Ann Donahue
Western Growers, Director, Marketing and Communications
Ann Donahue serves as Director, Marketing and Communications for Western Growers, where she is responsible for external communication efforts and publicizing the Association’s executives, initiatives, and members across all media platforms. Ann spent more than 20 years as an editor and reporter covering entertainment journalism, with bylines at publications including Variety, the L.A. Times, Billboard, […]
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Purchase a Congratulatory Ad Now to Honor John Harris at the Western Growers Annual Meeting
You have until Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 to purchase a congratulatory ad to celebrate 2022 Award of Honor recipient John Harris at the Western Growers Annual Meeting, which will be held Nov. 2-5, 2022 at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to ...
Western Growers Responds to New H-2A Wage Rule
IRVINE, CALIF. (March 6, 2023) – Following the U.S. Department of Labor's announcement that it will publish a final rule to amend the Adverse Effect Wage Rates for the H-2A program, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement: “American farmers are already stretched to the limit by rising costs and shrinking margins. With economic blinders on, the…
Western Growers to Honor John D’Arrigo at the 2023 Annual Meeting
PHOENIX (March 23, 2023) - During its quarterly Board Meeting, the Western Growers Executive Committee announced it will bestow D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of California CEO/President and Chairman of the Board John D'Arrigo with the 2023 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the…
DWR Recommends State Water Board Intervention for Six Groundwater Basins in the Central Valley
For the first time, the California Department of Water Resources deemed the groundwater sustainability plans for six basins “inadequate” and have started transitioning them from DWR oversight to the State Water Board for intervention under the terms laid out by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The ruling applies to the following Groundwater Sustainability Agencies: …
Registration Now Open to Attend the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit on June 20-21
IRVINE, CALIF. (MARCH 2, 2023) – Registration is now open to attend the first-ever Salinas Biological Summit, which will be held June 20-21, 2023 at CSU Monterey Bay's Salinas City Center. Co-presented by Western Growers and New Zealand-based agrifood tech consultancy Wharf42, the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit will provide an opportunity for growers to increase their awareness of…
FIRA USA 2023 Debuts Farming Robots in Salinas, Sept. 19-21, 2023
SALINAS, Calif.—The California Rodeo Salinas is set to become the hub of agricultural innovation as it hosts the 2023 edition of FIRA USA. The three-day event will bring together the agtech automation community for a showcase of the latest robotic farming solutions, exhibitions, presentations, discussions and networking opportunities. Following a successful first edition in Fresno in 2022,…
Growers Spend $500,000 Per Year on Automation
The second annual Western Growers Specialty Crop Automation Report reveals a 25 percent increase in average year-over-year agtech investment as the labor shortage persists IRVINE, CALIF. (April 27, 2023) – Growers are now spending an average of $500,000 a year on automation in response to the persistent ag labor shortage, according to the Specialty Crop Automation Report released today and…
U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation Addressing Farm Bill Priorities
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, this week endorsed legislation that addresses several key priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill. Read the full press release here.
Steve Mangapit Named President of Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc.
IRVINE, CALIF. (June 13, 2023) – Steve Mangapit, the COO of the Western Growers Family of Companies (WGFC), will assume the duties of President of Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc., effective immediately. He replaces David Zanze, who retired after 38 years of service to the organization. "I look forward to ushering in a reinvigorated era of collaboration with our partners," Mangapit says.…
Agriculture Workforce Coalition Releases Statement on the “Secure the Border Act”
The Agriculture Workforce Coalition released the following statement: ”The House has announced plans to move forward with H.R. 2, the “Secure the Border Act,” which includes mandatory electronic verification for all new hires, re-hires of seasonal workers, and if a Social Security Number is used with multiple employers. Farmers share the goal of a verified workforce, but agricultural…
Neill Callis from Turlock Fruit Company Joins the WGCIT for June Lunch and Learn
The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology in Salinas welcomed Turlock Fruit Company General Manager Neill Callis as the speaker for its June Lunch & Learn event. For the representatives from 15 startups that were in attendance, Callis talked about the need for technologists to work with growers to develop precision agriculture - in particular, the need for "hyper specific"…
Applications Now Open to Compete for $250,000 in AgSharks® Pitch Competition
Sixth annual AgSharks® Competition will provide agtech startups exclusive access to produce leaders and funding to advance innovative solutions for the agriculture sector SALINAS, CALIF. (June 21, 2023) - Western Growers and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2023 AgSharks® Competition, a unique event where startup companies pitch their innovations in front of a live…
Western Growers Assurance Trust Announces the WGAT Healthcare Concierge Powered by Rightway
IRVINE, Calif. (July 10, 2023) - Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT) is introducing the WGAT Healthcare Concierge powered by Rightway, a groundbreaking service designed to revolutionize the healthcare experience for WGAT members. Rightway Healthcare is a leading healthcare navigation and advocacy platform that seamlessly blends technology and a human-centered approach to transform patient…
Far West Fungi and Live Oak Farms Featured on PBS’s “America’s Heartland”
Season 17 of “America’s Heartland” – PBS’s stalwart TV show that goes behind-the-scenes on how farmers work to feed the world – is dedicated to specialty crop growers, and a number of Western Growers members will be featured in the coming weeks! The premiere episode of the season, which debuted last week, featured Western Growers members Far West Fungi, based in San Bruno, Calif.,…
FFVA Emerging Leaders Visit the WGCIT in Salinas
The Emerging Leaders from the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association visited the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology in Salinas on June 27, and seven of the Center's startups pitched the group their agtech solutions. Lead by Director Sonia Tighe and Communications Manager Veronica Figueroa, the FFVA Emerging Leaders include: Thomas Addison of H&A Farms; Renee L. Buxton…
Statement of Western Growers on the Reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
IRVINE, CALIF. (June 26, 2023) - Following the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act on June 23, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement: "We thank Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Dan Newhouse and their colleagues for reintroducing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act this Congress - a bill that passed the House twice in recent years. Many…
Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Panetta Institute of Public Policy, Will Keynote the Salinas Biological Summit
IRVINE, CALIF. (May 22, 2023) – Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the Chairman of the Panetta Institute of Public Policy, will deliver the keynote address at the Salinas Biological Summit, speaking on the topic of food security and innovation. Registration is now open to attend the event, which will be held June 20-21, 2023 at CSU Monterey Bay's Salinas City Center. Co-presented by…
Pinnacle Claims Management Names Kyle Gerdts Vice President, Sales and Account Management
IRVINE, Calif. (June 26, 2023) - Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc. is pleased to announce Kyle Gerdts is joining the organization as Vice President, Sales and Account Management. In this role, he will be responsible for business development and client service. Gerdts joins from HealthComp, where he served as Director of Sales with responsibilities for consultative sales and strategy. Prior…
WG Now Offers Pre-Harvest Testing Technical Support
Pre-harvest testing is a hot topic and technical support is now offered by Western Growers. On Nov. 2, 2022, Western Growers, in collaboration with the California Leafy Green Marketing Agreement, (CA LGMA) held an in-person workshop on the subject at the Monterey County Farm Bureau in Salinas, Calif. The event was the first in a ...
Major COVID-19 Updates This Week
Once again, the State has announced major COVID updates this week. For starters, on Monday October 17, 2022 Governor Newsom announced that the California COVID-19 State of Emergency (SOE) will (supposedly) end February 28, 2023. However, he indicated that as the SOE ends, the California “SMARTER Plan continues to guide California’s strategy to best protect ...