MONTEREY, Calif. - s4story -- Norm Groot, the Executive Director of the Farm Bureau® Monterey, will discuss what California must do to regain its agricultural competitiveness.  His talk, "Harvesting Hope: A Plan to Restore the Promise of California Agriculture," will be featured as part of the Verb™ Presents Speaker Series on November 20, 2025, at 5:30 pm.  Monterey County is a jewel in the crown of California agriculture, reportedly generating over ~$5 billion in agricultural-related business a year.

Mr. Groot's academic, family, professional and bureau experience inform his relevant perspective; a USC graduate with a degree in Business Accounting and Finance, Norm served on the Orange County Farm Bureau Board of Directors (President), the California Farm Bureau's Board of Directors, and the American Farm Bureau (advisory committees).  He has been recognized by the Monterey County Agricultural Education ("Spirit of Ag" award), Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce ("Ag Leadership Award"), the National Steinbeck Center ("Ag Leader Award"), and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom ("Volunteer of the Year" award).  He has also been involved with committees and boards focused on taxes, transportation, economic development, healthcare, groundwater, and education.

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Norm will speak to some of the daunting challenges to California agriculture, including:

• labor expenses, impacted by AB 1066's impact on overtime for employers
• regulatory compliance (environmental, labor, food safety, water, healthcare, etc.)
• workers' compensation rates, which are among the highest of any California labor sector
• Liability, property and other insurance costs rising, as well as nonrenewal issues, for farms and ranches
• PAGA and other employer litigation exposure leading to multi-million-dollar settlements, even for technical errors
• Water (purchases, groundwater pumping, SGMA fees, monitoring, energy costs)
• Energy and fuel costs,
• Additional compliance issues for postharvest handling, cooling and food-safety programs
• Transportation and logistics costs (including California's high fuel, tax, and regulatory costs for outbound and inbound freight)
• Machinery and equipment high costs for repairs, parts and capital financing
• High land costs, either relating to ownership or rents and leases, etc.

To ensure California continues its leadership role in agriculture, experienced executives like Norm Groot are proactively educating government and industry on effective ways to address these challenges.

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Verb Prsents™ Speaker Series' host, Peter Coe Verbica's roots are multi-generational in the Bay Area, including his family's link to landmark Henry Coe State Park, the heart of which was donating in memory of his predecessor, Henry Coe.  He is a Principal and Managing Director of Silicon Private Wealth® ("SPW®").

Silicon Private Wealth, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor and as a fiduciary puts its clients' interests first.  Its four principals collectively have eighty-eight years of experience in the investment industry.   According to the firm, "At Silicon Private Wealth (SPW), you are at the center of everything we do. We have built our business platform by integrating the "Best in Class" planning and management tools." (www.siliconprivatewealth.com)

For more information, including reservations for the November 20, 2025, 5:30 pm featuring Norm Groot, please email peter@siliconprivatewealth.com.