IVC Career Fair
Winter Desert Vegatables
Transplanted Red Cabbage is off!
First Transplants of the Season!
IV Press Readers' Choice Award Winner 2017
Vessey Receives Legacy Award
Vessey & Company was presented with the Legacy Award at the Readers' Choice Awards Gala hosted by Imperial Valley Press on May 24, 2017. The Legacy Award is given to local businesses that are known for their commitment, passion and community service. As Jack accepted the award, he thanked all those that have been part of the Vessey "family" for the past 100 years. He also honored his father, Jon, for the all the wisdom he provided.
IV Press Article 5-25-17 ### Vessey Receives Legacy Award
VINCENT OSUNA PHOTO
IV Press Readers’ Choice Awards highlights community’s favorites
By JULIO MORALES, Staff Writer | Posted 5 hours ago
Not everyone went home a winner during the Imperial Valley Press’ Readers’ Choice Awards Gala on Wednesday, but it hardly seemed to dampen the festive mood of the sizable and well-dressed crowd gathered at The Loft in El Centro.
All told, dozens of awards were handed out Wednesday to the top vote-getters in several popular categories during the annual event.
Although Cold Stone Creamery was named the readers’ top choice for ice cream in 2016, the distinction or the possibility of a repeat win wasn’t at the forefront of crew leader Vanessa Ramirez’s mind.
“I feel that we don’t need an award to show great customer service and have a great product,” Ramirez said, prior to the announcement of Wednesday’s winners.
Her employer also deserves its employees’ credit for the friendly and flexible atmosphere it affords its workers, said Ramirez, who has been able to obtain her undergraduate degree and work toward her Master’s Degree all while employed with the nearly 10-year-old El Centro-based business.
As in years past, Ramirez said that her and her co-workers made sure to kindly remind customers of their ability to vote for the creamery, but that they didn’t mount an aggressive campaign.
Now in its fourth year, the formal affair brought out a wide representation of the Valley’s business community. Awardees were chosen by community members who had the opportunity to cast ballots on a daily basis for their favorite local businesses. More than 8,000 votes were cast from April 23 through May 8.
Some of the business categories included best pet grooming, tire shop, beauty salon, auto mechanic, tacos, coffee and donuts, to name just a few.
Styles & Smiles beauty salon owners Lulu and Mike Castro were also on hand Wednesday to see how their longtime business fared in the several categories it was nominated for.
With a crew of 15 stylists at its disposal, as well as a considerable number of regular customers, the beauty salon did its best to remind its clients to vote and vote repeatedly.
Yet, in many instances, such prodding was hardly needed, said Mike Castro.
“Many of our clients would come in and tell us that they already voted,” he said, prior to the announcement of Wednesday’s winners.
Castro said he credits a dedicated focus on customer service for the popularity of the El Centro-based beauty salon.
“Everything is geared to them,” Castro said. “They like the way that we do business.”
Aside from the various awards acknowledging the Valley’s best hot wings and bakery, the IV Press’ Readers’ Choice Awards Gala also granted one local business its Legacy Award, which this year went to Jack Vessey, of Holtville-based Vessey & Co., Inc.
The Legacy Award was designed to highlight a local business that embodies a balance of passion, quality, creativity and involvement with the community.
As surprised and humbled as Vessey said that he was about receiving the recognition, he made sure to honor the previous generations of Vesseys that have contributed to the agricultural company’s success and philosophy.
“We couldn’t have done what we have done for almost the last 100 years without the people that are on the ranch that are family to us and mean so much to us and the Imperial Valley,” Vessey said.
The longtime grower said he was always sure he would follow in his late father Jon’s footsteps, despite his father’s initial advice to pursue a different type of career.
Vessey also credited the guidance his father imparted to him as a young child sitting quietly in his father’s office learning the nuances and challenges of the family business and the agricultural industry.
“That to me was something that taught me more than anything else in this world,” Vessey said. “My dad was ahead of his time.”
A list of the Readers’ Choice winners will be published in its entirety in a special section on June 11.
Staff Writer Julio Morales can be reached at jmorales@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3415.
Jack Vessey gives an acceptance speech after Vessey & Co. was awarded the Legacy Award during the third annual Readers’ Choice Awards on Wednesday night at The Loft in El Centro. VINCENT OSUNA PHOTO
Author
Julio Morales
First Day of Cantaloupe Harvest!
Packed up and ready to GO!
Cantaloupe Season has arrived!
It's that time of the year! Cantaloupe season! We are excited to start harvesting in the next couple of weeks!
Looking good, but not quite ready!
Jack checking quality.
Not quite sweet enough for this sweetie! Let's give it a bit more time.
Administrative Professional Day!
Vessey & Co. celebrated Administrative Professional Day with lunch and goodies! This Day is a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication shown everyday by these ladies! Thank you to all of them!
Vessey Team Supports Local Charity Golf Tournament
The Halos & Tiaras Foundation, which supports families with children in treatment for cancer, held a golf tournament to raise funds for local families. Team Vessey had a great time and took Second Place!
Team Vessey: Mark Allegranza, Jeremy Tucker, Jack Vessey & Bartt Ries
Thank you to Jack Vessey from Leafy Green Board
70th Annual Carrot Parade
Holtville celebrated the 70th Annual Carrot Festival and Parade on February 11, 2017. This year's theme was, "We Dig Carrots" and once again Vessey entered an elaborate float, which took 1st place in the Commercial Float Division.
The float, with its 70's theme also included fresh produce!
With the mic in hand, Jack pumps up the crowd!
Following the float was the Vessey Love Van!
A big THANKS to Razo and Paco for all their hard work on the float and the Van!
