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1. Team Taylor Brings Fresh Veggies to Students with Weekend Food Security Program

   May 7, 2020 5:43 pm

   On Friday January 27, Team Taylor kicked off the Weekend Food Security program, an initiative that delivers fresh Taylor Farms produce to 200 kids in after-school programs at Fairview Middle and La Gloria Elementary. Every Friday from now through June 2, (excluding three school observed holidays), these after-school programs will receive weekly produce donations including items like Taylor Farms chopped salad kits, stir fry kits, snack trays, and vegetable medley packages.

   

   This particular program is part of the City of Gonzales’ initiative called The Gonzales Way – helping assist the town with its community health and wellness goals by providing the students and their families with wholesome, fresh food to supplement for weekend family meals.

   “The ‘Weekend Food Security’ program idea came about as part of our commitment to frequent communication by city staff with local business leaders,” says René Mendez, Gonzales City Manager. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to collaborate with our business community.”

   “It’s always a good day when we’re handing out healthy products to the kids. Last week, a few of the La Gloria kids called out to me, ‘Hey did you bring us vegetables again?’ I could see the recognition in some of the kids, they were waving at us,” says Chrissy Fink, ‎Office Manager at Taylor Farms Retail, and regular volunteer for this program. “At Fairview Middle School, when we pulled up, some of the older boys asked if they could help us unload. Before we knew it, we had quite a few kids helping us unload the truck. It was really great to see.”

   

   Students helping unload donated product

    

   Taylor Farms offers a similar food security program for our employees that work in the Gonzales processing plant. We are also excited to be a part of donating fresh produce to the twice-monthly Mobile Fresh distribution, a pilot program of the Second Harvest Food Bank in Tracy, CA.

   

   

   

   “There are so many ways to get involved and make a positive impact in other people’s lives. The hope is that through these initiatives, we’re able to give people access to fresh, nutritious food and show them how to make the most of it. We want to use our time and variety of Taylor Farms products to help turn healthy habits into healthy lifestyles,” said Sam Chaidez, Director of Operations for Taylor Farms Gonzales.

2. Supporting the Future: Scholarship Program Tops $1 Million in Academic Scholarships

   5:17 pm

   For ten years, Taylor Farms has been awarding college scholarships to outstanding students looking to further their education, and this year, the program doubled!

   Recently, we held the 2018 Taylor Farms Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County luncheon and awarded 20 students – more than ever before – college scholarships. These recipients are all children of active, full-time Taylor Farms employees.

   

   Congratulations to the 2018 recipients:

   • Juan Carlos Rios Rodriguez – California State University, Long Beach
   • Hector Juarez-Vargas – University of California, Berkeley
   • Grayson Michael McGrew – University of California, Los Angeles
   • Justin Farias – California State University, Monterey Bay
   • Daniel Munoz – Cal Poly Pomona
   • Diego Ramirez – California State University, Chico
   • Christian Ortiz – University of California, Davis
   • Dylan Urias – Arizona State University
   • Javier Acosta – Arizona State University
   • Joshua Alfaro – San Francisco State University
   • Paola Estrada Tena – University of California, Davis
   • Maria Elisa Santiago Cruz – University of California, Santa Barbara
   • Giselle Camarena Rodriguez – San Jose State University
   • Nini Isabel Preciado – Arizona State University
   • Denisse Garcia Zavala – University of Arizona
   • Maria Guadalupe Jaramillo – San Jose State University
   • Sarahi Ramirez Cortes – California State University, Monterey Bay
   • Griselda Tizcareno – Arizona State University
   • Melissa Rios Arias – University of California, Merced
   • Grace Niccum – Northern Arizona University

   To support students throughout their entire academic career, each recipient receives an upfront check for $5,000 with a guaranteed renewal of $5,000 for every year they remain in an undergraduate or graduate program at a university. This year, in addition to the $100,000 for the new recipients, the program awarded over $150,000 in renewed scholarships.

   

   Scholarship recipient Juan Carlos Rios Rodriguez and his family

   “I have so much respect and admiration for Taylor Farms. Their commitment to higher education and to our community is incredible,” said Miguel Zavala, 2015 Taylor Farms Scholarship Recipient and UC Berkeley, School of Law, Graduate. “Their generosity and support has allowed me to achieve my dream of graduating from Berkeley Law.”

   

   Scholarship recipient, Paola Estrada Tena pictured with Bruce Taylor and Mark Campion of Taylor Farms

   The Taylor Farms Scholarship Program was formally developed in 2012, although we have been awarding scholarships to students since 2008. The scholarship member selection committee consists of 12 Taylor Farms employees, and to date has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to 95 recipients.

   

   Taylor Farms employee Griselda Juarez Vargas accepts scholarship check on behalf of her son, Hector Juarez Vargas

3. Guest Blogger: POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN!

   May 4, 2020 3:43 pm

   Introducing our weekend guest blogger – Mr. Popeye himself! Learn about what this superfood lover has up his sleeve this weekend.

   Get ready for a fun-filled, SpinachFest Weekend featuring none other than POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN!

   This Saturday, July 15,  Amazon Prime is running a special Popeye promotion on their social channels to let fans know that The Continuing Adventures of Popeye are now available for streaming. Be sure to check it out!

   

   Then, on the Mighty Mariner’s social channels and his Official YouTube channel, you’ll find a new Popeye AniMinute celebrating — you guessed it — National Fresh Spinach Day! To add to the fun?  Popeye, in collaboration with Taylor Farms, the company that produces the Popeye brand of fresh spinach, is running a giveaway contest!

