Our Mission

To create healthy farms, individuals and communities, Western Growers Foundation promotes sound science, food safety, and nutrition education .

History

In 1995, Western Growers members created Western Growers Charitable Foundation to give back to the residents of California and Arizona who have helped to make them so successful over the past 80 years. WGCF was developed to address timely issues facing these valued customers.

Currently, our children remain nutritionally deficient and are suffering from obesity and Type-2 diabetes in record numbers. Hoping to reverse this alarming trend, Western Growers Charitable Foundation launched the School Garden Program in 2003. Funds raised through this effort will be used to start and maintain gardens at every school, regardless of income requirements, in California and Arizona. School gardens provide endless benefits and opportunities for children to become more closely linked with their food supply and excited about eating more fruits, vegetables and nuts.

In 2007, Western Growers Charitable Foundation was renamed Western Growers Foundation. The renaming accompanied a reorganization of the Foundation's mission and work. The Foundation now focuses on three pillars:

• Specialty Crop Science and Research
• Food Safety
• Nutrition Education

The School Garden Program will continue under the Nutrition Education pillar. We feel that we can better give back to the community and our members with the three afore mentioned areas of focus.