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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Western Grower & Shipper Magazine Q1 2026 Digital Edition is Available Now
The Q1 2026 digital issue of the Western Grower & Shipper magazine is available for online viewing. The issue features the articles, "A More Inclusive Definition of Public Benefit in Water Infrastructure," "A New Voice for the Collective: Chair Rob Yraceburu Leads Western Growers into its 100th Anniversary," "A Look Back at the Western Growers 2025 Annual Meeting" and more. Find the…
From One Acre to 200 Farms: How Lumo is Redefining Smart Irrigation
When Lumo Founder Devon Wright walked onto the AgSharks® pitch stage at the 99th Western Growers Annual Meeting, he never would have guessed he was moments away from winning the 2025 Audience Choice Award. He certainly didn’t feel like a winner. In fact, he actually felt terrible. “I was sick that day,” Wright said with a laugh. “I woke up late. I took a bunch of medicine and thought…
Dennis Donohue Announces Retirement from Western Growers
After seven years as Director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT), Dennis Donohue has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 30, 2026. When Dennis joined Western Growers, he brought more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and a deep passion for innovation. He has since played a critical role in the development and growth of WGCIT and was…
ADEQ Reschedules Virtual Stakeholder Meeting on Yuma PM10 Draft agBMP Rule Amendments
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is holding a virtual stakeholder meeting to discuss updated draft rule language for the Arizona Administrative Code R18-2-613.01 Yuma PM10 Nonattainment Area; Agricultural Best Management Practices. ADEQ has canceled its Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 online workshop to discuss updates to the draft AgBMP rule amendments. ADEQ has…
Revised Ag Expert Panel Sessions for Statewide Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is holding several upcoming working group sessions for the Second Statewide Agricultural Expert Panel. The Panel will be discussing, evaluating and taking testimony regarding – among other regulatory issues – appropriate amounts of nitrate applications per crop and whether the state water board should establish formal…
Western Growers Mourns the Passing of Former Board Chair and Award of Honor Recipient Thomas D. Deardorff
Thomas D. Deardorff, of Deardorff Family Farms, died Jan. 5, 2026, at the age of 88. Tom was the Chair of the Western Growers Board of Directors in 1979; in 2000, he received WG’s most prestigious award, the Award of Honor. In 1960, Tom began working for the Deardorff-Jackson Company alongside his grandfather, father, uncle and brother. Founded in Los Angeles in 1937, the company operated…
Report: Economic Pressures Mount for U.S. Specialty Crop Producers
A new analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation highlights that U.S. specialty crop producers are facing significant financial strain. Despite generating more than $75 billion in annual farm-gate revenue, many of these growers are experiencing rising input, labor and compliance costs that outpace farm prices, resulting in widespread economic losses in 2025. “We appreciate this…
Highlights of the WG 2025 Annual Meeting: Browse the Photo Album
Relive the highlights, memorable moments and connections from the Western Growers 99th Annual Meeting. Didn’t get to go this year? These photos will make you feel like you didn’t miss a beat. Click here to view the complete photo album. Looking forward to the next one? Save the date! The Western Growers 100th Annual Meeting is set for Nov. 8-11, 2026 at the Grand Wailea in Maui, Hawaii.
Western Grower & Shipper Magazine to Publish Quarterly Starting in 2026
In agriculture, timing is everything. Starting in January, the Western Grower & Shipper magazine will shift to a quarterly publishing schedule. Why the change? Simply put, we’re dedicating more space and intention to each issue to have more of an impact with our members and industry. That means more thought-provoking content. More stories from the field. More of what matters most to…
Western Growers Members Shine as Arnott Duncan Named 2025 Organic Grower of the Year at OGS
The Organic Grower Summit’s 2025 Organic Grower of the Year Award brought a fresh twist to one of the industry’s most anticipated honors. For the first time, the award was narrowed down to four worthy finalists, giving attendees a broader look at the innovation and leadership shaping the ag industry today. In a strong showing for Western Growers, two of the four finalists—Arnott Duncan…
Western Growers Testifies on Key Priorities for USMCA
As the U.S. begins its review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Western Growers is adding its voice to the discussion. During a public hearing this week, Western Growers' Dennis Nuxoll, VP of Federal Affairs, delivered testimony outlining the priorities of the fresh produce industry and the critical role USMCA plays in supporting American growers. You can read Nuxoll's testimony…
How is Canadian EPR Impacting Your Business?
