Michelle Rivera
Western Growers, Communications Manager
E: [email protected]/P: 949.885.4778 EXT 4778 Michelle Rivera serves as the Communications Manager for Western Growers, where she is responsible for ensuring effective internal and external communications for Western Growers members, industry partners and consumers across all platforms. Michelle has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience in various industries, including adtech, consumer products […]
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Beyond the Way We’ve Always Done It
Canadian startup Sami Robotics, the first Western Growers-sponsored resident at Reservoir Farms, is bringing a new generation of multifunctional harvesting robots to California fields. A few years ago, Sami Robotics Co-founder Eric Lapalme returned to his family farm where he grew up in Quebec. As an engineer, he had spent years developing technology and watching industries transform through…
“The Port That Farmers Built”
At the height of the supply chain crisis, cargo ships floated offshore for days, sometimes weeks, waiting to enter California ports. But not at the Port of Hueneme. There, containers kept moving. Trucks rolled in and out, perishables made their deadlines and exporters found space for freight that other ports couldn’t handle. While congestion dominated headlines across the industry, this…
Jordan Energy & Food Enterprises: Harvesting the Power of the Sun
For growers across the country, rising electricity costs continue to challenge already slim margins, making energy efficiency and sustainability more important than ever. But while solar energy has become an increasingly attractive solution, many agricultural operations face a major barrier before installation even begins: securing the financial resources to make large-scale energy investments…
Western Grower & Shipper Magazine Q3 2026 Digital Edition is Available Now
The Q3 2026 digital issue of the Western Grower & Shipper magazine is available for online viewing. In this issue's President's Notes, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia examines the renewed push for federal agricultural labor reform and what the introduction of the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act (SAWA) could mean for growers. Also in this issue, we celebrate California…
Stay Ahead of Ag Labor Issues at the 2026 CFLCA Ag Labor Forum
Western Growers members are invited to attend the 16th Annual California Farm Labor Contractors Association (CFLCA) Ag Labor Forum, taking place Nov. 18–20, 2026, in Santa Cruz, Calif. Designed specifically for farm labor contractors, growers, vineyard managers and custom harvesters, the Ag Labor Forum is the premier educational and networking event focused exclusively on California's farm…
Member Benefit: Save on the Human Resource Professional in Agriculture Certificate Program
Take advantage of an exclusive Western Growers member benefit while investing in your organization's HR team. Western Growers members are eligible for discounted enrollment in the Human Resource Professional in Agriculture (HRPA) Certificate Program, offered by the Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA). Designed specifically for agriculture, the program equips HR professionals…
Reservoir Expands Specialty Crop Innovation Network to Arizona
Reservoir Farms has launched a new pilot program in Yuma, Ariz., giving agtech startups access to 500 acres of commercial specialty crop production to test and refine robotics, artificial intelligence and automation technologies under real-world farming conditions. The initiative, developed in partnership with the University of Arizona's Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture (YCEDA),…
Western Growers Women 2026-27 Program Schedule Now Available
The 2026-27 Western Growers Women program schedule is now available, offering another year of leadership development, professional growth and networking opportunities for women in the fresh produce industry. Participants can choose from a variety of virtual and in-person programs designed to strengthen leadership skills, expand industry knowledge and build meaningful professional relationships.…
New Voices of the Valley: Inside the Hidden World of Insects in Ag
In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Western Growers' Jeana Cadby sits down with USDA research entomologist Dr. Daniel Hasegawa to explore the surprising role insects play in agriculture. From beneficial pollinators and parasitoid wasps to destructive pests and insect-borne crop diseases, Dr. Hasegawa breaks down how insects shape the food we grow and eat every day, and the cutting-edge…
DOL H-2A Wage Rule Remains in Effect After Court Denies UFW Motion
The District Court in the Eastern District of California has released an order denying the United Farm Workers’ (UFW) request for Preliminary Injunction in the litigation against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on the DOL Interim Final Rule (IFR) updating how Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) are calculated for non-range H-2A occupations. In the order, the Judge found that the UFW failed…
Western Growers Honored in the Congressional Record for its 100th Anniversary
During Western Growers’ annual fly-in to Washington, D.C. this week, members of the Board of Directors met with lawmakers and administration officials to discuss the top issues impacting agriculture. As part of the visit, Rep. Jim Costa formally recognized Western Growers on the floor of Congress and presented a copy of the Congressional Record (CR) recognizing our 100th anniversary, which…
Western Growers at 100: A Century of Championing Agriculture
Founded on March 9, 1926 as the Western Growers Protective Association, Western Growers began with a clear mission: to represent the interests of western produce shippers during a time when the industry faced mounting regulatory and transportation challenges. In the last century, Western Growers has evolved alongside the industry it represents—expanding its services to meet the changing…
Johnston Farms: 80 Years in the Making
The future of Johnston Farms was once a young girl riding her bike through a packing house while her father Dennis loaded produce onto nearby trucks. Today, that girl is Jaclyn Johnston-Green, who is helping to lead a fourth-generation family operation nestled at the base of the Tehachipi Mountains in California. With nearly 80 years of history behind it, Johnston Farms is entering a new…
New Voices of the Valley: Celebrating Women in Ag
This episode of Voices of the Valley highlights the voices and experiences of women shaping the future of agriculture. Hosted by Western Growers’ Michelle Rivera and Cierra Allen, the conversation features Briana Giampaoli of Live Oak Farms and Kristen Camarena of Bonipak, who share their career journeys, challenges and perspectives on leadership in the industry. In recognition of 2026 as the…
Western Grower & Shipper Magazine Q2 2026 Digital Edition is Available Now
The Q2 2026 digital issue of the Western Grower & Shipper magazine is available for online viewing. This special 100th anniversary edition highlights the history of Western Growers, showcases our evolution of support and services and takes you on a visual journey through the years with unique photos unearthed from the Western Growers archives. Find the full digital edition of the issue…
Last Chance: Contribute to WG’s 2026 Compensation and Benefits Survey by May 4 for a Free Copy of Report
Where does meaningful compensation data in agriculture come from? It starts with you. The 2026 Western Growers Compensation and Benefits Survey is still open for Western Growers member companies to contribute their compensation data. The last day to do this is Monday, May 4. All members who participate in the survey will not only receive a free copy but will also be entered to win a…
Customs Sets Up Refund Process for Unlawful Trump Tariffs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released details on a formal refund process for billions of dollars in tariffs imposed under the Trump administration following a February 2026 Supreme Court ruling that found the measures unlawful under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The first phase of its refund system will launch on April 20, 2026, with a new…
Industry Leaders to Tackle Rising Produce Fraud in 2026 Forecast Webinar
As fraud grows more sophisticated across the fresh produce supply chain, industry leaders are coming together to help businesses stay one step ahead. On April 21, 2026, experts from Blue Book Services, the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) and Western Growers will host the 2026 Produce Fraud Forecast Webinar. The webinar will be a timely…
California Gubernatorial Candidates Discuss Affordability and Rural Issues at Fresno Forum
An estimated 525 attendees gathered at Fresno State University for the California Gubernatorial Candidate Forum, “Affordability and Rural California,” for a wide-ranging discussion that highlighted the economic pressures facing the state’s rural communities and agricultural industry. Hosted at the Ruiz Event Space in the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union, the event brought…
EPA Accepting Nominations for National Drinking Water Advisory Council
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for qualified candidates to serve on the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC), according to a recently published notice in the Federal Register. EPA welcomes candidates from the general public; state and local governments concerned with water hygiene and public water supply; and representatives of private…