32. Chris Valadez - President of Grower-Shipper Association, human connection, resilience, and sustainability

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Valadez, President of the Grower Shippers Association, to explore the challenges and strategies shaping the agriculture industry. We dive into how aligning our strengths with our core values can make a big difference, the importance of telling stories that actually connect with people, and the vital role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. Chris offers valuable insights into how the industry can better connect with the public by sharing stories that resonate with their concerns. He notably emphasizes that effective communication in the agriculture industry requires not just telling the story but understanding which aspects will resonate with the public, aligning responses with their concerns, and fostering connections by addressing criticisms thoughtfully rather than defensively.

We also reflect on the challenges the agriculture industry faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris discusses the chaotic response to COVID, particularly in agriculture, highlighting the immense pressure on the industry to continue food production while managing health risks, and I share how even with good intentions to lower costs and offer free services, we felt the financial impact. Despite these challenges, Chris’ leadership within the agriculture industry served as an example of the value of human connection. 

Together, Chris and I delve into the resilience of the industry during the pandemic, the importance of human connection in our work, and explore recent food safety initiatives that are paving the way for the future of agriculture. Join us for this insightful conversation on leadership, communication, and the evolving landscape of food production.

Chris Valadez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-valadez-2b85a9234

Grower-Shipper Association - https://www.growershipper.com/

This episode is sponsored by UnitedAg,  one of the largest association health plans to offer healthcare to the agriculture industry of California and Arizona.  

Kirti Mutatkar, President and CEO of UnitedAg. 

Reach me at kmutatkar@unitedag.org, www.linkedin.com/in/kirtimutatkar
UnitedAg website - www.unitedag.org

Episode Contributors - Chris Valadez, Kirti Mutatkar, Dave Visaya, Rhianna Macias

The episode is also sponsored by Brent Eastman Insurance Services Inc. - https://brenteastman.com

Blue Shield of California - https://www.blueshieldca.com

Elite Medical - https://www.elitecorpmed.com

Gallagher - https://www.ajg.com/

SAIN Medical https://sainmedical.com/

MDI Network - https://www.mdinetworx.com/about-us