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 reliable and legal workforce for agriculture, establishing a new specialty crop title in the Farm Bill, driving the creation of a new food safety system resulting in the formation of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, and opening the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology to accelerate solutions to the agriculture industry’s biggest challenges, among many other accomplishments.
“Tom Nassif is revered by members of Western Growers and the broader agricultural industry,” said Sammy Duda, Senior Vice President of National Operations for Duda Farm Fresh Foods and Chairman of Western Growers. “We are incredibly fortunate to have a man of his vision and leadership during a time of such political and marketplace uncertainty for farmers in California and across the country.”
Nassif’s achievements and service to the industry will be recognized at the State Fair Gala on Thursday, June 22, 2017. The Gala, which will be held at the California State Fair in Sacramento, raises funds for The Friends of the California State Fair Student Scholarship Program, which seeks to support well-rounded, high academic achievers in agricultural-based fields of study. We encourage all WG members to support the State Fair Gala and Student Scholarship program; to participate, email [email protected].
For more information, read the California State Fair’s full press release on the award or contact Cory Lunde at (949) 885-2264.