Jim Bogart Retires from GSA after 40 Years of Service

by Abby Taylor-Silva

In 1979 a Junior Attorney was just beginning a career in labor and employment in bustling Los Angeles, his home since birth, when he got a phone call from a college friend saying that her family’s company and others were looking for a new labor attorney to work for Western Growers out of a Salinas office. The company was Bruce Church, Inc., the office was the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association, and the young attorney was Jim Bogart.

In June the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California will celebrate Jim Bogart’s 40-year career in agricultural advocacy with a friendly roast at Corral de Tierra. His story begins with an industry facing tremendous tumult and change. An urbanite with a love of all things USC, Jim had briefly visited the Central Coast a few times, and it reminded him of visits to his grandparents in Oxnard at a time when there was no development past Thousand Oaks and only green fields lined the road.

There had been a few ag-clients at the LA firm, but not many. Alongside Terry O’Connor, Richard Quandt, Rob Roy, Charlie Stoll, Cal Watkins and others, he was part of a team that worked with agriculture statewide to manage in a world where picket lines, marches, union organizing and constant elections were the new norm.

GSA hired Jim on in 1984, transitioning him away from his role with Western Growers but keeping him in the same office, which he fondly remembers sharing with Terry O’Connor, joking that they bunked in the small office while their secretary enjoyed a larger one to herself.

Jim’s interactions with Cesar Chavez were all memorable. He remembers, as the years went on, Cesar telling him: “We’re bigger than a labor movement, we’re a social and political movement.”
As labor organizing began to diminish in the 1990s, Jim’s focus shifted to policy work, predominately related to wage and hour/employment discrimination. Jim became GSA’s president in 1997 when water and food safety issues were percolating, but labor still led the priority list. That was, until September 2006.

Jim unequivocally says “Without a doubt, the most serious issue, the seminal event in my career was the 2006 E. coli outbreak. That was a watershed moment. That changed everything. The industry literally shut down. We’d been through natural disasters, strikes, but it had never shut down an entire industry like that did.”

With Joe Pezzini serving the Board as Chair that year, he and Jim led the industry in responding to considerable national media attention on the outbreak, those affected, and the industry’s next steps. The establishment of the Leafy Green Handlers Marketing Agreement in 2007 further changed the industry’s focus and needs.

There have been a number of highlights. Those included working with Mike Antle to establish the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation, a vehicle by which the industry and members could educate the community about agriculture. Jim’s most proud of the diversification of GSA’s leadership during his 40 years, especially having three female chairpersons within his final decade as President. Membership also moved and shifted with industry trends and changed from being strictly vegetable producers to wine grapes, berries and mushrooms. Water and food safety became high priorities and staff were added to address new member needs.

There have been frustrations too. Jim notes that it’s always concerning when decisions are based on politics and ideology rather than common ground to address and solve problems. “When some dig in their heels it takes away the opportunity for productive engagement to think through ways to overcome challenges. It seems we were able to work our way through problems years ago much easier than it is today and that’s unfortunate.”

There’s been a lot to be proud of. The development of the Foundation’s AgKnowledge program, the way that the organization and membership has grown, and GSA taking on much more responsibility and challenges than in the past were high points for Bogart.

“GSA has a reputation of professionalism, fairness and leadership when it comes to confronting challenges,” he said. “We’ve been able to form productive relationships that have served our members well. We’ve always taken the time to make a connection and forge a relationship. Whether it’s labor organizations, environmental groups, they know they can talk to GSA, that we will return the call and have the conversation. I’m as proud of that as anything else.”

Ask him his favorite thing about these 40 years, he will say “the people.” Not coming from an ag background, he can appreciate the culture of agriculture from a different perspective.

“The people in ag are hardworking, they provide a real value and do good work. There’s no pretentiousness. They are sincere, and they are appreciative of what help you can give them, that’s been my big take away from this job,” Bogart said. I’ve been so fortunate to work with wonderful people, and not just the executives and owners, but farm workers as well. I have such admiration for what they do and how hard they work and the contributions they make to this industry, there’s a dignity in that job that will stay with me. ”

Bogart’s only regret? Not seeing immigration reform pass. “I would have liked to see immigration reform solved and legal status provided so that farm worker families can really thrive.”

Jim leaves Chris Valadez in his place, along with a team that has worked with him for more than a decade. He is excited about where GSA will go under Chris’ leadership.

The days ahead will be filled with golf, no doubt, but something else too, we expect. Perhaps teaching, private practice, consulting, or the like. He says it’s been his honor, but truly, the honor has been ours.