Posts By: Cory Lunde
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WG Requests Suspension on Lemons from Argentina Rule
On December 20, 2016, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a final rule that will allow for the importation of fresh lemons from Argentina. In response, Tom Nassif sent a letter to President-elect Trump’s USDA transition team requesting that the incoming Administration suspend the rule, pending review of the flawed underlying science ...
Nassif Congratulates Perdue on Nomination to Head USDA
President-elect Donald Trump announced today his choice for Secretary of Agriculture, naming former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to the post. Following the announcement, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif released this statement congratulating Governor Perdue on his nomination: “We support the nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture and…
WG Urges Brown to Intervene in Minimum Flow Standards Proposal Process
Western Growers delivered a letter to Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday, urging the governor to direct the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) “to begin anew” on a proposal that would update minimum flow standards for the Lower San Joaquin River. In the letter, Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif calls for a “collaborative ...
Class IV Future Volunteer Leaders Installed
Last Wednesday, February 8, the fourth class of Future Volunteer Leaders assembled at the Western Growers’ Irvine headquarters for the inaugural activities of the two-year networking and leadership development program. Eleven Class IV participants began the three-day program with an introduction to the history and organizational structure of Western Growers, as well as an in-depth ...
Members Encouraged to Develop and Adhere to Media Protocols
As part of the media reaction to President Trump’s interior immigration enforcement executive order, many reporters are contacting Western Growers and our members to determine its potential impact on the agriculture industry. Because of the uncertainties surrounding implementation of this policy, we encourage our members to develop internal protocols designating a single point of contact…
WG Continues to Oppose Isadore Hall’s ALRB Appointment
Opposing the appointment of former state Senator Isadore Hall to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), Western Growers has sent a letter to Governor Brown, penned an op-ed in the Sac Bee and testified against the appointment. Hall is a staunch UFW ally. Last week, the Sacramento Bee published an op-ed by Western Growers President ...
2017 March Board Meeting Concludes Thursday
Chairman Sammy Duda, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, concluded the 2017 March Board Meeting in Sacramento, California, Thursday afternoon. During the three-day meeting, the 44-member board engaged with key state officials – including Governor Jerry Brown and California Department of Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross – on critical industry issues and deliberated Western Growers’ public policy…
Nassif Concludes Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Meetings in Washington, D.C.
Last week, Tom Nassif joined his Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) co-chairs, John Keeling of the National Potato Council and Mike Stuart of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, for a series of meetings with House and Senate leadership in an effort to preserve and advance key specialty crop priorities in the upcoming Farm ...
Nassif Lauded as “Agriculturalist of the Year”
The California State Fair has chosen Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif as the recipient of the prestigious 2017 Agriculturalist of the Year Award for his extensive contributions to the California agricultural industry. Nassif is being commended for his tremendous role in elevating the immigration reform debate to focus on the need for a ...
Farmer Floods Fields to Recharge Groundwater Basin
Despite the recent drought-fueled criticisms of agricultural water use in the Golden State, the reality is California farmers are extremely efficient managers of this vital resource. Compared to 50 years ago, California farmers grow 43 percent more food using the same amount of water. Farmers are the original conservationists and constantly seek new ways to ...
Nassif, Duda and WG Board Push Immigration Reform During Annual D.C. Fly-In
With a final round of meetings Thursday morning, including a visit with California’s newest Senator, Kamala Harris, the Western Growers Board of Directors concluded their annual trip to Washington, D.C. Over the course of three days, directors and staff met with numerous congressional representatives from member states – California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico – ...
WG Responds to Passage of Valadao Water Bill by the House
In response to the passage of H.R. 23, Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017, by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “We appreciate the efforts of the House to pass the Valadao water bill, which aims to restore reliable water deliveries for countless ...
Western Growers Meets with White House on Tax Reform Priorities
Today, along with several other agricultural representatives, Western Growers Senior Director of Federal Affairs Ken Barbic met with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to discuss tax reform priorities for farmers across the country. Taking place in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, the meeting was one of several ongoing tax reform listening sessions being held by the ...
Immigration Reform, Water Infrastructure and Drinking Water Issues in Focus for WG Board of Directors During Orange County Meeting
The Western Growers July 2017 Board of Directors Meeting concluded today. From July 25 to 27, WG Board Members gathered in Orange County to guide WG’s actions on state and federal legislative and regulatory priorities impacting Western Growers members, as well as provide feedback on important initiatives being undertaken by the association. Among the issues ...
House Ag Committee to Hold Farm Bill Listening Session in Modesto
Ahead of the next farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee is conducting a series of listening sessions across the country intended to stimulate conversation and gather input from farmers, ranchers and other key stakeholders. Chairman Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the Committee will be in Modesto this Saturday, August 5th, at the ACE Ag ...
WG Urges CA Water Commission to Support Sites and Temperance Flat Reservoir Projects
As part of the regulatory process for distribution of $2.7 billion in water storage funds authorized by Proposition 1 – the 2014 water bond – the California Water Commission is currently accepting project applications through August 14, 2017. WG has submitted comments to the Commission in support of both the Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat ...
Western Growers Addresses AG Act Concerns with Bill Sponsor and House Leadership
This week, the House Judiciary Committee held a two-day mark-up of Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s “The AG Act” (H.R. 4092). Yesterday, the Committee passed the legislation by a vote of 17-16. Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill, and seven members (four Republicans and three Democrats) were absent for the final vote. The proposed ...
U.S. Senate Passes Farm Bill by 86-11 Vote
Today, the farm bill passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 86 to 11. As part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, representing over 120 specialty crop organizations across the United States, Western Growers applauds the bipartisan efforts of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, Ranking ...
Comments Needed for State Water Board’s Push on New Water Restrictions
This Friday is the deadline for the public to submit final comments to the State Water Resources Control Board on its Bay Delta Water Quality Plan. The Plan, as proposed, would double the amount of water left in the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers, with additional future flow requirements for the Sacramento River, with no ...
WG Member Sakata Rings NYSE Closing Bell
Symbolizing the importance of agriculture to the American economy, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday (Wednesday, September 26). Agricultural representatives from across the country joined Secretary Perdue on the podium, including Western Growers member, Robert Sakata, owner of Sakata Farms (CO). Following the closing bell, Sakata ...