we were awarded Best Vendor Display! Check out scenes from the show:

   

   

   

    

    

    

3. Team Taylor Volunteers at Monterey County Agricultural Education’s Farm Day Experience

   June 8, 2020 9:31 pm

   Each year, thousands of third graders from Monterey County elementary schools are treated to a memorable field trip run entirely by volunteers. At no cost to the schools or districts, the Monterey County Agriculture Education, Inc., coordinates The Farm Day Experience for local third grade students. During each school year, every third grade class in Monterey County is invited to attend one of three Farm Day Experience events, reaching approximately 6,500 students annually.

   

   Team Taylor was at the Salinas based event, where they volunteered as “Farm Day Guides,” and had a chance to interact with the enthusiastic and interested children. During their half day visit, these third grade students were taught about farming practices, healthy eating, sustainability, and farm animal caretaking through a series of interactive booths and hands on stations.

   

   Joe Meeks, Tracy Lenz, Bethany Mercer, Katrina Gargiulo and Daniel Lord of Taylor Farms

   “This event did such a great job at showcasing the variety of industries that make up the heart of the Salinas Valley,” said Tracy Lenz, Taylor Farms sales representative.  “I think it’s important for Taylor Farms to be  to be a part of events like this not only to give back to our community, but to also get the chance to educate kids at such a young age about how our town provides most of the country with their fresh produce.”

   

   Taylor Farms is very proud to take part in this program that, in the first twenty years, has reached approximately 130,000 third graders, 26,000 parents (as chaperones), and hundreds of third grade teachers in Monterey County. We’re happy to come together with others in the agricultural industry to provide this educational enrichment program.

4. Team Taylor Rallies Together to Raise Over $52,000 for Relay for Life

   9:18 pm

   2018 marks more than 15 years of Taylor Farms participation in the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life. Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the ACS, staffed and coordinated by volunteers in thousands of communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give of their time and effort because they believe it’s time to take action against cancer.

   The Relay itself is a team fundraising event where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path, and each event is 6-24 hours in length. Each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps. At our local Relays in Salinas and Tracy, Team Taylor walked beside representatives from almost 50 other companies.

   

   Team Taylor walking at the Relay for Life

   Did you know that all of our Relay for Life efforts are planned and staffed entirely by our employees? It’s true, and this year Team Taylor stepped up big!

   Team Taylor organized and hosted a variety of fundraising events, including our fun Farmers Market, and collected donations for the Relay walks. During the Relay, we set up a themed campsite at the event and continued fundraising efforts with event raffles for items like San Francisco Giants luxury suite tickets and Taylor Farms swag sales. All of the money raised from all of these employee-organized initiatives counted towards our overall team fundraising goal.

   We’re happy to announce that, in total, Team Taylor from Taylor Farms Pacific and Taylor Farms Salinas raised over $52,000 for ACS!

   

   Event raffle fundraising event

   

   Team Taylor ran a great fundraising Farmers’ Market!

   

   The spread of products at our Farmers’ Market fundraiser donated from Mission Avocado, Ocean Mist, Driscoll’s, and more

   Relay for Life is an important event on the Taylor Farms calendar every year. Volunteering and fundraising are central to our commitment to making a real difference in the communities where we live and work, and beyond.

   Thank you to all Team Taylor and our local community members for making Relay for Life 2018 successful!

5. “Team Taylor” Raises More Than $62,000 for Cancer Research

   8:23 pm

   Who says making a difference in your community has to be boring? At Taylor Farms, our support for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life, which extends back more than 15 years, is an opportunity for us to find fun, creative ways to raise money for a great cause.

   “Team Taylor” stepped up in a big way, as it does each year.  Both Salinas and Tracy team members took part in relay events in their respective cities, contributing a total of $62,500 to ACS.

   This year, one of the most creative approaches to raising money for the event came from Robin Lopez of Team Taylor in Tracy, who raised money after being selected one of this year’s “Dancing with the Tracy Stars.”

   

   Dancing with the Tracy Stars

   “I held a fundraiser which raised over $3,500 by asking fellow employees and vendors to sponsor me,” said Lopez.  “In total I raised $8,600, of which $3,400 was donated back to Relay for Life, my charity of choice.”

   

   “Team Taylor never disappoints in our efforts to raise money to benefit the American Cancer Society,” said Joseph Mallobox, Human Resources at Taylor Farms.  “This events not only raises necessary funds to fuel research to find a 100 percent effective cure, but also serve as a hub of support and encouragement for cancer survivors and families of those who have been affected by cancer.”

   

   The Relay for Life in Salinas is the second largest in California and has raised more than $13 million over the past 19 years. This year, more than 1,300 participants comprising 110 teams jointly raised more than $445,000 to benefit the ACS in its quest to eliminate cancer.

   The Relay for Life events are important milestones on the Taylor Farms calendar every year. They are central to our commitment to making a real difference in the communities where we live and work, and they are a fun way for us all to let our creative juices flow for a great cause.