Meet The Next Generation Of American Vegetable Growers
May 8, 2013 
The average age of the American grower is fast approaching 60. As fewer young people are entering the profession, the future of food production should be a mounting concern for those involved in ag, as well as the general public. After all, statistics say there will be 9 billion people to feed in 2050. That’s a tall order to fill with a dwindling number of growers to handle the task.
There is a silver lining, however. In the U.S. there are many categorized as part of the younger generation who are willing and able to step into a role in agriculture. In fact, numerous young men and women have taken on leadership roles across the country and are striving to make a difference in the industry.
As American Vegetable Grower, along with sister publications, American Fruit Grower and Florida Grower see that the needs of this up-and-coming generation must be met, we will provide them with information to help them get the additional skills they need and a place where they can share expertise, offer suggestions, share ideas, and much more.
This is the basis of the GenNext Growers’ program, which is dedicated to specialty crop producers. Are the needs of the next generation different from the previous one? What are their biggest challenges? What are their hopes for the future?
To get answers to those questions, we went directly to these young ag professionals. Click on the next pages to find out what they have to say, and stay tuned for additional coverage dedicated to GenNext Growers in future issues. (For more information, go to http://GenNextGrowers.com.)
Tanner Torrano, Lucero Farms, Los Banos, CA
Implementing the latest technology will be critical for growers moving forward, says Tanner. “A lot of farmers aren’t using what we have out there. Investing in new technology can be a big expense in the beginning, but over the years the small amount you can save by doing things such as applying the correct amount of fertilizer and not over applying or under applying — thanks to new technology — and getting better yield is tremendous, especially over a large quantity of acreage. … For large farmers there is a lot of technology out there: GPS mapping, soil mapping, variable rate application, prescription maps, etc.â€�
Chris Drew, Sea Mist Farms, Castroville, CA
“Something needs to be done to further educate regulators with respect to farming practices in California,� says Chris. “We have a lot of regulations, from water on the ranch to the chemicals we apply. We do everything in our power to apply water and chemicals at the most minimal amounts we can to produce a quality crop. But we’re dealing with people who don’t understand farming — like people who don’t understand that certain soils require more fertilizer than others, or certain climates need more water.�
Jonathan Allen, R.C. Hatton, Pahokee, FL
Jonathan, who was part of the 2012-13 Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Emerging Leader Development Program, cites devising a way to get “more bang for the buck� as a skill he is interested in enhancing.
“I would like to become more cost efficient, as that is the biggest challenge,� he explains. “Finding ways to cut costs is key to being profitable. I’d also like to be more detail oriented for smaller things as it is the little things that wind up costing you in the end.�
Luke Parr, Sackett Ranch, Stanton, MI
Luke says working on the farm is a perfect fit for him, as he has a degree in manufacturing and engineering. “I do design, specs, and then I actually build our custom equipment. So I still get my engineering along with agriculture and working outside.�
In the future, Luke says he could see himself tackling some sort of leadership role. “I need to learn a lot more in order for that to be an effective role for me. There is a lot of knowledge in the older generation that would be very helpful for me.�
Eric Hansen, Hansen Farms, Stanley, NY
Volatility of the market is a challenge Eric faces that his father and grandfather didn’t have to deal with previously. “Input costs, labor — the volatility of it all — is different now than in the past. Nothing stays the same very long,� he says. “For example, the commodity markets are always going up and down. A bushel of corn can vary by 30¢ to 40¢ a day.
“Plus, it seems like every year when we go to negotiate contracts — and for us it is for cabbage — it is a battle because costs keep going up,� he continues. “Now you need more money to stay afloat and it is like pulling teeth to get it. As you go down the chain, ultimately the consumer has to pay more for the product.�
Kaitlin Dye, Re-DiVined, Holtwood, PA
Kaitlin makes a living grafting tomatoes for growers in several states in the east and midwest as well as in Texas. One of her concerns is seeing the industry grow, as she says right now there are either really big farms or really small farms.
“If you aren’t born into a farm, it is hard to acquire one,� she says. “If I wanted to have my own farm, it would be difficult to start out. Plus, now a lot of kids are leaving farms. What needs to happen is for some of those kids to realize the treasure of what is being passed down to them.�
Jason Turek, Turek Farms, King Ferry, NY
The old adage, “the more things change, the more they stay the same,� rings true with Jason, especially when it comes to issues such as labor.
“It always seems like it was more fun in the ‘old days’ and maybe that is something you say when you get older. I think the previous generations had fewer burdens with compliance and things of that sort, and I was going to say labor wasn’t always a problem, but it seems like it has been an issue since the 1960s. As it has been an issue for a while, growers continue to keep looking for new ways to harvest crops.�
Garrett Patricio, Westside Produce, Firebaugh, CA, And Yuma, AZ
“Education and job placement are key,� says Garrett about informing the public on the importance of ag. “Skeptically speaking, however, at the grade school and high school levels, agriculture is now an afterthought. More troubling, fewer and fewer colleges and universities are including agriculture and agriculture-related coursework in their curriculums. People must be exposed to agriculture in school to better understand where food comes from and that career opportunities in the industry do exist.�
Bill Beinlich, Triple B Farms, Monogahela, PA
As the disconnect between farm and fork increases, Bill says that direct marketing farms, like his family’s, are important to help solve the problem and present a positive image to consumers. He adds that the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Mobile Ag lab that travels to schools in the state to teach kids about agriculture is another way to help with the disconnect. “[The lab] was at our elementary school a few years ago, and my own kids seemed to enjoy it.�
He also says that growers should stick with what they know when discussing farm-related technology. “In general, I disagree with the idea that farmers should be trying to discuss GMOs and biotech issues with consumers because farmers mostly lack the scientific knowledge to do so.�
John Boelts, Desert Premium Farms, Yuma, AZ
John says he opted to go into farming “because I’m passionate about it and I enjoy the challenge of growing crops and the pleasure of knowing that folks are eating what I’m producing. … all around the world, really.â€�
For Boelts, one area that affects him personally and professionally is politics. “Without thoughtful, pragmatic leadership, we don’t solve problems the right way, we don’t manage our fiscal health the right way, and what that means for my kids [in the future] unfortunately, is what Europe is going through right now.�
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