Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Association’s plate brimming with activities
Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Association’s plate brimming with activities
Robert Sakata, president of the the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, provided The Produce News with an update on association activities and priorities in 2015.
“We have just convened a ‘Health and Wellness’ committee in response to the numerous requests from outside of the agricultural community [from people wanting] to connect with Colorado fresh fruit and vegetable growers,” he stated. “We submitted comments to the draft Colorado Water Plan stressing the importance of clean, reliable water supplies for fruit and vegetable production.”
Robert SakataThe association plans to hire a contractor to serve as interim executive director to assist with CFVGA activities. “We are currently reviewing the proposals that we have received and hope to present those to the CFVGA board of directors at its July 21 meeting for discussion. It will be up to the full board whether to pursue any of the bids,” he said.
In May, Sakata traveled to Washington, DC, with the Western Growers Association. “It was a very interesting time to be there because that was the first attempt when the Senate was considering passage of Trade Promotion Authority,” Sakata stated.
During the latter part of June, Sakata also attended the Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium in Atlanta. He said he and Hank Giclas, senior vice president for strategic planning, science and technology at Western Growers, hope to create a webinar for the CFVGA members summarizing “some of the interesting food-safety research that is going on across the country.”
Looking at Colorado’s labor situation, Sakata said, “We have all been hearing about the computer problems that are plaguing the H2A program. But I have not heard of any specific cases in Colorado that are having problems. Currently, it looks like labor will be very short again this season.”
Sakata is president of Sakata Farms Inc. in Brighton, CO. “On our farm we have put the word out that we are looking for help but have not received very many applicants,” he added.
It’s been a rainy year in Colorado, and crops are beginning to be harvested.
“On our farm, our sweet corn harvest will be delayed probably about one week. And we could have some bunching after we start,” Sakata went on to say. “But the crop itself looks good as we are now having hot dry weather. The dry bulb onion crop looks very good as most of that was planted prior to the wet spell.
“Most of the leaf items in our area look very good, with good quantities as harvest is now in full swing.”
