Western Growers wishes to extend our condolences to family and friends of Joe Gunter, the mayor of Salinas, who passed away Monday evening. Gunter was elected as mayor of Salinas in 2012 and in January was recognized for his more than 50 years of public service.

“Western Growers extends our condolences to the family and friends of Joe Gunter,” said Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia. “His enthusiastic support for and partnership with our industry was instrumental in the launch and growth of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology. He made innumerable contributions to the health and success of the Salinas Valley agriculture community. We join so many others today in sadness at the passing of Joe Gunter.” 

“I, as well as the Western Growers family, am deeply saddened by Salinas’ loss,” said to Dennis Donohue, the director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, who also served as the mayor of Salinas from 2006 to 2012. “Joe Gunter was truly a great man, husband, father and mayor to all of the Salinas community. I know how proud he was of the success we all achieved in building a thriving agtech sector in the Monterey County region and the important role our Valley played in feeding the world. We will miss him.”