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Agriculture Winter 2021

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GREAT RATES AND LOW COSTS CALL FOR PRIVATE CONSULTATION AND ESTIMATE OF LOAN SIZE, LOAN RATE & LOAN COST www.pacificinland.com DRE #00911706, NMLS #360542; DRE #00956877, NMLS #361091 LOANS FOR FARMS AND WINERIES Jim Chubb, Home Loan Consultant Pacific Inland Financial Inc. Office: 831-475-2600 Cell: 831-818-7700 jchubb1@gmail.com • Must Have A Residence On The Property • Minimum 5 Acres • Commercial Farms • Hobby Farms • Schedule F Deductions O.K • Large And Small Wineries • Ag Uses/AG Rental OK Ocean Mist Farms' Kevin Tottino receives award Ocean Mist Farms (OMF), the leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., recently announced that Progressive Grocer's named Kevin Tottino, value-added manager at Ocean Mist Farms, a recipient of the third annual GenNext Award. This award recogniz- es individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated a commit- ment to a career in ei- ther the grocery or CPG industries; innovation through the work they are doing; leadership, including the capacity to inspire and lead others, a commitment to learn- ing from others; and a commitment to getting involved in the industry, helping through chari- ties or in the community, and bringing the indus- try into the future. "We are very proud of the work Kevin has done here at Ocean Mist Farms and congratulate him on this well-de- served award," said Chris Drew, Chief Operations Officer of Ocean Mist Farms. "Kevin has an innate sense for product innovation for the prod- ucts we grow and his passion to support the local community where he lives and works, along with many others from the organization, is a heartfelt responsibility." For nearly 10 years, Tottino has built and managed the val- ue-added operation of Ocean Mist Farms, the next-generation focus for Provided photo of Kevin Tottino Brighter Bites announces expansion to Salinas Brighter Bites expects to impact approximately 1,200 families with support from local partners Brighter Bites, a na- tional nonprofit organi- zation that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families' hands, announces the launch of its seventh location in Salinas. The fertile fields of the Salinas Valley are home to numerous growers, and the headquarters of many Brighter Bites partners make it an ideal location for the expan- sion. Brighter Bites looks forward to seizing the opportunity to improve the health of students and families in the Salinas area by provid- ing nutrition education and access to free, fresh produce. "We're thrilled to expand our services to the 'produce capital' of our country," said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. "Partner- ing with the Salinas com- munity is such a natural fit for Brighter Bites and we're honored to work with local growers, ship- pers, and organizations to continue the mo- mentum of giving back to a community that has given us so much." Brighter Bites' launch in the region is made possi- ble through the support of several key partners, including River Fresh Farms, who is providing logistical support, and critical funding partners like the Church Broth- ers, JV Smith Compa- nies, Mission Produce, Taylor Farms, and the Walmart Foundation. Other donors, including those who are provid- ing produce, include Braga Fresh, D'Arrigo California, Dole Food Company, Mann Packing Company, Muzzi Family Farms, and Nunes Com- pany. Monterey County resident Alicia Blanco, Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites, has identified three school districts that the orga- nization will initially partner with based on current need and fit with the Brighter Bites' mission. The schools partnering with Brighter Bites for the school year include the Gonzales Unified School Dis- trict, Greenfield Union School District, and Monterey County Head Start. Brighter Bites will continue to grow the program in the Salinas region into the summer and fall. "We are so excited to be partnering with Brighter Bites to bring farm-fresh produce to our students and their families. This program will allow our students to learn the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle while providing them with the resources to do so," said Alvin Vitug, Director of Nutrition at La Gloria Elementa- ry School in Gonzales, CA. Since launching in 2012, Brighter Bites has distributed more than 40 million pounds of produce and hundreds of thousands of nutrition education materials to over 500,000 individ- uals through schools, after-school programs, and summer camps in the cities in which it serves. Brighter Bites uses a simple formula for introducing healthy life- styles to families: produce distribution, nutrition education, and a fun food experience that helps to demystify produce and show just how great it can taste. About Brighter Bites: Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among chil- dren and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, pre- schools, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent expo- sure to recipes and mes- sages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided more than 40 million pounds of produce and hundreds of thousands of nutrition ed- ucation materials to more than 500,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Wash- ington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Flori- da. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www. brighterbites.org and fol- low them on social media @brighterbitessalinas. this nearly 100-year-old company, and shep- herded the introduction of the first Ocean Mist Farms value-added item, Season & Steam Arti- chokes. His ingenuity with production, and his innate sense for product innovation and consum- er demand, made him an ideal candidate for the GenNext Award. When he's not at work, Tottino serves on the Annual Castroville Arti- choke Festival Board of Directors and has been involved in this annual community outreach event since he was a child. Tottino's role as the 4th generation of a near- ly 100-year-old family business allows for his forward-thinking per- spective to have a unique forum. "I am honored to be recognized in this way and am humbled to be among the other nom- inees in this category," said Tottino. "I will take this recognition as a sign that I'm right where I need to be. I look forward to many more years of serving my community and Ocean Mist Farms."

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