Our industry is facing complex and costly challenges from new provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for packaging. To understand the full impact of Canadian EPR programs on our sector, Western Growers is collaborating with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) to conduct a comprehensive survey. A Collaborative Effort for a Deeper Understanding Your…
Lumo Wins Audience Choice Award During Western Growers 2025 AgSharks® Pitch Competition
Walt Duflock, SVP of Innovation at Western Growers, Devon Wright, Co-Founder, Lumo, and Neill Callis, GM, Turlock Fruit Company SAN DIEGO (Nov. 11, 2025) - Lumo was selected as the Audience Choice Award winner during the AgSharks® Pitch Competition at the 2025 Western Growers Annual Meeting. The finalists were: DriftSense gives growers field-scale, hourly-resolved 10-day spray plans…
There and Back Again with Kristen Smith Eshaya
When Kristen Smith Eshaya thinks back to her childhood in Yuma, Ariz., some of her most vivid memories aren’t of fields or tractors; instead, they’re of the coolers at her family’s farm. “I remember seeing the cooler a lot more than the farms,” she recalled with a laugh. “It was always fun to go in there, especially on hot days.” Those early experiences gave her a first look…
Live Oak Farms: 100 Years in the Making
Rows of tomato vines and bell peppers at Live Oak Farms have been catching the morning light in a scene that has been repeating itself every summer for nearly 100 years. But between all the rows of vegetables is a story that begins across the ocean, where a young farmer named Marino Giampaoli dreamed of building a new life. In 1926, Marino Giampaoli emigrated to the U.S. from Lucca, Italy. It…
Western Growers Plays Key Role in California’s 2024/2025 Specialty Crop Workforce Development Push
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released its 2024/2025 Specialty Crop Workforce Program Report, highlighting collaborations aimed at building a more skilled, tech-savvy agricultural workforce. Among the key partners is Western Growers, which has played a significant role in advancing the program’s technology and training initiatives. The report underscores how…
Western Growers Releases Third Agtech Case Study
The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology (WGCIT) has published its third of an ongoing series of case studies, analyzing the real grower costs and savings associated with the installation of an automated irrigation management system on 400 acres of processing tomatoes at Terranova Ranch. Faced with mounting water and labor pressures, Terranova Ranch has turned to smart…
Western Grower & Shipper Magazine November/December Digital Edition is Available Now
View Digital Edition The November/December digital issue of the Western Grower & Shipper magazine is available for online viewing. The issue features the articles, "Innovation Determination," "Introducing the Sustainable Produce Packaging Alignment Initiative (SPPA)" and "Finally, a Real Break for Agriculture." You can also read President and CEO Dave Puglia’s column, “A Moth, A…
CAP University Offers Free Virtual Learning Session to Explore Challenges Facing Colorado River
Policy, science and water management enthusiasts are set to gather for “CAP University: Deeper Dive on the Status of the Colorado River,” a free virtual event aiming to shed light on the critical issues confronting one of the Southwest’s most essential water sources. This session will provide information and updates on the status of the post-2026 negotiations, Colorado River conditions,…
Registration Open for the Organic Grower Summit on Dec. 3-4
Registration is now open for the 2025 Organic Grower Summit, taking place Dec. 3-4, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey, Calif. Co-hosted by Western Growers and Farm Progress, the Organic Grower Summit brings together producers and suppliers to explore the latest advancements and trends in organic farming. This annual event provides a valuable opportunity for industry experts to…