AgNet News Hour

On a recent episode of the AgNet News Hour, Dolce Calandra of Wildwood Packing and Cooling joined the show from Kingsburg, California, for a conversation about what it takes to keep a family farming operation moving forward in an increasingly difficult environment.
Calandra is a fourth-generation farmer whose family operation stretches from farming to packing and cold storage. He grew up working in the fields, thinning and picking fruit and driving tractors before eventually taking on a larger role at the packing house. Today, the operation handles stone fruit and citrus, with roughly 800 acres under production, including about 200 acres of citrus.
That vertical integration gives Calandra a firsthand look at challenges throughout the supply chain. One of those is the cost of operating cold storage in California.
“The ugly probably is the cost,” Calandra said. “Electricity in California and utilities in California, it’s not cheap.” Even with solar, he said the operation continues to face substantial utility bills.
Water presents another challenge. Calandra described one family block caught up in groundwater management issues in Kings County, where fees and penalties are adding another layer of uncertainty to an already expensive business.
Labor costs, regulations and the expense of new technology are also shaping decisions. Calandra sees automation as part of agriculture's future, but said investing in it can be a major gamble for a smaller family operation. A large upfront investment followed by one bad crop year could put the entire business at risk.
Despite those pressures, Calandra remains committed to agriculture.
“The goal for my family is keep this going for the guy that made it. And that’s our grandpa, Mark,” he said. Calandra hopes to eventually pass the operation down to his own children, just as previous generations kept it going for him.
For Calandra, that determination extends beyond his own farm. His message to California agriculture is to keep sharing knowledge and working together, particularly as a new generation steps into the industry.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Marilyn Freeman, president of Farmers Communication Exchange, joined the show to discuss how the California cantaloupe industry is changing the way it markets one of the state's longtime specialty crops.
Farmers Communication Exchange serves as the marketing agency for the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, and Freeman said a major focus of its current campaign is reaching younger consumers—particularly Gen Z—through TikTok and other social media platforms. Rather than relying on traditional messages about nutrition, the campaign is using entertaining videos, recipes and trends to make cantaloupe more appealing to consumers who may view it as an old-fashioned fruit.
The effort has received additional support through a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant, allowing the industry to invest more heavily in creative content and targeted social advertising.
Freeman said viral food trends can provide an unexpected boost. One recent social media trend involves freezing half a cantaloupe, adding cream and scraping the fruit into an ice cream-like treat. The goal, she explained, is simple: get younger consumers to see cantaloupe in a new way and give them a reason to pick one up at the grocery store.
The industry is also working to change perceptions about cantaloupe quality. Freeman said newer varieties are crisper and sweeter, while growers have improved consistency enough that consumers shouldn't have to worry as much about smelling or thumping fruit to select a good one.
California has a major stake in getting that message across. Freeman said the state produces about 75 percent of U.S. cantaloupe during the summer months, giving growers an opportunity to emphasize California-grown fruit while it is in season.
With the campaign funded for three years, Freeman hopes the effort can build a younger audience that the cantaloupe industry can continue reaching well into the future.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Danny Bernstein, CEO and managing partner of Reservoir and Reservoir Farms, returned for Part 2 of his conversation about the future of California agriculture, including a major new partnership with John Deere.
Bernstein announced that John Deere and Reservoir have signed a $10 million, multi-year partnership aimed at supporting agricultural technology and homegrown startups working on challenges facing California growers.
According to Bernstein, the relationship grew with help from Western Growers, which introduced Reservoir to John Deere's high-value crop team. After spending time with Reservoir, its startups and California agriculture, Bernstein said Deere decided it wanted to help expand the effort.
The investment fits into Reservoir's broader effort to bring Silicon Valley-style innovation directly into agricultural communities. Bernstein argued that technology will be increasingly important as growers contend with labor shortages, water challenges, rising costs and the loss of agricultural acreage.
Labor was another major part of the conversation. Bernstein pointed to federal H-2A figures showing that just 182 of more than 415,000 advertised agricultural positions received a domestic applicant in fiscal year 2025, illustrating what he sees as the need for both a more workable agricultural labor system and greater automation.
Bernstein also discussed the growing interest in data centers in rural communities. Rather than simply opposing that development, he suggested agricultural regions should consider how those investments could benefit local communities through water infrastructure, schools, workforce training and other resources.
