June 2019 - 1

Celery growers to
harvest rewards of diet
trend
Mechanized cucumber
harvesting, packing
emerges
12
16
22
Straightforward garlic
tips to help this season
June 2019 | Volume 53 |
Issue 6
The Van Groningen family businessmen, from left, Vice President of Finance and Administration Paul Hiemstra, Vice President of Crops and Soils Bryan Van Groningen, Board
President Dan Van Groningen, Board Chairman Robert Van Groningen, the late John Van Groningen, Vice President of Farming Operations Jason Van Groningen and President Ryan
Van Groningen. Photos: Van Groningen & Sons
By Stephen Kloosterman
Associate Editor
Fourth-generation growers lead
Van Groningen & Sons, and with a fifth
crop of family in the field, so to speak,
the vertical grower-shipper-marketer is
prepared to navigate the future of produce.
What started as a dairy farm near Fresno
in 1922 has over the years diversified to
include vegetables, fruits, nuts and even
forage crops.
" We have always strived to be
diversified in what we grow to protect
ourselves from poor markets for
certain crops each year, " said Ryan Van
Groningen, a fourth-generation grower
and president of the company. His greatgrandfather,
Henry, started the company
after immigrating from the Netherlands in
1910. Sons Art and Henry Jr. continued the
company as a partnership for 25 years, and
Art's four sons - Robert, Dan, John and
Marvin - followed suit. Ryan and others in
the family's fourth generation - his brother
Jason, his cousin Bryan, and his brother-inlaw
Paul - are a part of the company today.
" We have hopes that there will be a
fifth generation to come, " he said. " My
oldest nephew is currently in college
where my kids are still young at ages 11,
9 and 7. "
Corporate outlook
Today, Van Groningen & Sons operates
under the company values of faith,
family, community and integrity. The
company cultivates several thousand
acres near Manteca, California, where
it grows melons, pumpkins, almonds,
walnuts and various forage crops.
" We do have contracted independent
growers in other locations to lengthen our
season with melons and sweet corn, " Ryan
said. Independent growers are based across
California in places such as El Centro,
SEE MELONS, page 6
Survey: Search for labor intensifies
Are you using H-2A?
By Gary Pullano
Managing Editor
For the third consecutive year, the
majority of growers who responded
to a labor survey conducted by
Vegetable Growers News reported
they experienced severe worker
shortages. Most continue to search for
labor solutions, including the H-2A
worker visa program to meet their crop
production goals.
The survey - conducted in the first
quarter of 2019 - asked growers if
they had enough labor in 2018. More
than 54% indicated they did not have
enough adequate worker numbers for
the previous season. That percentage
Yes
No
0%
20%
40%
was slightly more than the 53% who fell
short as found in the 2018 survey results
that inquired about 2017 totals.
Just 46% of farm operators had
enough labor in 2018, compared to the
same amount for 2017, and similar to the
45.45%
54.55%
60%
80%
100%
Source: 2019 VGN Grower Survey
47% found in the survey for 2016.
" Labor is harder to get, and when I do
get extra help, I have to pay more, " one
farm said of its labor situation. " Prices
SEE LABOR, page 8

June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2019