Apr 25, 2024

Foundation names Colby Pereira Ag Woman of the Year

Braga Fresh’s Colby Pereira has received the Grower-Shipper Foundation Agricultural Woman of the Year Award.

The award honors women’s unique leadership qualities in the agricultural industry in California’s Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

Pereira is chief operating officer of Braga Fresh, Soledad, California.

Recipients demonstrate a significant contribution to agriculture, is a leader in the community and is a “Ag-Vocate” for agriculture, according to the organization. Ag Against Hunger, a program of the Grower-Shipper Foundation, honored Pereira at its annual Agricultural Woman of the Year Recognition Luncheon.

Pereira has a rich background in family farming and is active in several professional and community organizations including the Salinas Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, the Monterey County Farm Bureau and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

She participates on the Food Safety, Land Use & Water Use Committees for the Monterey County Farm Bureau and Grower-Shipper Association and the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Technical Committee. She serves on the California Leafy Greens Research Board, is an elected director to the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency and serves on the Mission Union School District Board of Trustees.

Pereira attributes her passion for agriculture to her grandfather, Anthony Costa, a pioneer in the Salinas valley.

“What you invest in your community, you get back 10-fold,” Pereira said when she received the award, according to a news release.

Pereira has a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural business with a minor in crop science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She lives where she was born and raised, in Soledad, California, also home of Braga Fresh and Josie’s Organics, its organic brand.

Photos courtesy of Braga Fresh.