Ultimately, Bernstein said the success of Reservoir will be measured by whether the technology it supports actually works for growers.
“We actually have to deliver technology that works.”
With the John Deere partnership, expansion into the Central Valley and more startups working directly alongside agriculture, Bernstein sees an opportunity to better connect two of California's biggest strengths: technology and farming.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Danny Bernstein, CEO and managing partner of Reservoir and Reservoir Farms, joined the show to discuss an ambitious effort to bring more technology, startups and skilled jobs directly into California’s agricultural communities.
Reservoir already operates agricultural technology communities in Salinas and Santa Rosa, where farms and startups work alongside one another. Bernstein said the program currently includes 22 startups across the two locations, but its next expansion will bring the concept directly into the heart of the Central Valley.
Bernstein announced that Reservoir Farms plans to launch at Merced College in fall 2027, building on the college’s growing agricultural technology programs.
The planned facility will include a 7,000-square-foot prototyping studio along with on-site manufacturing capabilities. Bernstein said an ag tech startup developing equipment such as an automated stone fruit harvester could potentially design, prototype and manufacture the equipment at the Merced location.
The partnership could also create a direct pathway for Merced College students to work with agricultural technology companies. Reservoir already has community college interns working with startups at its Salinas location, and Bernstein hopes to create similar opportunities in the Central Valley.
The larger goal is to make sure agricultural technology is developed where agriculture actually happens.
“If we can start to bring more technology to solve real problems, we can bring acreage back,” Bernstein said, pointing to the dramatic decline of California asparagus production as an example of what can happen when labor-intensive crops become too expensive to produce domestically.
Bernstein also discussed the need for investment in water infrastructure, automation and agricultural technology as California growers face rising costs, labor challenges and international competition. He described food security as a national security issue and argued that California has an opportunity to remain a center of agricultural innovation.
The conversation continues in Part 2, including more on Reservoir’s technology partnerships and the changing agricultural workforce.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today's episode of the AgNet News Hour, Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, returned for Part 2 of a wide-ranging conversation about the future of California agriculture. From predators and agricultural education to healthy food and the next generation of farmers, Jacobson’s message was ultimately one of optimism.
One concern is the growing pressure from predators. Jacobsen said California is already struggling to properly manage wolves, mountain lions and black bears, and questioned proposals to even study the reintroduction of grizzly bears before the state addresses existing wildlife conflicts.
But much of the conversation focused on the next generation.
Jacobsen strongly advocated for programs such as FFA, 4-H and agricultural technical education. He said those programs give students hands-on experience while developing skills ranging from public speaking and leadership to welding, mechanics and business. With shortages of skilled workers in many trades, Jacobsen believes expanding those opportunities can benefit agriculture and the broader economy.
The discussion also turned to the growing emphasis on healthier food. Jacobsen, who is now a raisin grower himself, said he is optimistic that renewed interest in nutrition could create opportunities for California-grown fruits and vegetables.
“I’m bullish or hopeful that through trying to make people eat healthy again, that raisins are a big part of that,” Jacobsen said.
He also stressed the importance of clearly identifying California-grown products, particularly when food safety concerns involving products from elsewhere can negatively affect California farmers.
Despite the many challenges discussed throughout the two-part interview, Jacobsen ended on an optimistic note.
“I’m bullish on California agriculture. I’m bullish on the American farmer,” Jacobsen said. “We have so many opportunities to continue to feed this nation.”
That may be the biggest takeaway from the conversation: California agriculture faces serious challenges, but Jacobsen believes the industry is still worth fighting for.
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Ryan Jacobson below or on your favorite podcast app.

On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, returned for Part 2 of his conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing California citrus growers. One of the biggest concerns is the growing volume of Argentine lemons entering the U.S. market at the same time California growers are trying to sell their crop.
Villagomez said the problem has been particularly difficult for lemon growers in Ventura County, where the California harvest overlaps with Argentine imports. According to Villagomez, Argentina shipped roughly 94,000 metric tons of lemons into the United States in 2024—a dramatic increase from the volumes anticipated when Argentine lemons were allowed to return to the U.S. market.
California Citrus Mutual is now asking the U.S. Trade Representative for a tariff-rate quota, or TRQ, that would establish a volume of Argentine lemons allowed into the country at the normal tariff rate, with a higher tariff applying to imports above that threshold.
