Grimmway Farms Hosts USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Grimmway Farms continues to prove itself a leader in the produce industry and an indispensable cog in the wheel of U.S. agriculture. Most recently, the grower welcomed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky, Deputy Press Secretary Alec Varsamis, and Senior Congressional Advisor Veronica Wong to its headquarters in Arvin, California. The visit was conducted under the leadership of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and signified one of many listening sessions the Deputy Secretary is participating in to learn more about important issues facing California farmers.
“We were honored to host Deputy Secretary Censky to discuss the issues facing our operation and others in California,” said Jeff Huckaby, President of Grimmway Farms. “We had productive discussions with the Deputy Secretary and were able to show him firsthand how current legislation impacts our industry and the regulatory pressures farms face today.”
According to a press release, the topics discussed during the session included everything from immigration to water rights, and Huckaby met with Deputy Secretary Censky to discuss concerns regarding guest worker programs, global trade and tariffs, and the impact that water will have on farmers and the rest of the country.
After the listening session, Huckaby led Censky on a tour of local farmland and facilities, highlighting organic vegetable harvest operations and carrot processing technology. Huckaby provided first-hand insight on the growth of the organics sector in the produce industry, and the production developments needed to meet the growing demands of the category. Also representing Grimmway leadership, Brandon Grimm was on hand to speak with Censky about how the Food Safety Modernization Act and the new FDA audits are being implemented at Grimmway and Cal-Organic Farms facilities.
Following the visit, Deputy Secretary Censky, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, and legislative team members held roundtable discussions with California farmers where they shared struggles and successes felt across the entire agriculture industry.
For more updates on other industry-leading companies and events, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
