Our customers depend on us for uninterrupted, consistent service that evolves as they do. Doing that depends on our ability to plan ahead and invest strategically in infrastructure and tools to put those plans into action. It’s all fundamental to our ability to maintain continuity in the services and products we provide our customers year after year.

We recently completed construction on a 12,000-square-foot chemical warehouse, for example. We knew we’d need to grow our capabilities on this front several years ago, so we started planning for the expansion of our Woodland facilities that will enable us to distribute products to every Grow West location.

The facility will directly influence our ability to get products to our customers quickly and efficiently. We’re now positioned to take even better care of our customers’ crop protection product needs. It’s more than a new building. It’s the hub of a system that accounts for each step in the process of doing and providing what our customers need. It’s all the product of a lot of planning that will mean continued availability of crop protection products and services.

But our business continuity planning goes beyond brick-and-mortar investment and planning. In this issue of Growing Together^®, you will read about how we work to maintain that continuity, from the work our agronomy team does with customers to ensure a smooth transition into the 2024 growing season — regardless of delays to planting and harvest — to how we leverage captive insurance for our employees’ benefits so every member of the Grow West team can approach each day with confidence. You’ll also read about how we’re ensuring future business continuity for Grow West and our customers through our partnership with Western Plant Health and our internship program that’s preparing the next generation of ag leaders.

In the end, that is what planning and continuity means to me: a way to maintain confidence among our customers and employees alike. Doing so will enable them all to do what they do best. They can be confident in knowing we’ll be busy planning for the next piece of the puzzle that, when put together, shows a picture of successful, bountiful Northern California agriculture.

Best,
Ernie Roncoroni
President + CEO