Latest News From Western Growers

FDA appoints EPA veteran to build new Human Foods Program
FDA appoints EPA veteran to build new Human Foods Program

Jim Jones has been selected to lead the Human Foods Program, a new initiative within the FDA that will encompass food safety, chemical safety, innovative food products and agtech. The news has received early praise.

AgSharks pitch competition seeking applicants with innovations
AgSharks pitch competition seeking applicants with innovations

Western Growers and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2023 AgSharks Competition.

John D’Arrigo to receive Western Growers' highest accolade
John D’Arrigo to receive Western Growers' highest accolade

D'Arrigo’s achievements and contributions will be celebrated at the trade association's 2023 annual meeting in November.

New H-2A wage rule is met with criticism from industry groups
New H-2A wage rule is met with criticism from industry groups

Fresh produce advocates have voiced concerns over new H-2A wage rate updates, with one calling it a "fatally flawed" approach to setting adverse effect wage rates that should be "scrapped in its entirety."

California’s sustainable pesticide road map: What it is and why it matters
California’s sustainable pesticide road map: What it is and why it matters

After two years of research, California’s pesticide road map aims to reduce pesticide inputs in the state by 2050 and has gathered a cross-sector collaboration ready to dig into the work ahead.

Passage of bipartisan farm labor bill would be a 'Christmas miracle'
Passage of bipartisan farm labor bill would be a 'Christmas miracle'

If passed in the final weeks of 2022, the Affordable and Secure Food Act would streamline the H2-A program, offer agricultural wage stabilization and provide a path to citizenship for farmworkers.

Expert panel recommends major reforms to FDA
Expert panel recommends major reforms to FDA

A groundbreaking report from the Regan-Udall Foundation has evaluated the current FDA Human Foods Program and has shared recommendations to reform the agency to ensure food safety.

Western Growers members named to board of directors
Western Growers members named to board of directors

Elected by membership, the new slate of directors will serve two-year terms beginning at the 96th Western Growers Annual Meeting.

Western Agricultural Coalition stresses immediate implementation of drought funding
Western Agricultural Coalition stresses immediate implementation of drought funding

Drought response funding is needed now, according to the Western Agricultural Coalition.

Western Growers calls on the U.S. Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Western Growers calls on the U.S. Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Western Growers released a new video that calls on the U.S. Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to ease the industry's labor shortage and reduce food inflation.

Western Growers mourns death of Hank Giclas
Western Growers mourns death of Hank Giclas

The Western Growers Family of Companies is mourning the death of Hank Giclas, says Dave Puglia, president and CEO.

Western Growers to honor John Harris 
Western Growers to honor John Harris 

Western Growers will honor California agricultural icon John Harris with the 2022 Award of Honor. 

Western Growers praises new Arizona water legislation
Western Growers praises new Arizona water legislation

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in July that will invest $1.2 billion over three years to fund projects that will bring additional water to the state to secure Arizona’s water future.

Western Growers: FDA will not conduct broad sampling of leafy greens in the Salinas Valley in 2022
Western Growers: FDA will not conduct broad sampling of leafy greens in the Salinas Valley in 2022

The U.S. FDA will not conduct a broad sampling of leafy greens grown in the Salinas Valley region of California for the 2022 growing season, according to a news release from Western Growers.

Western Growers awarded $750,000 grant to develop Next-Gen Ag program
Western Growers awarded $750,000 grant to develop Next-Gen Ag program

Western Growers has received a $750,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to develop and implement a new Next-Gen Ag Workers curriculum. 

Diving into Israel's technological innovation 
Diving into Israel's technological innovation 

The most recent episode of Voices of the Valley explores global water management innovation with Ethy Levy, Israel CEO and Founder of Bridge Hub.

Agricultural microbe product startup wins AgSharks Competition
Agricultural microbe product startup wins AgSharks Competition

3Bar Biologics won the Western Growers/S2G Ventures’ AgSharks® Competition, earning a $250,000 equity investment offer to take its microbe technology from development to market. 

Western Growers names Steve Mangapit chief operating officer
Western Growers names Steve Mangapit chief operating officer

Steve Mangapit has been named the first Chief Operating Officer in Western Growers history.

Industry leaders say infrastructure bill will bring needed investments
Industry leaders say infrastructure bill will bring needed investments

Long-term government help to deliver more water to California growers is on its way.

Albert Keck is elected new Western Growers chairman of the board
Albert Keck is elected new Western Growers chairman of the board

Albert P. Keck II, President of Hadley Date Gardens, Inc., will serve as the Western Growers Chairman of the Board of Directors for a one-year term.

Bipartisan infrastructure bill delivers major water improvements for West
Bipartisan infrastructure bill delivers major water improvements for West

“Western fresh produce growers and indeed farmers throughout the West have reason to celebrate passage of this bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Turning a perpetual ag pain point into patented technology
Turning a perpetual ag pain point into patented technology

Hands-free access to digital technology is a ubiquitous problem in the agriculture industry, said Bruce Rasa, CEO of AgVoice, and his company’s solution to the issue was just awarded a patent three months ago.

Five Startups Vie for $250K Seed Funding in AgSharks Pitch Competition
Five Startups Vie for $250K Seed Funding in AgSharks Pitch Competition

Out of more than 100 applicants, five agtech start-up companies have been selected to go head-to-head in the Western Growers/S2G Ventures 2021 AgSharks Competition.

