From Small Prune Farm to Global Enterprise
Family business spotlight: Taylor Brothers Farms in Yuba City is the world’s largest organic dried prune producer
When Earl Gorman Taylor planted his first plum tree on the 70 acres he bought in Sutter County in 1916, he could never imagine that his grandson Richard would one day turn it into a global empire. That’s exactly what Taylor Brothers Farms is now — the world’s largest producer and global distributor of organic prunes and prune products.
Wine and Family, Aging Gracefully Together
Family business spotlight: The sixth generation of an ag family keeps growing at Heringer Estates
In a delicious coincidence, the year that Heringer Estates in Clarksburg introduced its pinot noir was the same year the film comedy about wine lovers, “Sideways,” with its references to the same varietal, hit theaters. “Our sales just soared in 2004,” says Mike Heringer, CEO and winemaker at his eponymous, six-generation family business.
Unseen Bonds
Family business spotlight: Greg Padilla Bail Bonds is built on a code through 3 generations
From one vantage point, the Padillas — Greg, Topo and Brandon — are the most-multi-faceted professionals working in the Capital Region’s courts. The success of their bail bonds business over four decades involves how many hats each of the three generations can wear.
101 Years of Hustle
Family business spotlight: The Gini family of Collins Electrical Company look to the future
Collins’ first major project was a state hospital in Stockton in 1929, followed by another in Mendocino. More recent projects include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Candlestick and Sutter Health parks, and many casinos.
Recycling and Resilience
Family business spotlight: Vietnamese refugee’s side job turned into a major recycling business
Ming Luong started Ming’s Recycling in 1987, less than a decade after the Luong family arrived in the U.S. They were among the millions of people who fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon, riding a fishing boat to a refugee camp in Malaysia before a church group sponsored their relocation to Laramie, Wyoming.
What Terra Madre Americas Revealed About the Future of Wine
Winemakers from Mexico, Chile and beyond joined California vintners to celebrate slow wine in a changing world
Here are a few highlights from the Slow Wine Coalition’s panels, and takeaways that may inform the Capital Region’s small winemakers.
Startup of the Month: Purple Door Finders
Platform helps seniors connect with communities directly
Purple Door Finders is a platform for seniors to connect with communities directly, eliminating the hassle of sales solicitations and the costs of referral fees paid by the communities. The Folsom-based startup is a software company that provides real-time information on vacancies, pricing, move-in incentives, services, amenities, community events and more.
Dilemma of the Month: An Employee Accidentally Shared an Email With Sensitive Data. How Can We Know It Won’t Happen Again?
The Evil HR Lady addresses apologies and how to take them
If you’re looking for groveling — well, that’s a problem on your side too. Let’s break this down.
To Halve or Not to Halve, That Is the Question | Opinion
FROM THE PUBLISHER: Reflections on the perennial question of dividing California
For 175 years, from California’s admission into the U.S. until now, it sits as the fourth largest economy in the world. More than 220 attempts have been made to divide our state into two, three and even six states. The various reasons have included its sheer size and its presumed ungovernability.
What a Government Shutdown Will Mean for Californians, From Social Security to National Parks
CalMatters: Social Security and Medicare benefits will keep flowing in a government shutdown, but federal employees will be working without pay and delays likely will occur across many services.