    

   The Sweepstakes will be hosted via Facebook and Instagram on Sunday with the winner announced on Monday.  Fans are asked to like/follow Popeye and Taylor Farms and then make a comment about how they are incorporating spinach into their daily meals using #FreshSpinachSweepstakes and tagging two friends in their post.

   Prizing: 2 Winners, 1 per platform (1 on Facebook, 1 on Instagram) plus two friends each (6 total people) will win a month’s supply of fresh spinach (via redeemable coupons), courtesy of Taylor Farms. So much fun! So healthy! See the official rules below.

   OFFICIAL RULES
   

4. Working Together to Leave the World a Better Place

   3:40 pm

   Earlier this month, Taylor Farms’ Director of Sustainability Nicole Flewell attended the Sustainability in Action Tour for McDonald’s in Fort Worth, TX. This tour brought together a variety of suppliers from across the McDonald’s supply chain to tour, collaborate and cross-train with other industries.

   

   50 representatives from the McDonald’s supply chain, including Flewell, went to Farmer Brothers Coffee, GC Ellis Cattle Ranch, Noble Research Institute, Dixon Water Foundation, and Martin Brower Distribution Center to learn what others are doing in terms of innovations and advancements in the world of sustainability including:

   • Coffee Supply Chain and Agronomy
   • Tour of Farmer Brothers Roasting Plant
   • McCafe SIP (Sustainability in Progress) Overview
   • Details about Farmer Brothers’ Direct Trade Verified Sustainable Program
   • Beef Value Chain and an introduction to the USRSB
   • Integrity Beef Sustainability Pilot
   • Soil Carbon Cowboys screening & field visit to see the Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) Grazing and ASU research product
   • Visiting the Betty and Clint Josey Pavilion at the Dixon Water Foundation

   

   “Our mission is to be North America’s favorite maker of salads and healthy fresh foods, and we can accomplish that goal with a commitment to responsible practices,” says Flewell. “We are focused on doing everything in our power to leave the world a better place than we found it, and this tour was a great experience to see how other companies are helping to do the same. I am excited to take some of what I learned back to Taylor Farms and incorporate it into our business.”

   For five years, McDonald’s has hosted this tour to help prioritize issues for its business and society, drive innovation, and further build brand trust.

   

   “The theme for this year’s Sustainability in Action Tour was partnering from progress,” says Townsend Bailey, Director, Supply Chain Sustainability, McDonald’s US.  “No single organization, no matter how big, can address the most significant environmental and social issues facing the world alone. McDonald’s recognizes this and relies on strong collaboration with our suppliers, franchisees and other NGOs, such as WWF, the USRSB, Conservation International, and the Noble Research Institute. Doing so makes us a stronger business and amplifies the positive impact the McDonald’s system can have on society.”

5. Three Taylor Farms Facilities Become TRUE Platinum Zero Waste Certified

   April 24, 2020 12:13 am

   Our mission to be North America’s favorite maker of salads and healthy fresh foods begins with a healthy environment. This means that as we continue to grow our business to better serve families and customers across North America, we do so responsibly by preserving a healthy environment for future generations.

    We are excited to share that Taylor Farms has received the U.S. Green Building Council TRUE Platinum Zero Waste Certification at three facilities in California while simultaneously achieving 90 percent energy independence from the utility grid through unique microgrid solutions. Together, their unique suite of investments and programs reduced 175,000 metric ton (MT) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in just two years, equivalent to 37,000 cars off the road annually. 

   The three facilities in Monterey County are the first fresh food facilities to achieve the highest level of TRUE zero waste certification, diverting over 95 percent of materials from the environment, incinerators and landfills. 

   “Now more than ever before, we are noticing a shift in customers, consumers and business partners to be increasingly more aware of the source of their food and the sustainable practices behind that food production,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Farms. “We are proud that Taylor Farms is at the forefront of developing and identifying sustainability practices that are breaking down barriers and establishing new norms within the industry. Consumers should be confident that our product offerings are helping them to lead healthy lives while contributing to a healthy environment and healthy communities.”

   

   “We commend Taylor Farms for their leadership and climate action achievements, which have made a positive impact in our shared sustainability journey.” Townsend Bailey, Director – North America Sustainability, McDonald’s.

   Building an industry first groundbreaking microgrid and Environmental Management System (EMS) takes entrepreneurial drive and strategic partnerships. Taylor Farms proudly partnered with like-minded organizations who share a mission to preserve environmental health. The microgrid energy solutions are made up by renewable and alternative energy sources including solar, wind, fuel cells and cogeneration. Through the support of Concentric Power, Bloom Energy, REC Solar and Foundation Wind Power, Taylor Farms’ energy investments have made it possible to reduce the environmental impact while also unlocking financial value.

   Through the EMS programs, Taylor Farms pledges to roll-out zero waste programs nationally, establishing a new standard for environmental sustainability throughout the country with the support from partners like sustainability consultants, Measure to Improve (MTI). Taylor Farms’ dedication to environmental sustainability doesn’t stop with these projects. The company has over 10 major sustainability initiatives across North America including solar, wind, fuel cells, cogeneration, zero waste, water recycling and more. 

   “When implementing Taylor Farms EMS program, our main goal is to preserve a healthier world for future generations to come. We are so thrilled to have been recognized and receive this historic certification for the work we are doing at these facilities,” Nicole Flewell, Director of Sustainability, Taylor Farms. “It’s exciting to look forward to the future and start to understand the change that we can have as an industry if we continue to put sustainability at the forefront of our efforts.”

    

    

   We have been investing in renewable and alternative energy solutions since 2012 in pursuit of energy independence for our facilities. We want clean, reliable and affordable energy to power our operations across North America to conserve resources.