If the Salinas Valley agriculture industry had a nerve center, it would look much like the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
The Salinas-based GSA represents more than 325 members in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. And as it's done for the past 85 years, it represents growers, shippers, packers, harvesters, vintners, processors and any number of other agriculture-related industries. It is the local voice of advocacy for regional agriculture.
"It is the common thread for your industry," said Margaret D'Arrigo-Martin, vice president of community development at Taylor Farms and a former chair of the GSA. "When we need help, that is where we go."
And as D'Arrigo-Martin also noted, the crop diversity represented totals more than 100 different crops – from vegetables and wine grapes to strawberries and mushrooms. The diversity also includes big, vertically integrated agribusinesses and small, one-farmer operations.
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