Burro: From AgSharks Winner to $10.9 Million Series A Round
Burro: From AgSharks Winner to $10.9 Million Series A Round

On the heels of closing a $10.9 million Series A round of funding, Burro CEO Charlie Andersen said his company is set to meet the needs of growers.

Western Growers senior vice president De Ann Davis reappointed to food safety committee
Western Growers senior vice president De Ann Davis reappointed to food safety committee

Western Growers Senior Vice President, Science De Ann Davis, PhD, will serve a second two-year term as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).   

Western Growers to honor Carol Chandler at the 2021 annual meeting
Western Growers to honor Carol Chandler at the 2021 annual meeting

Western Growers will honor agriculture advocate, educator, philanthropist and trailblazer Carol Chandler with the 2021 Award of Honor.

Applications now open to compete for $250,000 in AgSharks Pitch Competition
Applications now open to compete for $250,000 in AgSharks Pitch Competition

Western Growers (WG) and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2021 AgSharks Competition.

California fresh produce industry decries assembly action on SB 559
California fresh produce industry decries assembly action on SB 559

In response to California State Senator Melissa Hurtado being forced to pull SB 559 after the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee removed all funding provisions, California fresh produce said this:

US Capitol
Ag  water coalition applauds Senate passage of infrastructure bill

A national coalition representing thousands of Western farmers, ranchers, water providers, businesses and communities stressed the importance of Senate passage of bipartisan Infrastructure legislation.

Growers speak out on water crisis
Growers speak out on water crisis

California’s water crisis is bad and getting worse.

Farmers already forced to abandon crops as additional water restrictions loom
Farmers already forced to abandon crops as additional water restrictions loom

Bringing into focus some of the California crop losses caused by the 2021 drought, Western Growers has released a series of videos called “No Water = No Crops.”  

California’s poor water regulation puts pressure on farmers, Western Growers leader says
California’s poor water regulation puts pressure on farmers, Western Growers leader says

Drought conditions and tightening regulations on groundwater are putting California’s San Joaquin Valley growers in a vise and forcing them to fallow many acres now, and likely thousands more in the years ahead.

U.S. Supreme Court favors grower property rights over labor unions
U.S. Supreme Court favors grower property rights over labor unions

A U.S. Supreme Court decision in a California case involving labor unions and property rights could affect the entire nation’s agriculture employers and employees.

National coalition presses for water supply infrastructure
National coalition presses for water supply infrastructure

Citing an “acute and critical need” magnified by another all-too-familiar drought, a national coalition urged Senate leaders yesterday to take action to address the shortcomings of aging water infrastructure.

Western Growers launches AgTechX Ed Initiative with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross
Western Growers launches AgTechX Ed Initiative with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers has teamed with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross to launch a statewide initiative to cultivate a farm workforce that can handling advancing technology.

drought
California grower groups respond to California’s emergency drought proclamation

California grower groups applauded the state’s May 10 expansion of emergency drought measures but urged caution in their implementation.

Industry advocates highlight infrastructure needs
Industry advocates highlight infrastructure needs

Details of President Biden’s $2 trillion American Jobs Plan are beginning to surface, even as produce advocates stress industry priorities in any infrastructure legislation.

Robert Medler joins Western Growers in Arizona role

Western Growers, Irvine, Calif., has hired Robert Medler as Arizona government affairs manager.

Western Growers selects Future Volunteer Leaders Program members

To identify and prepare the next generation of Western Growers members for positions of leadership within the Western fresh produce industry, WG has inaugurated the sixth class of the Future Volunteer Leaders Program.

Western Growers’ Jason Resnick promoted to senior vice president

Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers has promoted Jason Resnick to senior vice president and general counsel.

Western Growers, LGMA offer virtual audit program
Western Growers, LGMA offer virtual audit program

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and Western Growers has launched an online audit system to use in place of some in-person parts of the LGMA audit process.

Top lobbyists, analyst, to break down election results

The stakes are high for the Nov. 3 election, and industry leaders will discuss the results and what it might mean for the produce industry in a live panel on Nov. 12 at The Packer’s virtual West Coast Produce Expo.

Canadian romaine requirement could be a costly precedent

New Canadian food safety import requirements for U.S. romaine lettuce could cost the Canadian industry between $11 million and $13 million per week.

CPS symposium review outlines ‘what happens next’

Produce industry associations are revisiting presentations from the 2020 Center for Produce Safety Virtual Research Symposium.

September shaping up as a key month for COVID-19 relief
September shaping up as a key month for COVID-19 relief

September will be a pivotal month to determine if industry pleas for more COVID-19 relief will be answered, Robert Guenther said.

United Fresh schedules food safety web seminars
United Fresh schedules food safety web seminars

United Fresh has food safety web seminars scheduled on a variety of topics, starting with a look at the FDA’s recent unveiling of its blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.

Western Growers’ Dave Puglia named to advisory committee

Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, has been appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee.

Taking the measure of the road back for the industry
Taking the measure of the road back for the industry

The next Congressional coronavirus aid package could be the last before the November election, and Dennis Nuxoll says it is important to account for the needs of growers in that legislation.

Western Growers hires De Ann Davis as SVP of science

Western Growers, Irvine, Calif., has hired De Ann Davis as senior vice president of science.

United Fresh LIVE! closes with industry leaders looking ahead

The United Fresh LIVE!, virtual conference will feature leaders from five produce associations sharing their vision for the future of the global industry at the closing general session.