Produce Gala and Saladero Contest
Vessey & Company took home the People's Choice Award at the 2017 Saladero Contest hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley! In all, 7 teams competed with the Imperial County Sheriff's Office taking first place, and Vessey & Co. taking second! The goal of the contest is to utilize local produce. We accomplished this with our Aloha Salad which included locally grown romaine and butter leaf lettuce, spring mix, red and green cabbage, napa, organic rainbow carrots, and cilantro with a Crystallized Ginger Vinaigrette! Hawaiian Pork sliders were served on the side!
Our team included Jack & Jamie Vessey, Eileen Low and Eric Pompa
2017 Carrot Festival Banquet
Congratulations to the 2017 Carrot Queen, Sadie Allegranza and to all the young ladies who participated in this year's Carrot Queen Contest. Several of this year's contestants were part of our Vessey & Co. Family, Sadie Allegranza is the daughter of Rosie Allegranza and niece of Mark Allegranza. McKenzie Peeks, who was part of the Court, is the daughter of Cory Peeks, our Food Safety Manager! Past Queen Emily Allegranza, was also there to crown her younger sister. Congratulations to them all!
Sadie Allegranza (far left), McKenzie Peeks (third from left) & Emily Allegranza (far right) are all part of our Vessey & Co. Family!
Checking Fields
It's all about family as Ranch Manager, Bartt Ries, takes his daughter Paige to check fields on a beautiful winter morning!
26th Annual Rib Cook-Off
Merry Sunshine Ribs takes home the Pinnacle Award at the Rib Cook-Off! Thank you to all the sponsors and our hard working team! The Cook-off is hosted by the Holtville Athletic Club. Funds raised at the Cook-Off go back into the community through youth and sports programs.
KXO News Radio 1-30-17 ### Rib Cook-Off Winners
Written by George Gale
Category: Local News
Created: Monday, 30 January 2017
(It was another good turn-out)…The 26th Annual Holtville Athletic Club’s Rib Cook-off was held Saturday.
The exact numbers have not been released. Officials, however say Samaha Park was packed for most of the morning. Over $10,000 in awards and prizes were distributed during the day. The list of winners include; The Best Performance. That award went to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office. The Hospitality award went to Big Al’s Paradise Café. Second place went to the City of Holtville. Los Compadres took 3rd. The Best Side dish was Lucky’s Fish Tacos. Second place went to AM Desert Storm and third went to Redneck Ribs. The Best Pie award went to Maxine Bonneau, who also took third place. The second place award went to Linda Hornung. Mitch Kellum picked up the award for best outhouse. Best Booth was awarded to Fern Semi Famous BBQ. Second went to Imperial County Planning and third went to the City of Holtville. The Best Ribs, as chosen by the Judges, went to Imperial County Planning. Second place went to Dune Company and Big Al’s was third. The pinnacle or People’s Choice award went to Vessey and Co’s Sunshine Ribs. And inducted into the Hall of Flame was Ronnie Claybrook
http://kxoradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7071:rib-cook-off-winners-2&catid=8&Itemid=103
KYMA News Channel 1-24-17 ### Labor of Love feeds ag workers in the Imperial Valley
Labor of Love feeds ag workers in the Imperial Valley
HOLTVILLE, Calif. - Dozens of farm workers were treated to breakfast this week as a sign of gratitude from the community.
More than 60 farm workers in Holtville enjoyed breakfast brought to them by the Labor of Love program, Tuesday morning. This is the first time the Yuma program offers this type of event in the Imperial Valley, according to organizers.
The program initiated last year through the Yuma Fresh Association as a way to thank farm workers for their work. The event was in collaboration with the Imperial Valley Vegetable Grower’s Association and Vessey and Company.
"These people are the heart and soul of the agriculture business, which is the heart and soul of how we have healthy foods on our tables all across the country. Without them we couldn't have that, so we are just so grateful for everything that they do for the industry and the world," said Kristin Sheppeard, Labor of Love program.
Sheppeard says they plan to offer more of these events for other farm workers in the Imperial Valley.
By: Eduardo Santiago
Posted: Jan 24, 2017 03:21 PM MST
Updated: Jan 24, 2017 03:21 PM MST
http://www.kyma.com/news/labor-of-love-feeds-ag-workers-in-the-imperial-valley/279896975
Western Farm Press Article 1-23-17 ### Vessey & Company join Labor of Love program
Imperial Vegetable Growers Assn., Vessey & Company join Labor of Love program
The Labor of Love program thanks farm workers for their service to the agricultural industry and by sharing their talents, loyalty, and incredible work ethic through social media and the Labor of Love websites.
Farm Press Staff | Jan 23, 2017
The Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association has joined with the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association (YFVA) to expand the Labor of Love program in California’s southern-most winter vegetable fields.
In addition, Holtville-based Vessey & Company is the first California grower from the Imperial Valley to support the Labor of Love program.
In Fall 2015, YFVA launched the program in Yuma, Ariz. and followed farm workers into California’s Salinas Valley during the summer months before returning to the Yuma area in the fall.
According to YFVA, the purpose of the Labor of Love program is to thank farm workers for their service to the agricultural industry and by sharing their talents, loyalty, and incredible work ethic through social media and the Labor of Love websites.
Labor of Love visited the Vessey ranch on Jan. 17, surprising workers with a catered meal and a random act of kindness basket, plus a handwritten note from community members.
For more information, contact Susan Sternitzke at (928) 246-9255 (cell) and susan@limelightcreativegroup.com.
http://www.westernfarmpress.com/vegetables/imperial-vegetable-growers-assn-vessey-company-join-labor-love-program
http://laborofloveyuma.com/