"There needs to be some sort of balance here," Villagomez said, emphasizing that the goal is to provide relief for domestic growers competing in the market at the same time.
The discussion also turned to the 2026 California governor's race and why the outcome could have significant consequences for agriculture. Villagomez called the election "very, very, very pivotal," noting that the next governor will appoint hundreds of positions, including California's agriculture secretary and members of influential bodies such as the State Water Resources Control Board and California Air Resources Board.
Villagomez said California Citrus Mutual has spoken with both gubernatorial campaigns and hopes the next administration will give agriculture greater attention and work more closely with the Legislature on issues affecting growers.
The conversation also covers citrus research, HLB, the Farm Bill, California-grown marketing and the importance of helping policymakers and consumers better understand agriculture.
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Jacob Villagomez below or on your favorite podcast app.

California citrus growers are navigating challenges ranging from labor shortages and invasive pests to uncertain export markets and increasing competition from imported fruit. On the latest AgNet News Hour, Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual, discussed the issues his organization is working on in Sacramento and Washington on behalf of the state's citrus industry.
Villagomez has a personal connection to the industry. His parents are citrus growers in Sanger, California, and he grew up around the crop before studying at Fresno State and eventually moving into governmental affairs.
Today, some of the industry's biggest concerns are water, labor, pests and disease, rising production costs and trade.
Labor is particularly important because California citrus is overwhelmingly destined for the fresh market and still must be harvested by hand. Villagomez said the industry relies heavily on migrant and immigrant workers and continues to push for immigration and H-2A reforms that can provide a more reliable legal workforce.
Trade uncertainty is another concern. Canada is currently a critical export market for California citrus, and Villagomez described how previous tariff actions resulted in canceled orders and shipments being frozen almost overnight. He said losing access to an export market can have consequences that last well beyond the immediate dispute.
"When you lose market access, it takes a number of years to regain that access," Villagomez said.
Closer to home, California growers are also competing against imported citrus. Villagomez specifically pointed to large volumes of Argentine lemons entering the U.S. market and putting downward pressure on prices.
"We're not stopping imports," Villagomez said. "We're just requesting balance of those imports."
There has also been some positive news. Villagomez discussed the FDA's recent modernization of the federal standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice, including an increase in the amount of mandarin and mandarin-hybrid juice that can be included from 10 percent to 15 percent. He said the change could create another outlet for California mandarin growers.
From trade and labor to regulation and market access, Villagomez's interview provides an inside look at the policy battles shaping the future of California citrus.
Listen to Part 1 of the full interview with Jacob Villagomez below or on your favorite podcast app.

The future of California agriculture may depend on solving some problems that farmers simply cannot solve on their own. In Part 2 of his conversation on the AgNet News Hour, Cannon Michael, president and CEO of Bowles Farming Company, discusses the need for a reliable agricultural workforce, the growing role of automation and his concerns about California's long-term water future.
Labor remains one of the biggest issues. Michael said policymakers need to recognize that agriculture depends on workers willing to perform difficult jobs that many Americans simply aren't interested in doing. Rather than allowing the issue to continually become entangled in the larger immigration debate, he believes the country needs a reasonable legal pathway for people who want to work.
"We need to find ways that people can...have the same opportunities that many of our ancestors came to the United States for," Michael said, while emphasizing the need to maintain border security and keep bad actors out.
Technology is helping Bowles Farming Company respond to rising costs. The operation is already using AI-enabled sprayers that identify weeds, while also incorporating AI into office operations. Michael expects autonomous tractors and other technologies to play an increasingly important role.
But technology can't replace everyone. Experienced workers can determine by sight which watermelon is ready to harvest or carefully pick a fresh-market tomato without damaging it—skills that remain difficult to automate.
Perhaps Michael's greatest concern is water. With projects such as Sites Reservoir and Delta conveyance taking years to move forward, he worries California agriculture could lose productive farmland before adequate infrastructure is built.
"We have to have water to do what we're doing," Michael said. "You can't just get water one year and then...not have water for two years."
Despite those challenges, Michael isn't giving up on California agriculture. He believes farmers will continue adapting through technology and innovation, although agriculture's footprint could become smaller if current pressures continue.
"None of us are the faint of heart," Michael said. "We're not giving up."
Listen to Part 2 of the full interview with Cannon Michael on the AgNet News Hour.