SALINAS SCENE: Ag Against Hunger feeds with 11.9 million pounds of produce
SALINAS SCENE: Ag Against Hunger feeds with 11.9 million pounds of produce
Salinas-based Ag Against Hunger, a clearinghouse for surplus crops grown in the Salinas Valley and the Pajaro Valley, distributed more than 11.9 million pounds of fresh produce to families in need in 2005. Food banks in California's Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties distributed much of this produce.
Ag Against Hunger President Joe Pezzini, who also works for Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, said that Ag Against Hunger is the "local agricultural industry's way of fighting hunger in our community."
Local food banks make Ag Against Hunger's fresh produce donations available to more than 400 non-profit human service agencies and feed over 200,000 low-income people each month.
The program supplies produce to local food banks first and then provides fresh produce to statewide food distribution program California Emergency Foodlink. After state organizations receive the produce they need, Ag Against Hunger works with food organizations in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico to feed people outside California.
Ag Against Hunger's gleaning program thrived in 2005 as well, with volunteers harvesting over 27,000 pounds of produce that would have otherwise been disked underground. Interested volunteers and produce donors may contact Ag Against Hunger at 831/755-1480.
CCOF achieves largest domestic organic certifier status
Through data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Watsonville, CA-based California Certified Organic Farmers recently became aware that it is the largest domestic organic certifier.
The group certifies more than 11 percent of U.S. organic businesses. More than 50 domestic certifiers provide organic certification to more than 11,000 farms, processors, retailers and other businesses. CCOF certifies more than 1,200 of these operations throughout the organic supply chain.
CCOF certifies more than 850 organic products and services ranging from raw agricultural commodities to processed goods including wine, pasta sauce and more. The non-profit organization was formed by a group of grass-roots activist farmers in 1973 and is one of the older and larger organic certifiers in North America.
Simplified Procurement hires Mike Chasen
Salinas-based Simplified Procurement recently hired industry member Mike Chasen for its sales team.
Mr. Chasen is a native of Aptos, CA, and a 1992 graduate of California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in agricultural business management. He has continually worked in the produce industry and held numerous positions representing shippers, brokers and national buying groups.
Mr. Chasen spent the last three-and-a-half years as a merchandiser at Sysco Corp.'s office in Salinas. Prior to his departure from Sysco, he headed a committee to investigate and implement consolidation services for the group.
In the mid-1990s, Mr. Chasen managed the mixed vegetable and celery commodity group for Salinas-based River Ranch. Mr. Chasen joins another industry member, Marie Fanning, in sales at Simplified Procurement. Ms. Fanning joined the firm in late summer 2005. She is a Salinas native and has a degree in agricultural business from Hartnell College in Salinas. She has industry experience at Markon, Tanimura & Antle and Ready Pac. Ms. Fanning left a position as Ready Pac's team leader for customer logistics to take a newly created position with Simplified Procurement.
Simplified Procurement specializes in offering procurement and consolidation services to the foodservice sector of the fresh produce industry. Salinas native David Gattis launched the company in partnership with The Chuck Olsen Co. of Visalia, CA, in July 2004.
Ag Against Hunger President Joe Pezzini, who also works for Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, said that Ag Against Hunger is the "local agricultural industry's way of fighting hunger in our community."
Local food banks make Ag Against Hunger's fresh produce donations available to more than 400 non-profit human service agencies and feed over 200,000 low-income people each month.
The program supplies produce to local food banks first and then provides fresh produce to statewide food distribution program California Emergency Foodlink. After state organizations receive the produce they need, Ag Against Hunger works with food organizations in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico to feed people outside California.
Ag Against Hunger's gleaning program thrived in 2005 as well, with volunteers harvesting over 27,000 pounds of produce that would have otherwise been disked underground. Interested volunteers and produce donors may contact Ag Against Hunger at 831/755-1480.
CCOF achieves largest domestic organic certifier status
Through data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Watsonville, CA-based California Certified Organic Farmers recently became aware that it is the largest domestic organic certifier.
The group certifies more than 11 percent of U.S. organic businesses. More than 50 domestic certifiers provide organic certification to more than 11,000 farms, processors, retailers and other businesses. CCOF certifies more than 1,200 of these operations throughout the organic supply chain.
CCOF certifies more than 850 organic products and services ranging from raw agricultural commodities to processed goods including wine, pasta sauce and more. The non-profit organization was formed by a group of grass-roots activist farmers in 1973 and is one of the older and larger organic certifiers in North America.
Simplified Procurement hires Mike Chasen
Salinas-based Simplified Procurement recently hired industry member Mike Chasen for its sales team.
Mr. Chasen is a native of Aptos, CA, and a 1992 graduate of California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in agricultural business management. He has continually worked in the produce industry and held numerous positions representing shippers, brokers and national buying groups.
Mr. Chasen spent the last three-and-a-half years as a merchandiser at Sysco Corp.'s office in Salinas. Prior to his departure from Sysco, he headed a committee to investigate and implement consolidation services for the group.
In the mid-1990s, Mr. Chasen managed the mixed vegetable and celery commodity group for Salinas-based River Ranch. Mr. Chasen joins another industry member, Marie Fanning, in sales at Simplified Procurement. Ms. Fanning joined the firm in late summer 2005. She is a Salinas native and has a degree in agricultural business from Hartnell College in Salinas. She has industry experience at Markon, Tanimura & Antle and Ready Pac. Ms. Fanning left a position as Ready Pac's team leader for customer logistics to take a newly created position with Simplified Procurement.
Simplified Procurement specializes in offering procurement and consolidation services to the foodservice sector of the fresh produce industry. Salinas native David Gattis launched the company in partnership with The Chuck Olsen Co. of Visalia, CA, in July 2004.
