Business leaders place high value on our reports and have made many positive comments.
Here's a collection of public statements made by agricultural industry representatives:
“This report shows the importance of Imperial County agriculture as both an employer and a powerful economic engine. Every dollar earned creates ripples that support a healthy local economy.”
Shelby Trimm,
Executive Director
Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association
Source: quoted in the Imperial Valley News (click here)
“Farmers and ranchers have long known that every dollar spent creates ripples that support a healthy local economy. Now, thanks to the new Crop Report Plus study, we have documentation of those wider economic effects.”
David Barroso,
President
Merced County Farm Bureau
Source: quoted in the Turlock Journal, September 3, 2025 (click here)
“Thank you to Sean and his team and huge congratulations on this product.”
“I can easily use this report in a host of areas.”
“It will be a huge benefit to our organization’s efforts moving forward.”
Breanne Vandenberg,
Executive Director, Merced County Farm Bureau
Source: public comment to the Merced County Board of Supervisors, August 26, 2025 (click here for video)
“We always knew agriculture contributed much more to Marin than people realize. Now, thanks to this study, we have a fuller sense of agriculture’s contributions.”
Martin Pozzi,
President
Marin County Farm Bureau
Source: quoted in the Marin Independent Journal (click here)
“I want to thank the Ag Commissioner, Juan Hidalgo, and his team and staff, as well as our two esteemed colleagues who put this report together. Really appreciate the update and hope that we can continue this on a five-year cycle.”
Norm Groot,
Executive Director
Monterey County Farm Bureau
Source: public comment to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, November 18, 2025 (click here for video)
“It was always clear that agriculture’s impact went beyond the fields, but it was never quantified before. This report brings that all to the forefront.”
Cynthia Mathiesen,
President, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau
Intellectual Property Manager, Driscoll’s
Source: quoted in the Santa Cruz Sentinel (click here)
In ag, farmers, ranchers, packers and processors have known about this value for years. To stretch out and find all the positive effects of agriculture and that ag in the valley is huge . . . I’m happy the Agriculture Commissioner’s doing this.”
Ken Vogel,
Farmer and First Vice President
San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation
Source: quoted in an article published by the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation (click here)
“This report equips decision makers and community leaders to better understand how agriculture is interconnected with our entire economy."
Brent Burchett,
Executive Director
San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
Source: quoted in a press release issued by the County of San Luis Obispo (click here)
“I think this report really underscores the partnerships and the layered aspects of what it is to have a vibrant agricultural community . . .”
Lily Verdone,
Executive Director
Marin Agricultural Land Trust
Source: public comment to the Marin County Board of Supervisors, July 8, 2025 (click here for video)
“This report and its content is a huge step in the right direction.”
“The report is an improvement that shows a more complete value of ag.”
Bruce Blodgett
Executive Director
San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation
Source: quoted in an article published by the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation (click here)
“It’s not just about numbers and dollars . . . this report is about people and the importance of agriculture to those people.”
Jim Bogart,
President (retired)
Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
Source: quoted in The Californian (click here)
"I was impressed and blown away by the statistics . . ."
“This is hard, statistical evidence of how valuable ag is to the county.”
Jake Samuel,
Second Vice President
San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation
Source: quoted in an article published by the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation (click here)
“This report shows the importance of Glenn County agriculture as both an employer and a powerful economic engine. Every dollar earned creates ripples that support a healthy local economy.”
Larry Domenighini,
Director and Past President
Glenn County Farm Bureau
Source: quoted in the Glenn County Transcript (click here)
“It [the report] shows that agriculture is a major driver in our economy here.”
Darrell Cordova,
President (through 2020)
Stanislaus County Farm Bureau
Source: video and article in the Modesto Bee (click here)
“The Crop Report Plus is a great representation of Imperial Valley agriculture and the value it brings to our county. We appreciate the Ag Commissioner’s Office having this report developed . . . "
Jeff Plourd,
President
Imperial County Farm Bureau
Source: Imperial Valley News (click here)
